Jessica Crawford, assistant principal at Sunset Elementary School, examines data posted on the wall during a workshop at the district data retreat June 21-22.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — School leaders and members of their leadership teams from all schools participated in the system’s third annual District Data Retreat on June 21-22.

The goal of the annual retreat is for schools to review achievement, attendance, stakeholder feedback, and discipline data, identify areas for improvement, complete root cause analyses surrounding identified issues, and create action plans to meet the needs of all students, the school system said in a press release.

The process mirrors Georgia’s Systems of Continuous Improvement framework supported by the Georgia Department of Education’s division of School and District Effectiveness that focuses on the systems and structures (the “what”) that must be in place for sustained improvement in student outcomes. It also utilizes a problem-solving model (the “how”) to provide a clear process for identifying improvement needs, planning for improvement, and implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the improvement efforts.

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Marni Kirkland commented, “We as a system leadership team are working hand in hand with teachers to evaluate and interpret  student data. We will continue to improve areas with deficiencies and model areas of growth.”  

More than 70 teachers and 30 school leaders participated in processes that culminated in the formation of each school’s plan for improvement for the 2017-2018 school year.

Superintendent Doug Howell shared, “Success is a journey that we are committed to travel. Our faculty and staff are invested in our students, and that investment will reap benefits.”