Season 1, Ep. 5 - Slaying Tier 1 (K-8) w/Executive Director Angy Graham (Part 2 of 2)

In this conversation, Educate's Founder (Staci) interviews Angy Graham, the Executive Director of PK Curriculum and Instruction at Rankin County School District in Mississippi. They discuss how the district achieved significant improvements in literacy outcomes, with 89% of kindergartners reaching grade level according to iReady by the end of 2024. They also talk about the district's focus on Tier 1 instruction, the importance of collaboration and collective practices, and the impact of their efforts on student success. Angy Graham shares the district's journey, the results they have achieved, and their plans for the future. KEYWORDS: literacy success, Rankin County School District, Mississippi, kindergarten, iReady, tier one instruction, collaboration, collective practices, student success TAKEAWAYS: Rankin County School District in Mississippi achieved significant improvements in literacy outcomes, with 89% of kindergartners reaching grade level according to iReady by the end of 2024. The district's success can be attributed to their focus (by teachers and leaders) on Tier 1 instruction and the implementation of collective practices across all grade levels. Collaboration and communication between teachers, leaders, and administrators played a crucial role in the district's achievements. The district's efforts have had a positive impact on student success, with increasing percentages of students performing at or above grade level. Rankin County School District's story has gained recognition and they have been invited to share their experiences and strategies at various conferences and events. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 00:28 Implementation and Challenges 00:51 Expanding the Implementation 02:04 Building a Bench of Educate Facilitators 03:20 Empowering Teachers with Tier One Training 05:39 Repurposing Resources for Success 08:31 Data-Driven Results 09:59 Excitement of Seeing Success 10:12 Reflections on the Journey and Future Plans 10:54 Unifying the District and Meeting in the Middle 13:13 Expanding the Focus to Grades 9-12 15:40 Recognition and Humility 16:12 Sharing the Story and Future Engagements 22:51