Data Lit

Data, Research, and Accountability

Teachers are inundated with data, but none of those numbers will help if they're not paired with some accessible and informative data literacy training. This podcast seeks to empower teachers with the skills they'll need to turn the data given to them into powerful instructional practices. Recorded by educators within Wake County Public School System's Data, Research, and Accountability Department in Raleigh, NC. Learn more about the show as well as access data and assessment literacy resources at www.wcpss.net/datalit

  1. How an Area Superintendent uses data to improve schools just a smidge each day

    3 DAYS AGO

    How an Area Superintendent uses data to improve schools just a smidge each day

    How does a district leader filter through countless data points to find what actually matters? In this episode of Data Lit, we’re joined by Area Superintendent Chris McCabe to discuss the intersection of leadership and data literacy. Mr. McCabe shares his personal journey in education and pulls back the curtain on how he identifies the most crucial data for school improvement. We also dive into a vital conversation on shifting the culture of accountability from a punitive "gotcha" to a powerful learning process for schools. Join us to learn about the future of data in our district and how leadership leverages this information “just a smidge” to support every school. Research & resources from the episode: Visible Learning: 250+ Influences on Student Learning  December 2025 Educational Leadership Magazine: The Power of Less in Schools Victoria Bernhardt: Multiple Measures of Data WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here. The theme song by Green Hope High School’s Lukas Brandon  Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler Contact us via our website or at datalit@wcpss.net Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

    29 min
  2. 2025 Holiday Extravaganza!

    15/12/2025

    2025 Holiday Extravaganza!

    We’re sharing the gift of knowledge with our third annual Holiday Extravaganza! There's a twist to this year's festivities, as we compete against our sister-podcast Work Smarter Not Harder in a holiday data trivia contest hosted by our colleague Daniel Bunce. Play along as you listen to test your seasonal traditions knowledge against the participants from Data, Research, and Accountability! Follow Work Smart Not Harder on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts. Contact Data Lit via our website or at datalit@wcpss.net

    25 min
  3. How District Leadership Uses Data to Drive School Improvement

    01/12/2025

    How District Leadership Uses Data to Drive School Improvement

    Accountability reports are meant to drive school improvement, but too often they result in little more than anxiety and resentment. In this episode, we interview Lauren Curtis, Director of Progress Monitoring and Tiered Support, about how we can better support schools when it comes to this type of data. We discuss how vulnerability, shared responsibility, and incremental changes can help us bridge the divide that lies between accountability and action.  Research & resources from the episode: Center for Assessment - Strengthening Ties Between Accountability and School Improvement   Dan Pink - Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us  Douglas Reeves - The Learning Leader: How to Focus School Improvement for Better Results  John Hattie - The Power of Feedback WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here. Theme music by Millbrook High School’s Tre’mond Ponton Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler Contact us via our website or at datalit@wcpss.net Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

    29 min
  4. Five Ways to Make Accountability Work for Improvement

    17/11/2025

    Five Ways to Make Accountability Work for Improvement

    Our accountability systems are meant to drive school improvement, but too often they leave educators feeling anxious and overwhelmed. This episode reviews five practical principles to marry high-level accountability data with local data and processes to spur real change.  Research & resources from the episode: Center for Assessment: Strengthening Ties Between Accountability and School Improvement    Educational Leadership: Five Good Ways to Talk About Data Data Lit Episode: How to Talk about Data Data Considerations for School and Central Services Staff  Data Lit series on Satellite, Map, and Street Data Victoria Bernhardt: Multiple Measures of Data WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here. The theme song by Green Hope High School’s Lukas Brandon  Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler Contact us via our website or at datalit@wcpss.net Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

    22 min
  5. Rebroadcast: The Purpose of Assessment

    10/11/2025 · BONUS

    Rebroadcast: The Purpose of Assessment

    We’re kicking off a new mini-series by going back to where it all began: Our discussion on the Purpose of Assessments. Join us as we explore how understanding why we measure can help us rethink how we improve. Research & resources from the episode: Center for Assessment - Strengthening Ties Between Accountability and School Improvement    Edutopia - Assessment: Time to Put it in Context ASCD - Assessment as an Act of Love Achieve the Core - Sitting Beside the Learner WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here. Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler Contact us via our website or at datalit@wcpss.net Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

    21 min
  6. Make it Stick: Considerations for Culturally Responsive Assessments

    03/11/2025

    Make it Stick: Considerations for Culturally Responsive Assessments

    In this concluding chapter of our series based on Culturally Responsive Assessments, we move from theory to sustainable practice. First, we shine a light on the core challenges preventing change, such as limited instructional materials, the struggle to maintain rigor while adapting culturally, and unconscious bias in teacher perceptions. Then, we give listeners some practical solutions straight from the book, outlining key best practices like targeted training and support, purposeful assessment design, better methods for evaluating student work, effective communication about student progress, and strategic use of assessment results. Tune in and get the tools you need to make this critical shift stick. Research & resources from the episode: Culturally Responsive Assessment in Classrooms and Large-Scale Contexts Data Lit’s Rubrics Series Data Lit’s Feedback Series Grant Wiggins’ Seven Elements of Effective Feedback John Hattie’s The Power of Feedback WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here. Theme music by Millbrook High School’s Tre’mond Ponton Contact us ⁠via our website⁠ or at datalit@wcpss.netHosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer ZieglerData, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

    22 min
  7. From Reflection to Action: A Six-Stage Cycle for Culturally Responsive Practices in Classrooms

    20/10/2025

    From Reflection to Action: A Six-Stage Cycle for Culturally Responsive Practices in Classrooms

    Ready to put culturally responsive assessment into practice? Then join us for part two of our series on the new book, Culturally Responsive Assessment in the Classroom and Large-Scale Assessments. In this episode, we break down the editors’ six-stage cycle of teaching, learning, and assessment. From self-reflection to lesson evaluation, we walk through each phase to share what the research says about how to embed cultural responsiveness in every step of your planning, instruction, and assessment process. Tune in for practical ways to make your classroom cycle more equitable and effective! Research & resources from the episode: Culturally Responsive Assessment in Classrooms and Large-Scale Contexts Series on Assessment For Learning & Assessment of Learning Rubrics Series Street Data Series WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here. Theme music by Millbrook High School’s Tremond Ponton Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler Contact us via our website or at datalit@wcpss.net Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

    29 min
  8. How does culture play a role in assessment?

    03/10/2025

    How does culture play a role in assessment?

    What if how we learn is filtered through our culture?  In this episode, we kick off a new series inspired by the book Culturally Responsive Assessment in Classrooms and Large-Scale Contexts. We explore why it's crucial to think about the role of culture in assessment design and take a look back at the origins of culturally relevant pedagogy, given the interdependence between curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment. Join us as we start a conversation about making assessments more fair and accurate for all students. Research & resources from the episode: Culturally Responsive Assessment in Classrooms and Large-Scale Contexts Center for Assessment’s blog on the book Edutopia: Assessment as a three-legged stool Psychometrician Gregory Cizek’s explanation of validity Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Dr. Zaretta Hammond  WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here. The theme song was provided by Lukas Brandon from Green Hope High School Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System

    18 min
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About

Teachers are inundated with data, but none of those numbers will help if they're not paired with some accessible and informative data literacy training. This podcast seeks to empower teachers with the skills they'll need to turn the data given to them into powerful instructional practices. Recorded by educators within Wake County Public School System's Data, Research, and Accountability Department in Raleigh, NC. Learn more about the show as well as access data and assessment literacy resources at www.wcpss.net/datalit

Information

  • Creator
    Data, Research, and Accountability
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Data, Research, and Accountability
  • Show Website
    Data Lit