How candidates plan to fix poor performance scores in District 11
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Springs School District 11 continues its search for a new Superintendent. Tuesday, the Board of Directors held 90-minute interviews at the Tesla Professional Development Building auditorium with each of their final three candidates for the position.
The finalists include Peter Hilts, Dr. Tammy Clementi, and Michael Gaal. Parents can find a complete list of the candidate's qualifications for the superintendent position here.
One of the primary lines of questioning Tuesday night included the declining graduation rates and test scores within D11.
According to the Colorado Measures of Academic Success or CMAS test scores, School District 11 is running behind state testing averages.
Percentage of D11 students that met or exceeded expectations in English test scores in 2021:
- 3rd Grade: 30.4%
- 5the Grade: 38.5%
- 7the Grade: 32.8%
Percentage of D11 students that met or exceeded expectations in math test scores in 2021:
- 4th Grade: 20.4%
- 6th Grade: 15.2%
- 8th Grade: 15.9%
Percentage of all Colorado students that met or exceeded expectations in English test scores in 2021:
- 3rd Grade: 39.1%
- 5the Grade: 47.2%
- 7th Grade: 42.6%
Percentage of all Colorado students that met or exceeded expectations in math test scores in 2021:
- 4the Grade: 28.5%
- 6th Grade: 24.1%
- 8th Grade: 29.5%
Tuesday's candidates all have plans of action, and all three say they've turned districts around and they can do it again.
"The beginning of achievement is differentiating and personalizing learning," Hilts said.
"The most distinguished and master teachers across the state of Colorado," Clementi said.
“What it needs is a systems-level leader," Gaal said. "It’s not a new program. It’s a system.”
D11 hopes to announce the final candidate by the beginning of next month.
