MMD

Poplar Bluff joins Missouri Model Districts
Posted on 06/05/2017

Poplar Bluff R-I was among 21 school systems in the state invited to participate in a three-year initiative expected to shape the design of MSIP 6, the accountability system used to accredit public education institutions in Missouri.

“From my perspective, as a professional educator with two decades in Missouri, I’ve never seen the Department (of Elementary and Secondary Education) engage in such a grassroots, intentional solicitation of feedback,” said Scott Dill, R-I superintendent. “Historically, the Department hands you a solution and says, ‘Go implement it,’ which at best leads to compliance, but you are seeing a new tone.” 

Dill, along with a team of educators including the principals from all 10 schools within the R-I district, attended the MMD summit Tuesday through Friday, May 30-June 2, in Branson during which the framework of the initiative was outlined. 

The focus will be on the top instructional strategies that have been proven to yield the best results in learning outcomes, especially for students showing risk factors, including those with disabilities: providing feedback, teaching metacognition and fostering assessment capable learners. 

“What we’ve discovered is everything we do in the classroom works to some extent,” Dill explained. “There are, however, high-level practices that research has shown work very well.”

These non-negotiables are a continuation of the best practices that in part have been implemented at the building level for the past several years under Missouri Collaborative Work, a program based on John Hattie’s “Visible Learning,” the largest-ever quantitative study on student achievement. The main difference, according to R-I Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Patty Robertson, is this refined system will take on more of a district-wide collaborative approach.

During the initial year of the commitment, Poplar Bluff will receive over $60,000 through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education toward the professional development, reported Robertson. DESE will also roll out MOEduSAIL – which stands for educational systems and instruction for learning – an online component with resources and tools available for teachers to track data. 

“We were looking for schools that had successfully participated in the Collaborative Work initiative – and a few additional school districts to get a sense of starting from scratch – to see if these practices can be scaled,” said Dr. Stacey Preis, deputy commissioner for DESE’s division of learning services. “Once this pilot is over, we hope it translates to a statewide system.”

Dill commended the commission for challenging districts to personalize the solution to meet the unique needs of learners in their respective communities. It is important for Poplar Bluff to get a “front-row seat,” he said, because the next version of the Missouri School Improvement Program will likely be the assessment by which the district is held accountable for years to come.

“The bottom line as a state and a profession is we are dedicated to ensuring we are applying best practices every day in our classrooms,” Dill concluded.

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Cutline: At the MMD summit this summer in Branson, were: (front row, left to right) Jessica Burnette, Stephanie Kuper, Dr. Brad Owings, Erica Weadon and Patty Robertson; (middle row, from left) Shelly Roby, Martha Henry, Debbie Harper, Amanda Summers, Krista Yarbro, Krista Sells, Dr. Amy Dill, Paula Knight, Cindy Robertson, Stephanie Hillis, Christy Young, Alexa Kilgore, Windy Morehead and Marci Priest; and (back) Mike Owen, Charles Kinsey, Jodie Berry, Scott Dill, Jennifer Taylor, Holly Owings, Pam Heaton, Shelly Ridens, Krystal Dover and Rod Priest. Not pictured is Carol Brotman, Jenifer Richardson, Dr. Amy Jackson and JoAnne Westbrook.

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