A New Approach to Measure Student Success - Justin Wagner, Superintendent of Woodbine School District

The TechEd Podcast

The traditional K-12 education model in America - one that's remain unchanged for decades - no longer serves our students like it should. It's an inadequate system that needs to be disrupted, and superintendent Justin Wagner and his team at Woodbine Community School District decided to take action to change it.

Hear how they built a new model centered around involved, relevant and personalized learning. One that focuses on student voice and choice and gets the parents involved. One that's seen tremendous success in student engagement as kids are finally being taught in a manner that best works for them.

In this episode, you'll not only hear the story of how Woodbine School District created this new plan, but also discover how the model resulted in some incredible outcomes for students and the community.

3 Big Takeaways:

1. K-12 education must be personalized: K-12 education can't be a one-size-fits-all approach. The lack of personalization in our system is leaving behind those kids who learn in different ways. We need to reach students in the way they learn best, and then measure their learning accordingly. Hear how Woodbine and the Ignite Pathways program has given students voice and choice in how they learn while still being aligned to state standards.
2. New metrics for success - student enrollment, academics, and behaviors: How do we know Woodbine's model works? The district has seen more students coming to the district , a rise in academic achievement, and a massive decrease in student behaviors. The moral of the story? When students' needs are met, they're more engaged in their learning, they stick and stay, and they actually understand the knowledge and can apply it in the real world.
3. Ignite Pathways is a personalized approach to Career and Technical Education: Learn about Ignite Pathways, where middle school, high school and adult students can earn their core credits through career-relevant, personalized learning experiences in areas like agriculture, industrial maintenance, health sciences, & technology. From career exploration to skill-building, the Ignite Pathways approach is all about competency-based learning.

Resources:
Woodbine Community School District:

• Visit the WCSD website
• Visit the Ignite Pathways website

Other episodes referenced:

• Wisconsin Adjutant General Paul Knapp
• North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum
• Northern Cass Superintendent Cory Steiner
• Saint Paul Public Schools Superintendent Joe Gothard

Connect with Ignite Pathways:

LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Full notes on the episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/wagner/

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Chapters

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Justin Wagner: Military and Education Leader (00:02:53)

3. The Need for Disruption in Education (00:08:15)

4. Measuring Success in Education (00:14:50)

5. Introduction to Woodbine Community School District (00:18:23)

6. The Creation of Ignite Pathways (00:26:19)

7. Benefits of a Multi-Age Learning Environment (00:31:19)

8. Success Stories and Parent Involvement (00:37:20)

9. Seat Time Waiver and Policy Challenges (00:41:28)

10. New Measurements for Student Success (00:45:10)

11. Advice for District Administrators (00:51:52)

12. Advice for 15-year-old Self (00:54:07)