Decoding NAEP: Frontline Educators Reflect on the Pace and Progress of Learning Recovery

I was really inspired…to think about what do innovation and transformation look like?…How do we drive that from the classroom up? To ensure we’re structuring both the supports, the training, [and] how time is used throughout the day in a way that centers what teachers tell us is most important, and what the data shows us as driving outcomes for kids. 

– Evan Stone, Educators for Excellence

In the April 8, 2025 Decoding NAEP session, moderated by Roberto J. Rodriguez, we heard from education leaders and practitioners who are working directly with students every day to translate NAEP data into meaningful action.

Our guests spoke candidly about the urgency of closing learning gaps and the need for both immediate and long-term strategies to support student success. Superintendent David Moore, Ed.D., from the School District of Indian River County in Florida, emphasized the power of real-time data, high-quality instructional materials, and strategic partnerships to drive instructional change. He called for innovation in public education — like rethinking grade structures and exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) — alongside regulatory flexibility to allow local solutions to flourish.

Joan Dabrowski of Baltimore City Public Schools shared the district’s investments in instructional coaching, extended learning time, and student learning plans that engage families. She urged attendees to reimagine special education so that all learners are better served.

Attendees also heard from teacher leaders Peggy Brookins of National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, NBCT, Evan Stone of Educators for Excellence, and Arthur Everett, a high school teacher from Brooklyn, New York, who highlighted the evolving nature of the teaching profession. They spoke to the importance of mentorship, professional learning communities, and the need to recruit and retain a diverse educator workforce. They also advocated for innovative staffing models, differentiated compensation, and universal access to board certification.

This session underscored that lasting change requires more than new tools — it calls for new mindsets, stronger systems, and policies that empower educators and put student needs at the center.