Board of Education presents positive 2023-24 superintendent evaluation – Greeley Tribune

The Greeley-Evans School District 6 Board of Education believes the superintendent’s leadership has made the district more successful each year since 2015.

The board referred to her leadership as “innovative, energetic and exemplary” in a 2023-24 performance evaluation approved by the board at its business meeting Monday.

All board members evaluated superintendent Deidre Pilch’s performance in the four focus areas of Innovation 2030, the district’s strategic plan created under her leadership. The focus areas include student learning and achievement, strengthening partnerships, climate and culture, and operational and organizational effectiveness.

Student achievement

The board commended Pilch for academic success in the district. Under her leadership, graduation rates have increased by 10% over her tenure — from 76.9% in 2015 to the anticipated 2024 rate of over 87%, according to Board President Michael Mathews.

The board shared admiration for Pilch’s efforts to grow offerings in career academies, concurrent enrollment and internships, according to the evaluation. Mathews cited that Pilch has contributed to a 52% increase in AP scholars since 2022, with 166 AP scholars in 2024.

The evaluation highlighted an increase in the district performance rating from 48.7% in 2023 to 51.5% in 2024.

The Colorado Department of Education publishes annual school and district performance frameworks that showcase district accreditation ratings. Ratings are based on key indicators of student outcomes, including academic achievement, academic growth and postsecondary and workforce readiness. Districts and schools earn points for each key indicator, combined to determine the overall rating.

The district accreditation scale is split between six ratings: insufficient data, turnaround, priority improvement, improvement, accredited and distinction. Insufficient data is 0%, accredited with turnaround is between 25% and 33.9%, accredited with priority improvement is between a 34% and 43.9% rating, accredited with improvement is between 44% and 55.9%, accredited is between 56% to 73.9% and accredited with distinction is a 74% to 100% rating.

This means District 6 sits at “accredited with improvement.”

School ratings show 26 schools, 82% of the district’s schools, are at performance and improvement levels, only six schools, 18%, are in priority improvement and no schools are in turnaround.

The Colorado State Board of Education assigns one of five accreditation categories to schools based on an annual review of performance. Priority improvement and turnaround status are the two lowest categories.

Schools considered priority improvement and turnaround have a “five-year accountability clock,” meaning school districts must achieve higher ratings before the state board removes their accreditation. District leaders must conduct a needs assessment for these schools to identify and prioritize issues to reach a higher accreditation category, such as performance and improvement.

Performance is the highest rating for schools, followed by improvement.

“While the data shows dramatic improvement over the course of her tenure, we encourage Dr. Pilch to continue to make student learning and achievement her top area of ​​focus,” the evaluation read. “We believe the full implementation of individualized learning plans for all students will positively impact student learning and achievement.”

operational effectiveness

Mathews mentioned the evaluation’s acknowledgment of Pilch’s role in operational effectiveness, including raising teacher salaries by 22% over the past two years. Her leadership has also led to increases in the district’s reserves and meets mandatory budget expenditures.

Pilch has led successful mill levy override and bond campaigns and secured grants for district students.

This focus area only had one recommendation by the board: For Pilch to prepare a new facility master plan to evaluate the current facility needs and how to meet them in the future now that the 2019 bond issue projects have been completed.

On Monday, the board approved the contract to purchase a building where the district currently rents space for the Greeley-Evans Alternative Program at 6200 W. 20th St. The district built up a reserve of funding to move forward with the purchase.

Vice President Natalie Mash also highlighted how Pilch helped pass the Colorado School Finance Act to benefit District 6 students and others around the state. Full implementation will increase state funding for District 6 by $18 million annually.

Mash said Pilch’s efforts to secure support for the bill have created high levels of respect and strong partnerships.

Strengthening partnerships

Pilch’s performance in partnerships “surpasses” the board’s highest expectations, the evaluation said. Board member Kyle Bentley said he’s reminding by legislators and other district leaders across the state how lucky District 6 is to have her as a leader.

“I always tell everybody when they ask about her that she is one of the most impressive women I have ever met,” Bentley said. “I’m selling her short honestly, so from here on out, you’re one of the most impressive human beings I have ever met.”

The evaluation praised Pilch’s ability to cultivate partnerships, seen in the number of backpack sponsors for the annual School Kickoff, the continuously increasing number of business partners who provide student internships and the partnerships with the University of Northern Colorado and Aims Community College to better the lives of students and staff.

Climate and culture

The board said Pilch shows a commitment to celebrating diversity.

Under her leadership, District 6 works to ensure language barriers don’t impact family engagement through efforts such as real-time translation when Spanish-speaking parents present information at board meetings or at meetings to form partnerships between schools and families to increase student achievement and family engagement. Efforts also include the MotherRead/FatherRead program, a course for parents that encourages them to read to their children at home.

The board’s evaluation encourages Pilch to continue working towards increasing diversity among staff members to reflect the diversity in the community. In District 6, there are more than 50 different primary languages, and 70% of students live in poverty.

Board member Brenda Campos-Spitze said Pilch means it when she says she’s “educating kids out of poverty.” Campos-Spitze believes Pilch could work in any school district across the country due to her impressive achievements and experience but she chooses District 6 because that’s where her heart is.

To view the full evaluation, go to bit.ly/3zJrWmB.

“Our students, staff and communities have thrived during every time as superintendent,” Mathews said Monday evening. “We recognize that she is a special leader, and our sincerest hope is that the communities of Greeley and Evans will join us in this recognition.”