In three years Jason Tadlock helped turn around a tough situation in a small K-8 district outside Milwaukee by investing in technology and teachers.
When Tadlock arrived, the was losing about 20% of its
students to neighboring districts and hemorrhaging money. Three years later they had reversed the situation.
At a July board retreat days after Tadlock鈥檚 arrival, he pitched a plan to create 21st Century learning, including 1:1 computer access. The board bought
it, borrowed money; teachers implemented the plan, and focused on tech integration and STEM weeks later. Classrooms were updated with wireless, LCD
projectors and whiteboards.
What was the winning rationale? Tadlock said, 鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to maximize student growth, we need to put tools in their hands, to let them learn anywhere
anytime, and let them access instruction in their zone of proximal development.鈥� He noted, 鈥淲ith tools like Compass Odyssey, teachers can create custom
辫补迟丑飞补测蝉.鈥�
Wheatland adopted from Boston Museum of Science in elementary grades and , Gateway to Technology, in middle grades.
There is 90 minutes of instructional time for math. Wheatland pairs teachers in teams to balance their strengths--teams share math/science with
literacy/social studies.
Rosetta Stone is used to extend access to languages starting in grade 2. Kids are spending about 3 hours per week immersed in languages including Russian,
Korean, Japanese, Italian, and Hebrew. As a former Spanish teacher, Tadlock knew there is 鈥渟o much research that exposure at an early age will have a lot
of benefit.鈥� Rosetta Stone is integrated with songs and teacher-led activities. 鈥淭here is lots of cross pollination happening in the lab,鈥� said Tadlock. He
added, 鈥淭he beauty of Rosetta Stone and Compass is that kids work at their own pace.鈥� He anticipates that Wheatland students will arrive in high school
with the equivalent language skills exceeding second year students.
The result? 鈥淓ngagement levels skyrocketed.鈥� Tadlock added, 鈥淚t鈥檚 rare to see students not on task.鈥� Computer proficiency obviously improved but 鈥渢hat was
a secondary benefit鈥� and after school tutoring is offered to all students. Wheatland is monitoring progress using NWEA鈥檚 MAPS test to drive academic
interventions.
With rising enrollments, the district was able to restore co-curriculars and push for much higher after school involvement in activities, ranging from
sewing to robotics.
Wisconsin noticed. After helping to create great growth at Wheatland, Jason will become the superintendent in Elkhorn, a neighboring K-12 district on July
1.