Opportunity
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Are Our Classroom Devices Helping Students Learn?
It’s hard to read stories like this one from Thursday’s Wall Street Journal and not feel a mix of concern – and responsibility. A recent report on the role of YouTube in schools highlights something many families and educators are noticing: students spending large parts of the school day on screens – sometimes learning, and…
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Elementary Math: Facing Our Outcomes, Refocusing Our Work
We have work to do in elementary math. Our most recent (2025) 4th-grade outcomes* make that clear: • All students: 44% proficient • Economically disadvantaged students: 25% • Non-economically disadvantaged students: 55% What matters is how we respond. I appreciate the Curriculum Committee’s discussion this week, digging into how we’re relaunching/refocusing K–5 math instruction. With…
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Stronger Outcomes, Shared Responsibility: A Look at Reading & Math Strategies
Grateful for this week’s Curriculum Committee discussion for sharing a clearer “how” behind Goal 1 (math and reading) of our 2030 Vision*. As a school board member, my focus is on our mission/vision/values (our “why”) and our outcomes (our “what” and “how well”) – including improving our reading and math outcomes for all students and,…
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April’s Newsletter
April’s newsletter is out: • A new chapter in early literacy – raising outcomes and closing opportunity gaps • Parker’s Story – Finding her voice at Central High School • Curriculum Committee Snapshot: Creativity, Opportunity, and Pathways for All • School board meeting agenda highlights • Where are our future surgical techs? • Back to…
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Courtade and Willow Hill Elementary: Brights Spots
There’s a national conversation happening right now about early literacy—and which schools are helping students succeed as readers, regardless of family income. Right here in our community, two schools have been recognized as part of that story. Courtade Elementary and Willow Hill Elementary have both been identified as “Bright Spots” by The 74*, a national…
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Back to Basics: Why One Northern Michigan School Hit Pause on Screens
Mesick Consolidated Schools—just down the road from us—are trying something bold to support early literacy: they’ve removed Chromebooks and iPads from their elementary classrooms and are going “back to basics” with books, handwriting, and face-to-face learning. Why? Their leaders are being honest about where things stand. When too many students are not yet reading proficiently,…
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Virtual Learning Is Growing — But Who Is It Serving?
I don’t yet know the percentage of economically disadvantaged students enrolled in our virtual programs. I do know we’ve expanded our virtual program at Traverse City High School and launched a new middle school option at East Middle School – with built-in adult support and check-ins. That’s a positive step. At the same time, our…
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From Steadying the Ship to Full Speed Ahead: A New Vision for Early Literacy at TCAPS
Our most recent third-grade reading outcomes certainly make clear the work ahead: • All third graders: 49% proficient • Economically disadvantaged third graders: 38% • Not economically disadvantaged third graders: 53% These numbers show why it’s time to move from steadying the ship to full speed ahead. That’s why, for the first time, our district’s…
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Partnership Schools: Surrounding TCAPS Students with Support
At our recent Curriculum Committee meeting*, we learned about the “Partnership School” model and explored ways in which trained and vetted community members could provide additional academic tutoring in reading and math—especially for students who need extra practice to build literacy and numeracy fluency. This isn’t about replacing teachers – it’s about surrounding students with…
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March’s Newsletter
March’s newsletter is out: – Reading month, literacy, opportunity gaps, and a community promise – A turning point: Enrollment is not down for the first time in six years – Curriculum Committee Snapshot: Parent engagement – School board meeting agenda highlights – Mr. Kay goes to the State of the State in Lansing – Compass…
TY FOR TCAPS 