Superintendent Message January 2026

 

Dear Wolfpack Family,

As we begin a new season of learning and growth, I want to highlight the powerful role that goal setting plays in supporting student success and strengthening our entire school community. When done well, goal setting helps provide clarity, motivation, and a shared sense of purpose, from the individual student to the district as a whole.

Because Reading remains a priority for our district, our student achievement goals are dedicated to helping all our students grow in that area. For that reason, we set, and have been working towards the following goals:  

By the end of the 2025–2026 school year, 77% of Jamestown students will demonstrate Typical Growth in Reading and/or meet grade-level proficiency on the i-Ready Reading diagnostic (mid-year and/or end-of-year). Of those students, at least 57% will reach their Stretch Growth goal - representing a 5% increase in typical growth and a 10% increase in stretch growth from Spring 2025. 

 

For our students with disabilities subgroup, 75% of students will demonstrate Typical Growth and/or meet grade-level proficiency, with at least 40% achieving Stretch Growth.  This reflects a 10% increase in typical growth and a 10% increase in stretch growth, accelerating progress to close reading gaps and ensure equitable outcomes.

 

 

To help us monitor and support progress toward these district goals, we have developed a series of action steps, one of which focuses on the purposeful use of i-Ready Personalized Instruction. Schools are working with students to set individual time-on-task goals in i-Ready Reading, helping them take ownership of their learning and ensuring they spend the focused practice time needed to strengthen key literacy skills.

 

i-Ready Personalized Instruction delivers lessons tailored to each student’s skill level and learning needs, allowing them to progress at a pace that is just right for them. The interactive format keeps students engaged while providing targeted support in the areas that matter most.

 

Research from i-Ready shows that students in Grades K–8 who meet the recommended usage of 30–49 minutes per subject per week tend to exceed typical growth expectations. In contrast, students who average only 10–29 minutes per week show significantly less progress. While this recommended range applies to all grade levels, older students (grades 3 and up) are encouraged to work toward the higher end in order to build the stamina and depth of practice needed for more advanced reading skills.

 

Currently, the average Jamestown student has completed 6 hours and 39 minutes of i-Ready Reading so far this year which is approximately 400 minutes. When spread across the past 12 instructional weeks (excluding Thanksgiving week), this amounts to roughly 33 minutes per week per student, which is just above the minimum recommended time to exceed Typical Growth. To help more students reach their goals, some may benefit from additional support with i-Ready at home.

 

Your partnership makes a meaningful difference. Here are a few simple ways you can support your child in reaching their i-Ready goals:

 

Set a weekly at- home routine: If your child is in grades 3 and up, they are expected to complete some amount of personalized instruction for homework weekly, depending on grade level expectations. Setting up a routine at home and checking in on iReady progress is a great way to support student growth.

Encourage focus and effort: Remind your child to work carefully and persist through challenging tasks—this is where the most learning and growth occur. In grades 6th-8th there are opportunities to retry lessons as needed. Please encourage older students to take advantage of this opportunity.

 

Create a quiet workspace: A calm, distraction-free area helps students stay engaged and make steady progress.
Celebrate consistency: Recognize your child’s effort in meeting their weekly goals. Small celebrations build motivation and positive habits.

Stay connected: Ask your child to share what they are learning on i-Ready. These conversations reinforce skills and keep you informed about their progress.

Touch base with teachers: Don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher for updates or strategies to support continued growth.

Working together—students, families, educators, and our entire district—we can ensure that every student is supported, challenged, and inspired to reach their learning goals. Thank you for your continued partnership and for all you do to support your child’s education.

 

Life is good,

 

David Raleigh, Superintendent