Bret A. Champion, Ed.D.

Dr. Bret A. Champion became Leander ISD’s Superintendent of Schools on February 1, 2008. He is a former Leander ISD teacher, assistant principal and principal, and most recently served as Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services. Dr. Champion is in his 17th year with Leander ISD.

Champion was a member of the second corps of the "Teach For America" program – which recruits and trains teachers to serve in low-income communities. Dr. Champion’s first teaching positions were in inner-city schools in Houston, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He received his Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from the University of Texas, his Masters in Education (M.Ed.) from Texas State University, and his BA in English Literature from the University of Houston.

Dr. Champion’s wife, Marcee, is an adjunct professor at Austin Community College. Their sons, Alan and Nicholas, attend Leander ISD schools.

Note: The gap in Dr. Champion's "Welcome Back" video is due to copyrighted materials that cannot be placed on the web.

Week of: November 16, 2009

Assessment for Learning Empowers Teachers and Students

In the education world, we hear a lot about assessments. Assessment is another word for test. Several years ago, Leander ISD began adopting the practice of using assessment for learning, instead of relying solely on assessment of learning. Currently, our teachers use a combination of both so that our students get the full benefit of maximized instruction.

If you are unfamiliar with LISD’s practice of assessment for learning, you might be surprised at how powerful an impact the word “for” can have over the word “of.” The one-word difference is small, but don’t be deceived. When it comes to improving student achievement, assessment for learning is in a league of its own.

A key benefit to assessment for learning is that teachers are empowered to adapt their teaching to meet the needs of their students in real time. Instead of a teacher administering a test at the end of a unit, giving grades and seeing who understood the material and who did not (as in assessment of learning), teachers are equipped with the tools to assess their students’ understanding as they go through the material, allowing them more opportunities to make adjustments in their instruction. This practice is a quality assurance approach to education, which shifts the focus from teaching to learning. Improvements to instruction are ongoing because assessments are ongoing.

Assessment for learning requires extensive planning prior to instruction in order for it to reach its maximum benefit. Our teachers must be ready to prompt students to think about their own understanding and use the proper tools to provide more differentiated instruction. These tools can range from the very simple to more complex, but ultimately accomplish the same thing— they give the teacher a quick look at their students’ level of understanding. A teacher can also facilitate student-led discussions, allowing students to talk about their answers and learn from each other. LISD teachers do a marvelous job preparing their assessments and are the model for other districts who implement assessment for learning.

One of the most valuable skills that comes from assessment for learning is its ability to encourage students to self-assess. It empowers students to take ownership of their learning and helps keep them actively engaged. Many LISD students keep a data notebook, which compiles their assessment results throughout the course of the year. These notebooks help students see where they are; what their educational goals are; and most importantly, what they need to do to achieve their goals. During their student-led conferences, students use their notebooks to discuss their goals and challenges with their parents and teachers. By using their notebooks and a variety of other tools, assessment for learning allows students to improve their own achievement.

Let me emphatically state that LISD has not abandoned the practice of assessment of learning! We know that standardized tests, semester exams, and other common assessments have an important place in our schools. But, the key difference is that LISD combines the use of assessments for and of learning in order to ensure we are teaching our children in the most effective way.

There is so much that can be said about assessment for learning. It has transformed learning in Leander ISD in a positive and profound way. I hope to bring you more exciting news about how assessment for learning is shaping education in our district in the coming months.

Have a great day!