Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching reposted this
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to spend time in Roanoke County Schools, visiting both Glenvar High School and Northside High School over two days. At Glenvar High School, led by Corie Franklin, a member of the Future of High School Network, and at Northside High School, I had the chance to see something powerful in action: Presentations of Learning. Not performances. Not compliance. Real learning. Students stood in front of educators, peers, and community members and reflected on their four years of high school. They didn’t just share what they did, they made meaning of it. They connected their experiences to the durable skills that Roanoke County Public Schools calls “Opportunity-Ready skills.” Communication. Critical thinking. Collaboration. Ownership. You could see it. You could feel it. Students spoke with clarity about who they are, what they have learned, and how they have grown. They named challenges. They articulated strengths. They made connections between their experiences and their futures. And perhaps most importantly, they believed what they were saying. As part of my work with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, we often talk about what it means to create actionable forms of assessment and meaningful ways to recognize learning. This is it. This is what it looks like when: • Students own their learning • Assessment reflects growth over time • Schools prioritize the skills that matter for life, not just for tests Too often, we ask students to complete school. Here, students are making sense of their learning and carrying it forward. Grateful to the teams at Glenvar and Northside, and to the leadership in Roanoke, for showing what is possible when we align learning, assessment, and purpose. This is not just a moment. This is a direction. Jamie Soltis Michael Riley