VVSD's Data Director: Using Data to Drive instruction

Editor's Note: The following is a release from the Valley View School District.

Over the past decade or so, the Valley View School District 365U has become extremely adept at gathering data on students.

“The problem is,” said VVSD’s Kelly Gilbert. “At the middle and high school levels, we don’t always use that information to drive our instructional practices.”

Gilbert, the district’s new director of data and assessment, calls it “The DRIPs” (Data Rich, Information Poor Syndrome.) She says “The DRIPS” is the main reason she assumed her new duties this year after six years as principal of .

“We need to give our instructional leaders and administrators all the tools they need so that everyone speaks the same language about our kids,” the Saint Mary’s College and St. Xavier University grad said. “We’re a unit district and, in the past, we haven’t done a very good job articulating that from pre K through 12. That will now change.”

The key, Gilbert said, is to put in place a central data system that generates reports that help drive classroom instructional techniques based on individual student performances.

“My job is to look at the data we’re collecting, figure out what we’re doing with it, and, most importantly, figure out ways to get it into the hands of our teachers,” she said.

But, she added, students and parents will also benefit from the new emphasis.

“It will help students ask ‘how can I be a better student and how am I working with my teacher to make sure I am a better student? Have I set goals for myself? Am I getting feedback and giving feedback to my teacher so my teacher can better understand me and be a better teacher?’” Gilbert said.

Meanwhile parents will be able to better understand their child’s strengths and weaknesses and will become more knowledgeable in how to support their child’s specific needs at home.

“It will be a continuous flow of information,” Gilbert said. “We’ll make it meaningful and user friendly for everyone to understand.”