{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"OnYourMark Podcast","title":"Growing Readers, Retaining Teachers: Putnam County School District Approach to Lasting Improvement","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/6c9c9755\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2987,"description":"\nIn this episode, host Mindy Sjoblom sits down with Dr. Rick Surrency, Superintendent of Putnam County School District in Florida, and Laura France, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction. Together, they share how a district once labeled “in decline” moved from a 54.9% graduation rate and multiple failing schools to over 92% graduation and zero schools in failing status.\n\nMindy, Dr. Surrency, and Laura unpack how stable leadership, stronger Tier 1 instruction, and a relentless focus on systems not quick fixes have transformed teaching, learning, and literacy across the district. From novice teacher support to near-peer tutoring, this is a masterclass in long-game, student-centered change. \n\nKey Moments\n\n\n00:04 Welcome to the OnYourMark Podcast & Today’s Guests\n\n01:25 Rick’s 48-Year Journey in Education & Returning as Superintendent\n\n02:18 From District in Decline to 92.5% Graduation Rate\n\n03:53 Turning Around a Chronically Failing School & Scaling What Worked\n\n04:56 Laura on Strengthening Core Instruction vs. “Intervening Our Way Out”\n\n07:19 Building a Common Language for Instruction & Real-Time Professional Learning\n\n11:15 Making Learning Relevant: CTE, STEM, and Portrait of a Graduate\n\n13:51 STEM Pathways, K–12 STEM Accreditation & Cambridge Acceleration\n\n33:18 Inside Putnam’s K–12 Comprehensive Evidence-Based Reading Plan\n\n37:42 Trend Walks: Non-Evaluative Classroom Visits that Drive PD\n\n39:52 Raising Future Teachers: Near-Peer “RAISE” Tutors & Grow-Your-Own Pipelines\n\n44:45 Looking Ahead: Five New Schools, a $300M Bond, and What’s Next\n\nWhy You’ll Love This Episode\n\nIf you care about literacy, leadership, and long-term system improvement, this conversation will stay with you. Dr. Rick Surrency and Laura France share openly about moving a district from decline to stability, rebuilding core instruction, and creating systems that last beyond any one leader. They unpack how relevance, strong pedagogy, and community trust come together to help every...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/5NydEFA_qXyiCW0KwnrKe3r-T7cwMW6JrfLozUoHRfY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hZjZm/YTE1ZjRlMjNkMDU4/MzI1MTBjZWJkOGU5/M2FiYS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}