Lincoln Middle School Teachers Advocate for NY State Testing Changes
In the classroom overseen by Mrs. Mondt, Ms. Azrai, and Ms. Jones at Lincoln Middle School, a significant problem with the New York State (NYS) testing system was noticed. While some students easily navigated certain sections, those using the test read-aloud accommodation had to listen to the entire passage from the beginning whenever they needed to check something. This caused a lot of frustration and made many students lose interest.
Mrs. Mondt, a special education teacher, decided to address this issue. She raised her concerns with Ms. Oltz, an instructional coach, and Raymond Stazzone, the district office supervisor of testing. Mrs. Mondt proposed solutions like a customizable voice modifier and the ability to click on specific passages for reading assistance. Mr. Stazzone, who was about to meet with state officials about test administration, presented these solutions. The state responded positively and promised to implement these changes statewide and nationally through the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA).
We are very proud of Mrs. Mondt for her dedication and advocacy. Her efforts have led to meaningful improvements that will benefit many students. After these changes were approved, students celebrated with a pizza party, hosted by the school Principal Ms. Dupree.
Amanda Oltz, an instructional coach at Lincoln Middle School, noted, "their initiative is not just a classroom request; it's a real-world change, positively impacting students across New York State."
Our district is committed to improving the sense of belonging for everyone. By addressing these challenges and making the testing process more inclusive, we are taking important steps towards creating an environment where every student feels valued and supported.
We love seeing our schools make a difference for students with accommodations. Thank you to Mrs. Mondt for leading this important effort and helping to create a more equitable testing environment for all our students.
