Newark Central School District

Executive Summary

Newark Central School District (CSD) in New York was striving to create a professional learning system that was strategic, data-driven, and impactful. However, they were being held back by disconnected systems, inefficient manual processes, and limited visibility into instructional support. Professional learning sign-ups were tracked on paper, coaching records were inconsistent, and administrators lacked a clear picture of whether teachers were receiving the support they needed.

With KickUp, Newark CSD brought everything together—professional development, coaching, and walkthroughs—into one unified system. The district now leverages real-time data to track instructional improvement, ensure professional learning aligns with school goals, and make informed decisions about how to best support teachers and students.

The Challenge

Before implementing KickUp, Newark CSD struggled with several key obstacles:

• Disorganized professional learning management: PD registration and attendance were manually tracked through paper sign-ups, leading to inefficiencies, errors, and a significant administrative burden.
• Lack of visibility into coaching and walkthroughs: Instructional coaches worked tirelessly, but there was no systematic way to measure their impact or ensure support was being directed where it was needed most.
• Data fragmentation and lost insights: With information scattered across spreadsheets and disconnected systems, it was nearly impossible to see the full picture of instructional improvement efforts.
• Concerns about coaching data: Some teachers were initially apprehensive about tracking coaching interactions, as past experiences with data collection made them cautious about how the information might be used in an evaluative manner.

"Before KickUp, professional learning was tracked manually with sign-up sheets and spreadsheets," says Krista Lewis, Newark Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum. "It was inefficient, overwhelming, and completely reliant on individuals making sure data got entered correctly. We also had no way to effectively pull data from our classroom walkthroughs and coaching sessions to analyze trends and improve instruction."

The Solution

By implementing KickUp, Newark CSD was able to transform how professional learning and instructional support were managed:

• Streamlined professional learning registration and tracking: The district moved from paper-based sign-ups to a fully digital, automated system, eliminating manual data entry and reducing administrative workload.
• Implemented a data-driven coaching system: Instructional coaches now log their interactions with teachers, providing insight into where coaching support is most needed and how it’s making a difference.
• Revamped classroom walkthroughs: Administrators now collect and analyze classroom walkthrough data in real time, allowing them to track instructional trends and adjust support accordingly.
• Strengthened trust and transparency: By working closely with the teachers’ union, Newark CSD ensured that coaching and walkthrough data were used for support, not evaluation, leading to greater buy-in from educators.

"What set KickUp apart was its ability to pull everything together—walkthrough data, coaching notes, and professional learning—all in one place," says Lewis. "Now, we can clearly see where our coaches are spending their time and how that work translates into real instructional impact."

Impact & Results

With KickUp, Newark CSD has:

• Eliminated the chaos of paper-based tracking, creating a centralized, efficient professional learning system.
• Enabled real-time access to coaching and walkthrough data, empowering administrators to make informed, data-driven decisions.
• Strengthened instructional coaching efforts, ensuring that coaches’ time is being spent where it has the greatest impact.
• Aligned professional learning to district priorities, using data to guide PD offerings and ensure they address real instructional needs.
  
  • The district set a goal for 80% implementation of differentiated instruction strategies by the end of the year and uses KickUp to monitor progress.
• Increased administrator and teacher trust, ensuring data is used as a tool for growth, not evaluation.

"Having that data and being able to pull it in those ways is helpful for our buildings on an ongoing basis. When we review it with our curriculum instructional council, it gives us a full picture of the trends and where we need to focus our efforts," says Lewis.

The Future

Newark CSD is committed to deepening its use of KickUp to refine professional learning strategies and ensure instructional support is both targeted and effective. With leadership transitions on the horizon, KickUp will serve as a critical tool for maintaining continuity and consistency across district-wide professional learning initiatives.

"KickUp is a system that’s working," says Lewis. "If we don’t have KickUp, we’re going to lose a lot of important pieces with our coaching team."