Leading Educators

"Over-scaffolding often shows up when all students are representing their thinking in a singular way; in other words, students are imitating the teacher instead of demonstrating their own thinking," says Rebecca Eden Allen, an experienced math instructional coach. This year, Rebecca and Leading Educators supported leaders in select District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) to tackle this issue head-on with tailored coaching sessions for math teachers. These sessions focused on shifting instructional moves to better balance support and independence, and they're making a significant difference. In this ⚡ NEW PAPER ⚡, we offer three reflection tools for exploring the effectiveness of your coaching strategy to inform future planning: https://hubs.la/Q02DKLTs0

Researchers assert that a high-quality curriculum can increase teaching quality. Here’s the challenge: Less than half of educators report that their principal encourages them to use the recommended or required curriculum. This may feel like cause for panic. But there are two big reasons for hope: 🌟 High-quality instructional materials have never been more available, affordable, or adaptable. 🌟 At least 13 states have created mandates, supports, and strong incentives for districts to implement quality curricula. Ready to build support that scales? We can help. https://hubs.la/Q02Gqw-Q0

Things are winding down in The Windy City, but it has been such an incredible week in Chicago with members of the Council of the Great City Schools. It's been a pleasure getting to see some of my Leading Educators colleagues, including Adan Garcia, MPP, M. Keli Swearingen, Laura Meili and Mary Kay Murphy Plus, it was a real joy to join our partner Leenet Campbell-Williams of Detroit Public Schools Community District in highlighting some of the transformational work she and her team are leading to "Rise Up" and improve instruction and student outcomes across the district. Even before the pandemic struck, leaders in the district noticed a concerning trend: there was stagnation in elementary reading achievement, and math proficiency was persistently low. These issues signaled a pressing need for improvements in instructional strategy. With partnership from Leading Educators, DPSCD adopted Tier 1 curricula and implemented curriculum-aligned cycles of professional learning for two years, but principals perceived them as disconnected from school priorities. What did they do to address this? You can read about part of their journey to build instructional leadership here: https://lnkd.in/ebtciqhR

Implementing a comprehensive AI policy is complex, but districts can empower teachers now to help students develop AI literacy skills without using AI tools. According to a panel of educators and experts in a recent Education Week webinar, "Lessons in artificial intelligence literacy shouldn’t be confined to just high school computer science classes. They should be spread across all content areas and grade levels." Read more: https://hubs.la/Q02Gh_j00 From the webinar: 💡 Schools can approach AI literacy for younger students by building on existing computational thinking skills, often without using technology. 💡 Students should learn to scrutinize responses and identify "deepfake" videos, photos, and AI-generated misinformation. 💡 Students need critical thinking skills to evaluate AI-generated information across various contexts to determine its accuracy. 💭 How is your district leading the way in AI literacy? Share your approaches in the comments below!

When students can read, they gain the tools to uncover knowledge and build the futures they dream about. Knowing how students learn to read allows us as teachers to give students the tools to chart their own path and advance our society—that’s why we teach. 📖 Jamilah Sanchez, a literacy coordinator in Oakland Unified School District, shares an inspiring moment from an elementary classroom that affirmed the efforts of coaches, teachers, and leaders: “Students explored 'noticings and wonders' of literary classics, discussing the unit’s themes. During the lesson on 'Peter Pan,' they were fully engaged, using text-dependent questions to make meaning of the story. The teacher achieved 100% student engagement.” 💡 Initially skeptical about a new rigorous curriculum, the teacher Ms. Sanchez mentions was amazed by how her students' writing changed. A recent celebration of learning left her emotional as parents were impressed by the quality and quantity of their children's writing. Learn more about the OUSD's behind-the-scenes work to make this happen: https://hubs.la/Q02G1r300

A clear, compelling vision can be the driving force behind school improvement and success. Without it, aligning efforts and mobilizing stakeholders can get messy fast. Here are three key components of an effective instructional vision: ✔️Clarity: Ensure everyone understands what is expected for teaching and learning. ✔️Coherence: Align the instructional vision with school goals, other initiatives, and grade-level standards. ✔️Relevance: Make it meaningful to the school community by defining success. Learn how you can develop a vision that drives your school system forward. https://hubs.la/Q02FQzvv0

🚀 "AI is here, and slowing down isn’t an option," says Chris Reykdal, Washington state’s schools chief. While some educators are using AI for lesson planning and grading, the majority have not. According to a recent Education Week Research Center survey, 33% of respondents cited the lack of comprehensive AI policies in their districts as the main reason. Here are key strategies for district leaders from a recent Education Week article: ⚡Align AI with goals: Integrate AI use with district objectives. ⚡Develop AI literacy: Equip students with knowledge about AI. ⚡Professional development: Train teachers on AI use. ⚡Set AI policies: Establish clear guidelines for AI use. ⚡Thoroughly vet tools: Assess AI tools before implementation. How is your district leveraging the power of AI? Let us know in the comments.

“We are all seeing the value of this curriculum and the aligned support: Every teacher is committed to supporting literacy for every student. Our work is already feeling more powerful and more successful.” In 2023, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) concluded a two-year partnership with Leading Educators to champion every student's right to read. With community-driven curriculum reviews and our guidance, OUSD launched a powerful professional learning system. Over two years, district leaders and coaches received extensive training and coaching—culminating in a stronger, unified approach to literacy that is ripe with potential for transformational outcomes. 📖 Learn more: https://hubs.la/Q02Fr2Zg0

It's clear: our sector is facing a tough financial outlook next school year. It will be even more important to ensure that every available resource is aligned to the results we want to see for students and a sustainable plan for achieving them. In your planning, pay close attention to these three indispensable resources for instructional improvement:  ▶️ Collaboration time ▶️ High-quality instructional materials ▶️ Aligned assessments 🧰 Learn how they come together to support accelerated learning: https://hubs.la/Q02FjjZ70

Exciting news! 🌟 Next week, Leading Educators will be at the annual Council of the Great City Schools Curriculum, Research, and Instructional Leadership meeting in Chicago! We look forward to connecting with district leaders from across the country who are dedicated to improving teaching and student outcomes through research-based instructional support. If you are attending, say hello! As a partner to many member districts, we're excited to connect and thought partner around how innovative system leaders are tackling complex challenges like unfinished learning, differentiated educator support, and change management. On Wednesday, we'll also be presenting alongside Dr. Leenet Campbell-Williams, the Chief Academic Officer at Detroit Public Schools Community District. See you soon! ✈️