Mindy Walker

Standardized tests were never designed to capture the full range of how students learn. They were designed to compare performance under identical conditions. Research in cognitive psychology and educational measurement has shown for decades that standardized tests are highly sensitive to factors like: processing speed reading stamina test anxiety working memory load familiarity with test formats In other words, they measure how a brain performs in a narrow, timed environment, not how deeply it understands content. That’s why standardized tests consistently favor certain cognitive profiles: fast processors strong abstract and language-based thinkers students comfortable with pressure and prolonged focus They reward speed, stamina, and format fluency, not curiosity, creativity, reasoning depth, or real-world application. Which leads to a misunderstanding we keep making. Some students test well but disengage from school. Others engage deeply, explain their thinking, apply concepts, and grow , yet struggle on tests. Both can be true. And neither tells you who a student really is. A test score is not a measure of learning capacity. It’s a snapshot of performance under artificial conditions. When we confuse the two, we don’t just misread students. We mis-teach them.

School boards set policies, allocate budgets, and guide the direction of education. But without building strong relationships with the superintendent and district staff, it means little. True leadership starts with trust, collaboration, and mutual respect. Relationships begin at the board level and extend throughout the entire district, creating an environment where everyone—admin, teachers, students, and staff—can succeed. @NSBAPublicEd

Tne question administrators should ask their teachers/ staff most often is; How can I help you be your best? That one question can transform school culture.

Our students need recess, unstructured play, physical education, all the Arts, and their extracurricular activities! That's how we make their social/emotional health a priority.