Putting Kids First.... With Data?? No, Really!

When we think of "putting kids first" a million things run through our minds-

Classrooms where EVERY child is given an opportunity to grow and learn academically, socially, and emotionally.
Teachers who work tirelessly to create lessons and activities that promote learning AND excitement about the learning process.
Schools that celebrate the differences in our students while developing a community where everyone feels they are welcome and loved.
Organizations that encourage teachers to share their successes and challenges with the hope that we all can learn from one another.
Leadership that recognizes the talented educators in their schools as professionals who know a thing or two about what is best for kids.
Communities that support their schools, knowing full well, that those who teach are touching the lives of everyone around them and creating the leaders of tomorrow.

Putting kids first means surrounding them with passionate, intelligent adults who only want what is best for the kiddos in front of them. Yet, somehow, somewhere along the line we have come to rely on numbers as our measurement of success rather than the accomplishments of our students.

Don't get me wrong- I love data- data is our friend!
Data tells us if our kiddos are getting it or if we need to rethink our instruction.  Data tells us whether or not a behavior plan is helping a child grow socially and emotionally.  Data provides us with information about our growth- as professionals- and allows us to adjust our plans accordingly. Data measures the moral of your community.  Data allows us to take a deeper look into our everyday practices. Collecting, analyzing, and measuring data CAN be used to put kids first.

The question is:  Are we using the right data to indicate success?  The answer lies within those who are directly working with our students.  If teachers are taking class time to collect data- shouldn't it be:
Data that guides instruction?
Data that provides a direct correlation to our student's social, emotional, and academic growth?
Data that allows us to change our course of action before it's too late?
Data that promotes our successes and gives us insight to our opportunities for growth?


If data is going to be collected-it must have the purpose of putting kids first or it it's just another thing on an educator's already packed to-do list.