Increasing Student Achievement and Proficiency in English Language Arts

Digital Teaching and Learning Grant funds will be expended to provide professional learning experiences for all district K-12 English Language Arts teachers each summer. Professional Learning will be targeted towards improving language arts instruction through the use of highly effective instructional strategies, high quality curriculum and digital software tools. As a result of this professional learning and an increased focus on English Language Arts instruction district-wide, we will be able to demonstrate an increase in the ELA learning and achievement of all K-12 students in Juab School District. Several different metrics will be utilized to provide evidence of student growth in the area of English language arts.

Portrait of a Graduate through Coaching and Personalized Learning

Our DTL plan is aligned to the vision and guiding principles within Utah’s Master Plan. We have established technology-rich classrooms, making large investments in infrastructure, hardware and applications. We have provided significant teacher training but recognize the need to deliver increased and ongoing job-embedded support to our teachers as they continue to implement what they have learned, and work to advance their skills in digital teaching and learning. To this end, we hired three full-time elementary coaches in SY2019-20 and hired two additional instructional coaches for our secondary schools. We will continue to train, develop, and utilize coaches for the benefit of each teacher and each K-12 student in our district.

We have braided funds from CBE, TSSA, Land Trust, general budget, and DTL grant to place a full-time instructional coach in each school. During SY2020-2021, we partnered with USBE to engage in the instructional coach train the trainer endorsement. During SY2021-2022, each of our instructional coaches became endorsed.

JuabSD contracted with the International Center for Leadership to provide training for teachers, coaches and administrators specifically around utilizing technology to increase efficiency and support quality pedagogy. Training begin May 2020. ICL provided ongoing professional development for two years. Eric Sheninger conducted an audit of each classroom during Fall 2020, and again in Fall 2021, to provide feedback utilizing specific metrics about the level of personalization provided. He then helped us use this data to develop a plan for improvement. An additional audit of classes took place in Spring 2021 and 2022 to measure growth and inform the next steps. After each visit, ICL worked with coaches, and school and district leaders to co-create a plan addressing how we can best support our teachers.

Our coaches work daily to develop the capacity of classroom teachers by delivering timely effective instructional support. They will help teachers develop the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively integrate devices and digital curricula in their classrooms, subsequently moving students to higher levels of learning and achievement powered by technology. They also collaborate regularly as a coaching team to support each other in their own professional learning, and to develop ideas that will move the needle in our district around effective personalized learning.

Our DTL plan is well-aligned to the district’s long-term strategic vision which focuses on providing a robust whole-child experience for all students, resulting in high levels of learning as demonstrated through mastery of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions outlined in our Portrait of A Graduate. Our mission is for students to graduate from Juab prepared for success in the workforce, college and careers, and life beyond. We recognize that the key to quality instruction is the teacher. Highly effective teachers are vital to meeting this goal and ensuring that all students leave our district as self-directed, assessment-capable learners, who possess global digital citizenship skills and are prepared to use technology innovatively, independently and ethically. Providing targeted, job-embedded professional support through the utilization of instructional coaches is essential. We are confident instructional coaching will enhance the capacity of teachers to deliver effective instruction and to create the conditions for powerful personalized learning. Ultimately, the result will be a positive impact on the achievement, growth, and preparedness of all K-12 students in the Juab School District.