Presented at the SAIS Curriculum Symposium | February 2025

In February, Trinity School shared a powerful story of leadership and learning at the SAIS Curriculum Symposium. In a session titled Leading with Purpose: Data, Impact, and the Science of Reading, Marsha Harris, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Jill Gough, Director of Teaching and Learning, led participants through an interactive experience designed to help educators engage with reading data in purposeful, student-centered ways.

Together, we modeled how schools can move from data collection to instructional insight, always with the learner at the center. Grounded in the science of reading and a commitment to equity, this session helped educators experience what it feels like to use data not as a compliance tool but as a lens for seeing growth, guiding support, and celebrating learning.

Session at a Glance

Here’s how the 60-minute experience unfolded:

Welcome, Purpose, and Framing (10 minutes)

• Jill and Marsha opened by naming the shared purpose: to explore how reading data can strengthen both independent reading behaviors and comprehension growth.
• Participants were invited to center their thinking on impact, not just outcomes, but the daily decisions that shape learning.
• The framing emphasized trust, transparency, and teamwork in using data well.

Classroom Data Analysis + Differentiation Discussion (25 minutes)

Participants worked through a real classroom data set to consider small-group design and Tier I/Tier II support strategies.

Structure of interaction:

• 5 minutes – Quiet think time to notice trends and patterns
• 10 minutes – Turn and talk with a partner to explore questions and ideas
• 10 minutes – Partner-pairs combine to compare interpretations and instructional implications

Focus questions included:

• What strengths and needs do you see in this class snapshot?
• How might you group students for targeted support?
• Where do you see opportunities to reinforce independence?

Growth Over Time: Student Profile Analysis (15 minutes)

Participants stepped into the role of a data team, reviewing five (two shown below) anonymized individual student profiles.

Structure of interaction:

• 5 minutes – Individual review of the student profiles
• 10 minutes – Data team discussion: What do you notice? What do you wonder? What next steps would you consider?

This segment highlighted the human side of data, celebrating progress while thoughtfully planning for the future.

Closing, Synthesis, and Q&A (10 minutes)

• Jill and Marsha facilitated a group debrief to surface insights, strategies, and shifts in perspective.
• Participants shared one big takeaway and one next step.
• The session ended with an open invitation to continue the learning journey together.