Lindbergh Schools honor students and staff; principals report gains in assessments and expanded career programs

Principals from Truman Middle School and Lindbergh High School used the Lindbergh Schools board meeting to recognize students and staff and to outline recent academic and programmatic gains.

Dr. Mike Stratman, introduced by the board as representing Truman Middle School, recognized two eighth-grade students, Elizabeth Weaver and Nico Nicastro, for leadership and academic achievement. He also honored staff including Mallory Setsicorn as support staff person of the year and Ashley Allen as teacher of the year. "We just finished I Ready testing this week for the spring," Stratman told the board, and he said the results show positive student growth across grade levels in reading and math. He attributed gains in math in part to an instructional shift toward small-group, collaborative problem solving and data-driven decision-making.

Stratman also described supports for students, including intervention services, 45 classroom lessons focused on social-emotional and success skills, and proactive risk assessments. He cited staff survey results showing a high level of staff satisfaction, noting that roughly 94% of staff reported feeling valued.

At Lindbergh High School, Dr. Eric Cochran recognized staff and students and summarized the high school's recent performance and program expansion. Cochran highlighted that the school recorded nine perfect ACT scores for the current graduating class and said AP participation has grown from 1,281 tests last year to about 1,488 this year. "The biggest highlight, of course, for ACT was the fact that we had 9 perfect scores," Cochran said.

Cochran also detailed real-world learning initiatives: an Amped Venue apparel program that has produced more than 700 apparel items, national recognition for students running a vending/DECA program, and a planned expansion of internships from 17 this year to 50 next year. He listed proposed new courses for next year including geometry and construction and a real estate class aimed at strengthening career pathways.

Both principals said personalized learning, collaborative classroom designs and intentional student leadership opportunities have supported higher engagement. Board members asked questions about whether test-score changes reflected instructional changes or assessment differences; Stratman said instructional practices and student engagement are the main drivers behind Truman's gains.

The board thanked the students, families and staff for participating in the recognitions. The student representative's written report was made available on BoardDocs, and the board took a short break after the presentations.