This proved to be an effective strategy for Springfield, Mass., when the state classified the district as «underperforming» in 2010 and ordered it to replace all principals and
instructional staff members who had served two or more years in its 10 lowest performing schools.
Then we calculated two measures of physical proximity: the walking distance, in feet, between
every instructional staff member in the building; and the overlap of individuals» «functional zones,» or areas of a building they are likely to visit.
All instructional staff members receive professional development and extensive assessment to continuously make their teaching stronger and more effective.
Supported by their mentors,
each instructional staff member reflected on their practices weekly and developed new applications and strategies based on the evidence of learning they documented.
On the tour, we saw students engaged in a variety of digital and adaptive programs, collaborating with peers, participating in 1 - on - 1 tutoring sessions, and joining in small - group instruction with
an instructional staff member.