Understanding Data for Leadership Decision-Making

A school contacted me for assistance because they were disappointed with their results. Many of their school goals were not met and they are trying to figure out why. The fact that their school benchmark data indicated that they were on the right track only added more questions. Expectedly, their disappointment was magnified when it resulted in negative end-of-year results. 

The first thing we did was to review the school benchmark assessments. In this process, we quickly discovered that their benchmarks were misaligned. The state exam's expectations were far more demanding than those of the quarterly benchmarks. They failed to assess the critical thinking and analytical skills needed for success. 

They were using the wrong gauge, and consequently, they celebrated successes that were ultimately misleading. This misalignment led to shock and confusion when the actual results failed to match their inflated expectations. Their reliance on inappropriate metrics created a false sense of achievement, leaving them unprepared for the harsh realities that followed.

After we met and aligned their gauges, they are well on their way to better results this year. 

Data is just a gauge. It allows you to make decisions before bigger issues occur. Data serves as a measuring tool, helping you make informed decisions before larger problems arise. However, making accurate decisions can be challenging if you're relying on incorrect metrics.

To help us understand why gauges are so important when working with data, let’s consider an analogy to a car. Many of us drive a car to reach our destination. The destination for the car is your goal. The trip could be to a local store (short-term goal) or a road trip (long-term goal). Depending on your goal, the preparation is different. However, we know that the car alone is incapable of making the trip by itself. It must have a driver. The driver is the school leader or leadership team. 

As a leader or member of the school leadership team, you are the driver and responsible for the care of your car. If your low tire pressure light comes on, it’s time to slow down and check the tires. If you ignore it, you will eventually end up with a flat and be forced to stop. If you are low on gas, it is time to find a gas station or again you will find yourself stuck. If your engine needs oil, you need to make an appointment to take care of it or your engine will seize up and no longer work. You get the point. Regular car maintenance must occur to avoid bigger issues. 

Last year, I shared key questions and gave data examples for each of these questions. See blog post: Using Data to Achieve Results (debradurma.com). As we start another school year, those questions are reviewed and cross-checked. 

Gauge 1: State & District Performance 

• Gauge: Which reports on the district benchmark are the most useful and aligned to the state assessment? Reports For: leaders? teachers? students?
• Training: What training is needed to learn how to collect and use the data from these reports?
• Data: Do we need every report, and every piece of data from our assessment system? What data can you let go to find time to go deep with what is most important?  Does the student cognitive processing required on our district assessment align with the cognitive demands on the state assessment?

Gauge 2: Classroom Instructional Goals

There should be no surprises when taking the state assessment. By identifying the correct gauges, we will know who will perform well and who will struggle. 

• Gauge: What data is needed for teachers to track students’ classroom performance on standards aligned to district and state assessments?
• Training: What training is needed to help teachers understand the standards and the cognitive demands for those standards?  What training is needed to learn how to collect and use classroom data effectively?  
• Data: Determine what type of data teachers will use to monitor classroom instruction. With this data, a system can be identified to help teachers monitor this student's performance easily and effectively. 

Gauge 3: Student Goals (after the first 2 Gauges are in place)

It is important to teach students to take responsibility for their own learning and progress. To do this, we asked what gauges students need to monitor their goals. 

• Gauge: How will students measure progress toward their goals? 
• Will students determine how to measure progress toward their goals, or will we select the criteria that they will use? 
• Training: What training is needed to teach teachers how to implement and monitor student goals? 

When working with school leaders, I help them identify and prioritize their gauges and which data are most important. This provides a filter to determine which data are worthy of your time to collect and analyze. There is no shortage of data in schools, and often I see schools with low or flat-lined results, overwhelmed with data. They are focused on the wrong data because they are using the wrong gauges. 

The next level for Data Steps 2.0 is to reflect on the prior year’s goals.

Did you meet your goals last year? If yes, then you may not need to make any changes or only minor tweaks. If not, why not? Do your gauges need to be updated? 

Were there any surprises after your state assessment results last year? Did they align with what you predicted based on your gauges? If not, again, ask why not. Do you have the correct gauges?

Understanding data is crucial for making informed decisions that will benefit our schools. We can only identify what’s working and what needs improvement if we focus on clear, accurate information. This helps us create better strategies and supports our goal of providing the best possible education for our students. Use data thoughtfully as a guide in your decision-making process in order to bring positive changes in schools.

If you are looking for support to align your goals and update or determine your correct gauges for this new school year, request a FREE consultation call with me. Fill in the Contact Form Link: https://debradurma.com/contact-us 

Type in “Yes” for “Are you Interested in STAR Leadership Data Solutions?” You will receive a follow-up email with the next step to schedule a phone call to discuss your needs and questions.

Are you unhappy with your results or feeling overwhelmed by data? If so, contact me for more information on STAR Leadership School-Student Data Solutions Training. This training will guide you through the 4 data steps and give you a blueprint for achieving results. This training is individualized and tailored to your data, your needs, your staff, your students, and your best route to achieve results.