Marysville Improving Instruction

The Center for Educational Leadership (CEL) at the University of Washington and the Marysville School District created at partnership to improve literacy instruction.
The Research Brief titled Learning at Every Level describes the opportunities that Marysville leaders and CEL consultants put in place in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 to help teachers improve their skills, help principals support teacher as they tried new strategies, and help district leaders model the changes they wanted to see.

CEL consultants worked with the district to introduce a variety of ways for leaders, coaches, and teachers to learn the components of balanced literacy and observe powerful instruction. In the second year of the partnership Marysville expanded on the professional learning structures developed in year one and added studio classroom demonstration sites. The studio sessions allowed teachers to observe expert instruction and learn side-by-side with consultants. In return teachers were expected to incorporate what they saw into their own practice.

Marysville teachers have responded positively to this new approach. Many are now more comfortable with walk-throughs and are asking for feedback. While it is too early to assess the impact of improved instruction with test scores, teachers do believe that students know more and can do more.