An accomplished education leader, Deborah Wahlstrom most recently served as superintendent of Mt. Clemens Community Schools in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. In her time as superintendent, Deborah Wahlstrom spearheaded successful initiatives such as using data to increase student achievement.
In recent decades, data has become one of the most important factors driving curriculum development and decision making in public schools. A catchall term for information, educational data can refer to a number of things, including test scores, classroom assessment results, report cards, and observational notes. Other forms of educational data include attendance counts, behavioral reports, and student demographics.
Research has shown that the highest performing schools use data of all kinds to guide decision making. While the planned use of data typically leads to improvements in teacher practice, school culture, and student achievement, there are a number of barriers that can prevent schools from effectively using the data they have collected.
In addition to a lack of time and resources, problems with tools and systems for data collection and analysis can get in the way of effective data use. To overcome some of these issues, many schools today are using teacher-led collaborative groups, such as professional learning communities, to help interpret data, identify learner- and practice-centered problems, and implement data-driven instructional plans.
