Instructional coaches speak to the USD board of education.

At Monday's regular meeting of the USD 503 Board of Education, the instructional coach for

Lincoln shared the good news that the percentage of students entering Lincoln “kindergarten

ready” has continued to increase.

Students are screened prior to entering kindergarten using the Kindergarten Readiness

Snapshot as a tool to determine if children have reached developmental milestones, as well as

to identify their needs so instructors can tailor instruction to them and provide needed support.

This year, 68% entered kindergarten at or above grade level in math and 56% in reading

compared to 66% and 49% in 2024 respectively.

Other elementary grades have seen increases in percentages of students who enter at

benchmark levels. For example, fifth grade math saw a 14% increase in students entering at

benchmark, an increase from 50% to 64%.

Tests are administered again throughout the year to determine how students are advancing in

learning. The dedicated instructional coaches for each building reported good gains for students

so far in lower grades. Jane Good reported the high school has remained fairly level in its

benchmark percentages, except for the incoming freshman class, which showed increases.

Instructional coaches also updated the board on curriculum alignment.

Guthridge instructional coach Michell Piva explained that curriculum alignment is a process of

ensuring the learning goals, planned instruction, actual teaching and methods of student

assessment are all working together to achieve student outcomes. It also includes mapping

curriculum to state standards, and ensuring curriculum builds on itself across grade levels and

horizontally across different courses, and vertically to improve student outcomes.

Curriculum alignment is important as it provides a clearer pathway for students to learn intended

content and skills, provides instructional coherence and ensures what is taught, how it is taught,

and how it is assessed are all working towards the same goals, making instruction more

effective. Piva said curriculum alignment also helps reduce achievement disparities and ensure

comprehensive learning.

Piva and other instructional coaches explained their processes, including how teachers

document what they are teaching, share what curriculum they are using and their assessments

of it and whether it worked for them or not. The information is accessible to other teachers, and

as new instructors come to the district, they add to the list of instructional data the curriculum

they bring with them to try.

“It is an excellent opportunity for teachers to take a look at what others are doing and what is

working,

” Good said.

Superintendent Lori Ray said curriculum alignment is an ongoing process: “Curriculum is a living

document.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, the board:

Heard October is National School Principals Month.

Heard Oct. 24 is Bus Driver Appreciation Day.

Heard Oct. 24 is early dismissal at noon/staff is working on grades for end of first nine weeks.

Heard Oct. 27 will be parent teacher conferences from 4 to 7:30 p.m.for all grade levels. Oct.

28 will be high school/middle school conferences from 4 to 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 29 elementary

conferences will be 4 to 7:30 p.m.Discussed first reading of the job descriptions for the superintendent, assistant superintendent

and communications officer.

Accepted $1,535.59 in donations for the month of August.

Discussed Parent Engagement and Staff Surveys.

Hired Tanner Perez as part-time custodian; Marcus Burgess as part-time custodian; LaKaito

Barr-Miller as high school head track coach; Jackie Robison as high school secretary; Sarah

Jones as bus monitor; Devin Martinez as head baseball coach; Jaran Dixon as assistant football

coach; MacKenzie Spencer as pre-school aide; and Jericha Laver as Lincoln Title I Aide.

Approved transfers of employment for Alesha Morrison from preschool aide to Behavior Room

aide and Daisy Smith from Lincoln Title I aide to full-time preschool substitute.

Approved the intent for termination from employment of Raheeme Dumas as high school

assistant football coach.

Accepted the resignations of Cammie Geoge, Lincoln part-time custodian; Krisit Snider, PHS

assistant boys basketball coach; Ivory Kelly as high school assistant football coach; and Jeremy

Stenstrom, as middle school science teacher.

Approved the additional compensation for the Business Manager Laura Allison’s salary.