A HOLISTIC APPROACH Duluth Public Schools’ strategic plan is anchored in three priorities, which encompass student support, advancing equity, and improving systems. Magas emphasizes the district’s commitment to addressing the whole child, so that every student has access to the resources they need to succeed. “Before I came here, there wasn’t a very strong universal curriculum, nor was there systemic support for intervention when students started falling behind,” he reports. “So, making sure that we had those things in place was the first order of business, along with making sure that the curriculum we offer, and the way we teach, is the best it can be.” The district has implemented a multi-tiered system of support, making certain that both academic and behavioral challenges are addressed with structured interventions. A focus has been placed on early literacy, and Duluth Public Schools is doubling down on science based reading practices through the implementation of the READ Act and training in the LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) framework. “It is a little more labor intensive, and it costs more. But we believe that putting your money into early literacy is really the best thing, to lay that firm foundation for kids,” explains Magas. In addition to academic initiatives, the district has prioritized the overall well-being of students.Thanks to a successful referendum in 2024, Duluth Public Schools secured funding to preserve essential jobs in social-emotional learning and mental health support. “That’s been really powerful, as well as the reading and math interventions,” he acknowledges. “Those are all different ways that we’ve worked to support our students.” EMPOWERING EDUCATORS Recognizing the challenges of teaching, the district prioritizes transparency and collaboration. Magas highlights a culture where leaders actively support educators, whether through direct classroom assistance or fostering open communication. “One 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 01 DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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