Superintendent's Blog - November 2025 |
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November 21, 2025
During a recent school visit, I had the privilege of sitting in on a data meeting with a team of teachers. The group was closely analyzing the fall learning data to understand which students had mastered the material, which students were struggling, and how best to respond to those needs. Their planned responses fell into three categories:
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- Reteaching concepts and skills that many students found challenging;
- Targeted interventions for students who had not yet learned specific skills;
- Social-emotional learning and motivation supports—which are essential to students’ success in the classroom.
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This kind of thoughtful, diagnostic conversation reflects the work our educators do every day and forms the backbone of high-quality instruction. By understanding what students know and where they need support, teachers can address misconceptions, close skills gaps, and ensure all students continue to grow and learn.
One of our district’s strategic goals is to strengthen our Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), a framework that ensures every student receives the right level of instruction and support.
MTSS includes three tiers:
Tier 1: High-Quality Teaching and Curriculum for all Students
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- High-quality instruction that helps all students learn and stay engaged in learning.
- New curriculum materials—like Illustrative Math or Fishtank Reading—strengthen instruction for every student.
- Challenging work and robust learning activities that help students grow beyond grade-level expectations.
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- Academic, social-emotional, or behavioral help for students who need more support to keep up with grade-level learning.
- Targeted instruction to address gaps in skills or understanding.
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Tier 3: Intensive or Specialized Support |
- More intensive help and accommodations for students who have difficulty accessing grade-level work.
- Specialized instruction and supports for student success, often outlined through individualized education plans (IEPs).
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This year, our budget conversations will be guided by our need to teach and support all of our students through our MTSS tiers.
The MTSS system is foundational to our district because it provides a coherent, responsive framework to meet the needs of all learners. It guides our instructional system for all students: those who are high-achieving, those who are performing at grade-level, and those who are in need of additional support. Students bring a wide range of strengths, learning profiles, and needs to our classrooms, and our goal is to provide learning experiences that are varied, robust, and engaging. Educating our children is a shared endeavor—our educators working together with a common purpose: to teach, support, and empower every student to grow and thrive.
Wishing you an enjoyable Thanksgiving break!
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