This video is available as a NAESPA membership benefit or for a limited time as a conference attendee.
|
62 :
19
Creating Equitable Opportunities for Student Success in School Improvement
Leaders from Spokane Public Schools will share how Whitman Elementary School and Chase Middle School strategically harnessed high-leverage instructional practices to benefit all students, including disadvantaged, English Language Learners (ELL), and Special Education subgroups. Key strategies include high-quality core instruction, data-driven dialogue, Universal Design for Learning, Professional Learning Communities for collaborative efforts among educators, and prioritizing inclusion support through common schedules and co-teaching. Leadership teams drew inspiration from John Hattie’s research, emphasizing collective efficacy through strong PLCs. Chase Middle School serves as a Washington state demonstration site for inclusionary practices, while Whitman Elementary is poised to onboard with the University of Washington in 2024-25. This success story underscores how dedicated leadership positively impacts student growth and achievement, fostering equity and improvement.
This talk was presented at:
2025 National ESEA Conference
February 2025
in
Austin, TX
For more information:
lynnec@spokaneschools.org
Speakers
Jody Schmidt
Jody Schmidt has been a principal for 7 years at Whitman Elementary. Over her 28-years in education, Jody has been an elementary and middle school teacher and instructional coach in Title I schools. She serves as Spokane's Principal Association president, and she currently onboarded with the University of Washington Harding Center as a demonstration site around inclusionary practices that support student engagement. With Jody's leadership and focus on PLCs using assessment data and high-leverage instructional strategies, Whitman Elementary School was able to exit improvement as a Title I school in Washington.
Heather Chase
Heather Chase, third-year principal at Chase Middle School, brings 13 years of secondary math teaching experience and seven years in leadership. She has presented at the WASA/AWSP and WSSDA conferences with a focus on serving special populations. She has worked in partnership with the University of Washington since 2019 as a demonstration site for inclusionary practices. Over the last five years, she has presented to visiting educators, administrators, and government officials about Chase's journey to serve all students through an equity lens. After being identified for school improvement, she utilized UDL practices, coaching support, and best practices to lead data-driven dialogue discussions with PLCs to exit improvement status.
Mary Douthitt
Mary Douthitt has been an exemplary special education teacher, inclusion coach, and literacy coach in Spokane Public Schools for over 20 years. Mary has facilitated presentations, PLCs, and work groups with eleven co-teachers in multiple inclusionary models. She has implemented best practices for collaboratively serving students with special education needs and developed a system for reporting progress monitoring data on Individualized Education Program goals.
Jennifer Carnahan
Jennifer Carnahan, a National Board-Certified teacher, supports student-centered coaching practices at Whitman Elementary School in her seventh year as a Title I literacy coach. She excels in technology integration and implementation of high-leverage instructional strategies using data-driven dialogue to inform practices with grade level PLCs.
ESEA Network
The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (formerly the National Title I Association) is dedicated to building the capacity of education professionals to provide disadvantaged children with a high quality education. Their ESEA Network website provides a host of resources to educators at all levels.
Connect With Us
 |
 |
 |
 |
Contact Us
admin@eseanetwork.org | 800-256-6452
532 North Franklin Street | Fort Bragg, CA 95437
About Us
The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (formerly the National Title I Association) is dedicated to building the capacity of education professionals to provide disadvantaged children with a high quality education. Their ESEA Network website provides a host of resources to educators at all levels.
Connect with Us
|
|
|
|
