How My Team Turned Around Our School’s Post-Pandemic Paralysis

A Breakthrough Coach Case Study: Park Orchard Elementary, Kent, WA

“The Breakthrough Coach Program has been the most impactful professional development I’ve received in my entire tenure as principal, and our school is reaping the benefits.”

Challenge: Post-Pandemic Plummet in Math, Reading and Attendance

Patrick O’Connor, the veteran principal of Park Orchard Elementary in Kent, WA, and his school leadership team experienced “post-Pandemic paralysis.” The scope of their school’s COVID learning loss was overwhelming and discouraging. A staggering percentage of students were below grade level across the board – only 9% were on grade level in math; 19% in reading. In addition, nearly 50% of students were considered “chronically absent,” which made it extremely difficult to turnaround academic achievement.

Solution: Empower the School Secretary and Get Out of the Way

The Breakthrough Coach Fundamental Practices™ enabled Patrick to relinquish his calendar to his secretary, and to empower her to schedule specific kinds of workdays for him during the week. When she took this on, Patrick and his leadership team began spending 11 – 20 hours per week in classrooms. After observing teaching and learning extensively, the team then implemented effective interventions to meet students’ needs and optimize growth.

Outcome: Double-Digit Gains

Park Orchard has begun to climb out of its COVID learning-loss hole, and Patrick and his team are seeing an upward trend. After regularly spending an average of 20 hours each week in classrooms, they have raised their percentage of students on grade level in reading and math by 11%. They also expect, (and early evidence shows), another potential double-digit jump in student outcomes after the next school-wide assessment.

Conclusion:

The Breakthrough Coach Fundamental Practices™ enabled Patrick and his team to finally exercise their critical instructional leadership skills, and students are once again succeeding. “The Breakthrough Coach Program has been the most impactful professional development I’ve received in my entire tenure as principal, and our school is reaping the benefits,” says Patrick.