Going the distance in education — together
Board’s strategic plan focused on school achievement
They say that successfully running a marathon is accomplished through ‘relentless forward motion.’ In education, we strive to achieve the same.
Several years ago, I took up running. I made the decision to start my day by getting outside, being active, and I eventually progressed toward completing a marathon. At first, my goals were small — a loop around the block, then around the neighbourhood — and before I knew it I was running long distances. Most of the time, my progress wasn’t drastic or immediate, but it was focused, carefully planned, monitored and, most important, measured.
The same could be said for the outcomes of student achievement.
Back in 2016, we set the course for the future of our students and our community by establishing a strategic plan which gains traction through our operational goals — mathematics, graduation rates, and student and staff well-being. We set our sights high with ambitious goals and the understanding from research that it can take three to five years to experience real change.
On Wednesday, the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), which assesses how well Ontario’s public education system is developing students’ reading, writing and math skills, released data that provides a milepost into our performance in these areas. We have analyzed the results against our strategic plan and we are pleased to see we have evidence of improvement.
We have seen an increase year-over-year in both Grade 9 mathematics assessments. We are narrowing the gap between our district and the province in six measures, and in primary and junior we have seen increases in five of the six areas (one unchanged). We are encouraged to see our results as a whole continue to increase and are confident that we are mapping a route to success and graduation for each and every student.
We are committed to working hard to achieve our long-term goals, and only then will we be satisfied. We have not reached our targets — yet — but we know this is a marathon, not a sprint. We are proud to be moving in the right direction, together.
As we measure our progress, we also know the importance of determining why only 78 per cent of first-time eligible students who wrote the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test were successful. We will need to analyze the results to put in place an informed action plan that will support students in meeting with success on this important graduation requirement — likely now a focus for many Ontario schools that have experienced similar outcomes. This has raised some important questions which we, as educators, must discuss.
And while EQAO is one important measurement tool that helps guide our work, we all know there is a lot more to consider in our school communities than test scores. We will continue to nurture supportive relationships in an inclusive, safe and caring environment, practising culturally relevant and responsive instruction and assessment, and creating equitable conditions for learning. These are key factors in ensuring optimal outcomes for each and every student.
We are grateful for the energy and dedication of our educators and administrators who continue to focus on the needs of our students. As we work together with parents, families, stakeholders, community leaders and our board of trustees, to find our stride, we will continue our work to create the optimal conditions for learning in every classroom and every school. In order to go far — to cover the distance — we must go together.
It is my wish and my challenge to our system that each and every one of our students experiences success and wellbeing as they cross the graduation ‘finish line’ and that they leap into their postsecondary pathway with confidence in their skills, a diverse and equitable perspective of the world, and a sense of belonging.
As we look to the future, we will continue our focus on putting our students first and will stay laser focused on our strategic plan. Our dedicated staff are committed to our operational goals, monitoring our progress and supporting student achievement and well-being. We know that our students, families, and our entire community are with us on this journey and that finishing a marathon of this importance is a state of mind that says that anything is possible.
John Bryant is the director of education of the Waterloo Region District School Board.