We recently asked Dr. Gabrielle Rodriguez, Superintendent of Central School District 104 (IL) what advice she would give to other leaders leading the literacy charge that ensures every student succeeds in their district. Her short answer? We can’t afford to wait.
“Too often, schools rely on benchmark tests and high-stakes assessments to tell us how students are doing, but by then, it’s too late,” she shared. “If we truly want to transform early literacy outcomes, we need real-time, skills-based data that empowers teachers to take action immediately.”
To create a true culture of literacy improvement, her district has moved beyond benchmark tests, prioritizing real-time, actionable data over snapshot test scores. This ensures that all educators know the daily progress their students are making—or where they’re still struggling.