Scott County expands instructional-coach pilot after reported gains in teacher practice and student fluency
April 30, 2026 | Scott County, School Boards, Kentucky
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District instructional-leadership staff and classroom teachers told the Scott County Board that a phased instructional coach program is producing classroom-level changes and measurable student fluency growth. Officials said the 2024–25 pilot serving two elementary schools expanded to seven elementary schools in 2025–26 and the district plans full elementary coverage next year.
Presenters described the program model: official coaching cycles (a full cycle of four to five weeks or a short cycle of one to two weeks), partnership with CKEC for professional learning, and both modeling and co-teaching in classrooms. District data presented to the board showed 50 teachers participated in official cycles; the majority of cycles focused on Orton-Gillingham phonics instruction, with 25% of cycles emphasizing classroom management and 12.5% on small-group instruction.
Classroom teachers on a panel from Stamping Ground Elementary (Sam Bonner, Laura Brock) and Creekside (Blair Combs, Elizabeth Willoughby, Emily Biggs) described specific outcomes: changes in small-group instruction, routine building, and higher student engagement. One teacher cited a student who moved from 15 words per minute to 40 words per minute in two weeks through focused fluency work and progress monitoring via I-Ready.
District funding for the program was described as intentionally phased: this year 3.33 district-paid positions, seven positions next year, 8.33 the following year and nine positions in school year 2028–29. Board members praised the intentional rollout and the emphasis on coaching as non-evaluative professional support.
What the board approved at the meeting: later on the agenda the board approved ratification of new positions (items 17A–17M), consistent with the district's staffing plans.
Panel quote: "100% of teachers who have participated in a coaching cycle have made growth of some sort," staff presenters told the board when summarizing the program's measured results.
Next steps: district leaders said they will continue phased funding and report progress at future meetings; staff will provide additional schedule and impact data as coaching cycles continue.
Presenters described the program model: official coaching cycles (a full cycle of four to five weeks or a short cycle of one to two weeks), partnership with CKEC for professional learning, and both modeling and co-teaching in classrooms. District data presented to the board showed 50 teachers participated in official cycles; the majority of cycles focused on Orton-Gillingham phonics instruction, with 25% of cycles emphasizing classroom management and 12.5% on small-group instruction.
Classroom teachers on a panel from Stamping Ground Elementary (Sam Bonner, Laura Brock) and Creekside (Blair Combs, Elizabeth Willoughby, Emily Biggs) described specific outcomes: changes in small-group instruction, routine building, and higher student engagement. One teacher cited a student who moved from 15 words per minute to 40 words per minute in two weeks through focused fluency work and progress monitoring via I-Ready.
District funding for the program was described as intentionally phased: this year 3.33 district-paid positions, seven positions next year, 8.33 the following year and nine positions in school year 2028–29. Board members praised the intentional rollout and the emphasis on coaching as non-evaluative professional support.
What the board approved at the meeting: later on the agenda the board approved ratification of new positions (items 17A–17M), consistent with the district's staffing plans.
Panel quote: "100% of teachers who have participated in a coaching cycle have made growth of some sort," staff presenters told the board when summarizing the program's measured results.
Next steps: district leaders said they will continue phased funding and report progress at future meetings; staff will provide additional schedule and impact data as coaching cycles continue.
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