Alex O’Connor has spent the last 11 years teaching at Chegwin Elementary School in the Fond du Lac School District. He began as a second-grade teacher, moved up to fifth grade, and has taken on a new position this year: Teacher on Special Assignment. In his current role, Alex wears many hats–supporting students, teachers, and administrators alike. Alex is deeply committed to changing student outcomes and helping them thrive.

In the 2020-2021 school year, Chegwin Elementary School was facing significant challenges. Even though the school was filled with dedicated teachers and staff, students were not meeting academic standards, and the report card data reflected this. Data showed that Chegwin was failing to meet expectations. There was a critical need for a systematic change.

Over the last three years, the entire Fondy district has undergone a transformative culture shift. Alex has witnessed a renewed focus on prioritizing student achievement, rigorous academics, data-driven decision-making, and high expectations for both students and staff.

One of the most significant changes has been the alignment of goals and initiatives across all Fondy schools. Teachers and staff now work off of consistent expectations, and everyone is committed to doing what’s best for students. 

“It feels more connected than it ever has,” Alex says. 

Expectations for students have also risen dramatically. Students know they are doing high-level work but also know that their teachers are there to help them succeed. 

Another key driver of success has been a focus on analyzing data. While Chegwin had good intentions in the past, their efforts lacked a strategic aim. “Everybody was working hard, but the decisions and time that we were putting in was not strategic, so we didn’t have the outcomes that we were looking for,” Alex says. Now, Chegwin uses their data as a guide, and every conversation is about changing student outcomes.

The results of these shifts have been remarkable. In just four years, Chegwin Elementary School went from failing to meet expectations to exceeding expectations. This upward trajectory can be attributed to the school’s time and resources being put in the right places, along with the high expectations and a district-wide alignment. 

There is now a shared belief that students can achieve at high levels. “Every adult in the district right now is very committed to doing what's best for the kids,” Alex says. He knows this growth is just the beginning. Fondy has strong systems in place that are working and creating sustainable improvements.

“We've had so much success recently. We've really put a lot of resources into different places, and we can see with our data that it's paying off. We're making huge gains on student achievement, and the culture in the buildings is very high. Chegwin has one of the strongest cultures that it's had since I've been there. Everybody is excited to show up and continue to do the work.” –Alex O’Connor