When we started working with the Sedro-Woolley School District, they were facing the same challenges as many other districts. Student achievement was stagnant and they were not reaching Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) goals. Despite their extensive planning and efforts to reform curriculum and testing, Sedro-Woolley still wasn't seeing the improvement that it was looking for.
Determined to achieve progress, administrators decided to shift the focus from their previous methods toward finding ways to modify and strengthen teaching practices. That's where we came in.
We helped walk the district's Instructional Improvement Team (made up of principals and central office staff) through the process of improving instruction as a whole - assisting in an area where making changes can be overwhelming and take up more resources than the district may be able to provide. Using our STAR framework, staff members began using the tools we've developed through years of research to begin implementing Powerful Teaching and Learning in the classroom.
Our video team went to Sedro-Woolley to listen to their story:
Determined to achieve progress, administrators decided to shift the focus from their previous methods toward finding ways to modify and strengthen teaching practices. That's where we came in.
We helped walk the district's Instructional Improvement Team (made up of principals and central office staff) through the process of improving instruction as a whole - assisting in an area where making changes can be overwhelming and take up more resources than the district may be able to provide. Using our STAR framework, staff members began using the tools we've developed through years of research to begin implementing Powerful Teaching and Learning in the classroom.
Our video team went to Sedro-Woolley to listen to their story:
Services Provided
The services provided for Sedro-Woolley School District included:
- Classroom Observation Data Collection – The data provides a snap shot of the current instructional practices of the school.
- Learning Walks – Teachers observe instruction at other schools and on videos to reflect on their own classroom practices in a safe, collaborative environment.
- Executive Coaching – School administrators and teacher leaders learn how to continue to inspire and sustain instructional growth after the professional development.
- Lesson Planning – Teachers learn how to develop lesson plans with colleagues focused on pedagogy, not content.
Coming Up
Part Two will explore how the staff members at Mary Purcell Elementary developed a common language to better understand the ins and outs of good instruction and learned to effectively collaborate to put new practices aligned with Powerful Teaching and Learning in place. Stay tuned.
