Longfields Elementary School served as the backdrop for a powerful visit by Governor Wes Moore and Maryland State Superintendent Dr. Carey Wright, who came to see firsthand how instructional coaching, community school supports and strong leadership are driving student achievement in math and literacy.
The visit highlighted not just impressive academic gains — some of the largest in the school system since 2022 — but also a shared commitment to student success that extends from the classroom to the community and beyond.
“Progress doesn’t happen by accident,” Governor Moore said. “It takes leadership, partnership, amazing educators and people who are willing to serve.”
He highlighted the important work of instructional coaching, which is helping teachers across Maryland build confidence, foster innovation and deliver results for students.
During a roundtable discussion, leaders also addressed the educator shortage, raising teacher pay, implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and the need for more flexible thinking and practices in the wake of
the pandemic.
Inside classrooms at Longfields, teachers are modeling lessons for each other to meet student needs in new ways. Moore witnessed how coaching and collaboration between teachers are boosting performance and reshaping the culture of learning.
Superintendent Millard House II underscored the role of community school support and funding in creating out-of-the-box incentives that improve attendance and performance. At Longfields, those resources are helping staff find new ways to keep students engaged and on track.
For Principal Carmen Bell, the day was a chance to showcase a team effort by which educators, coaches and central office teams are working together to analyze data, share strategies and push forward to support every student.
Longfields fifth grade teacher Will Addison shared how instructional coaching has transformed his teaching.
“It has changed my mindset from surviving to thriving,” Addison said. “Coaching helps me as a teacher, and helps me coach my students. I feel valued and able to make an impact.”
Instructional coaching provides subject-matter expertise and guidance to support the practice of teaching. Coaching promotes both high-quality instruction and educator development, in addition to improving student outcomes. The Academic Excellence Program, part of the Moore-Miller Administration’s Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act signed into law last month, is a proposed model strategy based on instructional coaching to improve literacy and math scores in Maryland public schools.
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