In this episode of Unlock 360°, host Wendy York Davoud talks with Dr. Katie Jarnot, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at Eagle County School District. She shares how her team is guiding the district through change, navigating the recovery from Covid, and strengthening systems that support equitable learning for all students.
Wendy and Dr. Jarnot explore the district’s shift toward standards based grading, the role of teacher leaders as instructional coaches, and how a tugboat mindset can steady a district during both rapid change and long-term improvement.
Key Moments
01:17 Growing up in Eagle County and returning as a leader
03:03 Early student teaching challenges that shaped her path
09:58 How substitute teaching helped her rediscover education
13:23 Moving into administration and seeing principals as “producers”
15:28 Why she loves middle school learners and supporting them
19:23 Transitioning away from TAP and pay for performance
24:23 Navigating shifting leadership and districtwide change
27:55 How Covid disrupted systems, behavior, and learning
28:57 Beginning the standards based grading journey
31:44 Addressing parent concerns through college admissions voices
38:01 Student benefits, revision culture, and growth data
40:04 How the teacher leader model supports instructional improvement
Why You’ll Love This Episode
This conversation offers a grounded look at how a district can rebuild coherence and trust after years of disruption. Dr. Jarnot shares honest lessons about grading reform, teacher leadership, and focusing on what matters most for students.
About Unlock 360°
Unlock 360° is the podcast where school leaders and instructional trailblazers reveal how they are turning bold vision into sustainable action. Powered by Lead Teach Learn 360, each episode brings you inside the systems, strategies, and human stories that drive school improvement, one leader, one learner, and one breakthrough at a time.
What is Unlock 360?
Welcome to Unlock 360 Podcast, where each episode unpacks the practices, partnerships, and people behind measurable gains in student outcomes. From building collaborative leadership cultures to designing equity-driven systems, you'll hear what happens when clarity, coherence, and coaching align.
Whether you're a superintendent, campus leader, or classroom educator, Unlock 360 offers fresh insights, practical strategies, and an honest look at what it takes to create lasting impact. New episodes released biweekly.