The Discovery Education team recently attended the Council of the Great City Schools’ 68th Annual Fall Conference in Dallas, Texas. Hosted by Dallas ISD, the event joined educators from large urban schools under the inspiring theme "Leading Innovation & Transformation, We Do Urban Education." The conference featured a series of compelling sessions where education professionals shared concrete ideas and strategies to solve their biggest challenges together. We listened carefully to what district leaders had to say, and were excited at how closely their priorities align to key findings in our new Education Insights Report. Read on to learn more.
High-Quality Instructional Materials: Content Matters Because "Skills are Boring"
A popular session was “Big Things Happen Here: Using High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) to Drive Achievement in Urban Schools.” Among the highlights were Charissa Govan and NaTonya Huff from Dallas ISD reaffirming that “content matters because skills are boring.” This simple, yet profound statement captures the heart of effective teaching—specifically that engaging, meaningful content is the right vessel to deliver skills mastery and standards mastery.
Embedding foundational skills into engaging content makes them more accessible, relevant, and exciting to learn. But don’t forget to lead with the standard(s) being taught so that the critical connection can be made as students are engaged with their learning.
Making the Connection
A key finding from The Education Insights Report shows ~90% of students are motivated to learn new things, while nearly half of teachers (46%) report student engagement has declined compared to 2019. This means the desire to learn is there, yet it’s not being realized. Researchers believe that by focusing on what makes their students curious, teachers will see greater student motivation and engagement. The report offers several ways to accomplish this.
Open All Lines of Communication to Align Goals
The Discovery team also attended the session, “How the Harvard Accelerating Board Capacity Summer Institute is Strengthening Urban School Board Members.” Presented by individuals from districts like Cleveland and Boston along with Harvard, this insightful conversation focused on how school board decisions do not always align to a district’s goals. This can lead to purchasing programs that don’t move the needle for student achievement. If school boards take an academically centered ROI approach to programs, with invaluable input of their educators, they can move the needle in the right direction.
Making the Connection
Another key insight from the report found that only 25% of teachers say the district provides support to make teaching engaging. Yet, 86% of superintendents say they do provide those necessary supports. This disconnect aligns with that between the district and the school board. Collaboration is key to solving these challenges, as leaders and educators agree, so let’s open the lines of communication with all stakeholders.
Focus on Targeted Professional Development
Equally enlightening was the “Jolly Ranchers: Developing Urban School Leaders Through Principal Pipelines” session. Presented by Jefferson County Public Schools and Philadelphia Schools, the discussion focused on leadership pathways and the critical importance of supporting stable and qualified teachers and principals.
Making the Connection
According to the report, teachers’ top four PD interests focus on student engagement, meeting individual student needs, new trends in education, and stress reduction. These also align with teachers’ top reported challenges. By focusing on these areas, school and district leads can ensure they are supporting a stable, qualified, and happy workforce.
Overall, the conference provided the Discovery Education team with rich insights to bolster urban education initiatives. Participation in thought-provoking sessions and exchanges with fellow educators reinforced our commitment to fostering transformative educational experiences. We left Dallas energized and equipped to continue driving excellence in urban education.
