The faculty and staff from two Uintah School District schools were celebrated recently for meeting or exceeding their student learning goals during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Superintendent Rick Woodford invited all the teachers, aides and staff from Uintah High School and Eagle View Elementary School on stage during the district’s Opening Institute in late August so they could be recognized by their peers.
“Our school board has established a clear vision for our schools. They want our students to have access to the best instruction and Uintah High School is delivering!” Woodford said.
“Administrators, teachers, and staff have worked systematically to improve instruction in all subjects and in all classrooms," he said. "This has made a significant difference in the level of learning happening in classrooms at UHS."
Woodford acknowledged that Eagle View – despite a lot of effort – struggled for decades to ensure students were proficient readers by the end of 3rd grade. Research shows that students who are proficient readers by this point typically perform well in all subjects as they transition into middle school and high school, and then into college, trade school or the workforce.
“Over the past three years there have been changes at Eagle View that have led to improved instruction, higher expectations for student learning, and ultimately significant increases in the number of students who are reading at grade level,” Woodford said. “Eagle View Elementary has truly transformed into an amazing learning environment where all students can receive an excellent education.”
Uintah High School
During the 2022-2023 school year, Uintah High met its student proficiency goals for 9th graders in English, reading and science; and met its student proficiency goals for 10th graders in English, math, reading and science. The high school also exceeded its goal of having an ACT composite score of 19 with a composite score of 19.6 on the college entrance exam.
Three-quarters of Uintah High students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses scored a 3 or higher on their exams, compared to 64 percent the previous year and 50 percent the year before that. The number of UHS students enrolled in AP classes in 2022-2023 also increased to 81 from the prior year’s total of 59.
Principal Christy Nerdin attributes the school’s remarkable student achievement last year, in part, to high-functioning professional learning communities established by teachers and administrators.
“These communities were carefully crafted to focus on student learning dynamics, emphasizing proactive responses to both student struggles and early signs of proficiency,” Nerdin said. “This approach fostered collaborative problem-solving among educators, creating an environment where insights and strategies were shared and practiced.”
Another key factor in student growth was “the meticulous alignment of our daily instruction with the state standards,” Nerdin said.
“This ensured that our students were taught the required curriculum and prepared for the measurable benchmarks and end-of-year testing,” she said. “This alignment empowered our teachers and provided our students with a clear trajectory for their learning journey.”
The success Uintah High has experienced has resulted in an environment that is “charged with positivity and vibrancy that is palpable among our educators and enthusiastic students,” Nerdin said.
“Our culture stands firmly rooted in our mission, which is intrinsically tied to the triumph of our students,” she said. “This shared commitment to achievement creates a dynamic environment where everyone is inspired to give their best.”
Eagle View Elementary
Eagle View is the only elementary school in the district over the past three years to increase the percentage of students who are reading at or above grade level and decrease the percentage of students who read well-below grade level. And, in just two years, the school has more than doubled the percentage of students who are reading above grade-level and decreased the percentage of students who are reading well-below grade level from 49 percent to 31 percent.
Eagle View Principal Chris Jones said his staff strengthened its multi-tiered systems of support, especially for reading. Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) take a proactive approach to identifying students with academic or behavioral needs. Early assessment and intervention for these students can help them catch up with their peers sooner.
“Our school’s implementation of MTSS for students who are struggling in reading has made the biggest difference, along with the adoption of the CKLA language arts curriculum,” Jones said. “The district’s decision to adopt mClass has also been a huge support.”
mCLASS is a program that highlights which reading and math skills a child already knows and shows educators where a student may need additional support. It provides teachers with instructional reading activities for each student based on their assessment score, allowing educators to deliver targeted guidance to students on specific skills.
“The kids are so proud of their achievements and we’re proud of them,” Jones said. “And for the staff, being recognized at Opening Institute for all the hard work they’ve done meant a lot. There is an excitement at our school about what is possible now.”
The state recently released a report that showed Eagle View has one of the highest retention rates in Utah for teachers and staff.
“People work here because they love the school and they love the students we serve,” Jones said. “There’s a dedication to long-term improvement, a commitment to this community. That’s a difference you can’t buy with money or programs.”
Both Nerdin and Jones highlighted the important role parents have played in the successes at their schools. Each mentioned the work done by their respective Community Councils to support the goals set by their schools. Jones also praised the support his school has received from the Ute Indian Tribe Education Department, which Woodford echoed.
“I also appreciate the efforts of the Ute Education Department,” Woodford said. “Together, we have developed a positive relationship and work collaboratively to determine how to best serve our native students.”
Both Uintah High and Eagle View are working toward new student learning goals this year. Their successes last year are indicative of improvements every USD school is striving toward to achieve the goals outlined in the district’s strategic plan, the superintendent said.
“As a district, we are committed to helping all our students score above the state average in all assessed areas in the spring,” Woodford said. “Uintah High and Eagle View are examples of the work being done in all our classroom to honor this commitment and support our students in reaching their full individual potential.”