Members of the district’s Curriculum Team presented at the Improving School Performance Conference in Pittsburgh, held January 25-28. This conference is hosted by the PA Department of Education's Division of Federal Programs and the PA Association of Federal Program Coordinators (PAFPC).
Jessica Festa and Jillian Cargill presented “Huddle Up for Literacy: A Winning Game Plan for Continuous School Improvement.” They shared ways to strengthen Tier 1 instruction, refine interventions, and use evidence-based strategies to drive student achievement. Drawing from real-world playbook examples, attendees learned how to leverage Title 1 resources and teamwork to support continuous school improvement—ultimately scoring big wins for every reader on the field.
Megan Gancarz and Amy Coleman presented “Leveraging the School Improvement Process: Building Systems of Support through SWPBIS Implementation.” This session explored how schools can integrate multiple data sources within a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS). Through interactive activities and discussions, attendees gained practical tools to strengthen school improvement planning and ensure every student receives the support needed to thrive.
Eric Sarappo's presentation was “Math intervention: Empowering Every Learner: A Tiered Approach to Math Intervention with SpringMath.” He presented how an MTSS system can drive student growth in middle school math through the implementation of SpringMath. Participants learned how to use data-based decision making, progress monitoring, and evidence-based interventions to strengthen Tier 1, 2, and 3 instruction. The session highlighted practical strategies for improving math fluency, conceptual understanding, and overall achievement by aligning classroom practices with a systematic, research-based approach to intervention.