Idaho EdNews recently highlighted Gooding School District as one of the few districts in the day that have shown academic progress in math and science since the global pandemic.
Below is an except from the articles. To view more of the interview and statistics please visit the following 2 links:
- https://www.idahoednews.org/top-news/many-idaho-students-never-caught-up-after-the-pandemic-thats-not-the-case-in-these-districts/
- https://www.idahoednews.org/top-news/report-idaho-students-are-behind-in-math-and-reading-but-state-and-local-leaders-can-change-that/
In an article on Idaho EdNews, Mr. Carson, superintendent, was interviewed:
In rural Gooding, north of Twin Falls, community support helps ensure the success of the small local district’s approximately 1,200 students.
“Just like all rural agricultural communities in Idaho, their culture is their school district, and we embrace that,” said David Carson, superintendent of Gooding School District.
District staff members try to be involved and visible within the community, whether that’s at local parades or rodeos. And the district is part of the community — about 74% of its staff lives in Gooding, which is somewhat unique, Carson said. In other rural districts he’s lead, like Hansen, many teachers commute to work from neighboring towns.
Ultimately, that support translates to supplemental levy renewals, Carson said. And that means the district can afford extra staff members and resources for students.
“A concerted effort has been made to put extra money into people,” Carson said. “Having more staff to work with students is always going to be a good thing.”
Carson said his district plans to continue funding after-school tutoring and extra staffing previously covered by federal COVID-relief dollars, which have now expired. The district will either secure grants to do so, or pull from other revenue sources.
Carson also attributes students’ academic recovery to regular teacher collaboration — called Professional Learning Communities or PLCs in education jargon.
Gooding has long operated on four-day weeks, which provides teachers the opportunity to spend one Friday each month collaborating and training.
While many Idaho schools have PLCs, Carson said they all take a different approach, and some are more effective than others: “It’s about how well you do them, and the time and effort and intentionality you put into that.”