Union Cross Elementary School in North Carolina was named a 2023 National ESEA Distinguished School for closing the achievement gap among diverse student populations. The school is part of a districtwide partnership with Relay Graduate School of Education focused on coaching school and district leaders on essential skills like supporting teachers to analyze student data and giving effective feedback. After just two years, the results are encouraging: reading proficiency among economically disadvantaged students at Union Cross improved by 13 percentage points in 2022-23, which significantly outpaced the state’s overall improvement for that student group (+4 percentage points). This session will highlight best practices for creating inclusive learning environments and establishing rigorous instructional practices to drive student achievement.