Thank you for taking the time to read this week’s issue of A View of the Summit! In this edition, we are excited to share how Summit School District (SSD) is embracing collaborative classroom observations to enhance learning. Plus, we’ll take a closer look at district staffing, student enrollment, and our financial investment in the people who make our schools thrive

Academics:  Strengthening Our Schools Through Collaborative Learning Walks

This year and last, our school leaders have been regularly joining together for instructional rounds across Summit schools. These structured classroom visits, often called "learning walks," allow our principals and instructional coaches to observe how our enhanced feedback practices are taking shape in classrooms and support teachers in their implementation.

During these rounds, school leaders look for specific evidence of:
✔ Rigor aligned with the standards
✔ Scaffolds to make the learning content accessible to all
✔ Teachers providing clear success criteria that help students understand “Where am I going?”
✔ Students actively engaging with feedback to improve their work
✔ Opportunities for students to revise their work based on feedback

What makes these rounds particularly powerful is the collaborative approach. Leaders from different schools visit classrooms together, allowing them to:
🔹 Share best practices across buildings
🔹 Identify patterns of success and areas for additional support
🔹 Calibrate their understanding of effective feedback
🔹 Plan targeted professional development based on observed needs
🔹 Celebrate innovative approaches they can share with other schools

This process is about more than evaluation—it’s about learning together as a community of educators. The insights gained from these rounds help shape professional learning community (PLC) and professional development (PD) sessions, ensuring we're providing teachers with the specific support they need to implement effective feedback strategies.

We are already seeing exciting examples of how our enhanced focus on feedback is positively impacting student learning. From students articulating their learning goals with confidence to teachers finding new ways to make thinking visible, these instructional rounds help us identify and share successful practices across our district.

As always, our goal is to ensure every Summit student receives the support they need to thrive. Through these collaborative learning walks, we continue to refine our practices and strengthen the educational experience for all students.

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Resources/Budget, District Demographics: By the Numbers

A strong educational system starts with a strong team of educators and staff. Here’s a closer look at our district’s staffing, student enrollment, and financial investment in our people.

Students at a Glance

Summit School District serves a diverse and engaged student body.
Total Students Enrolled in 2024-25: 3,475
Students Funded by the State: 3,432.3
154 students are funded through other sources

Student-Teacher Ratio

Approximate Student-to-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Designed to support individualized learning and student success

Staff Breakdown

With a total staff of approximately 531.75 Full-Time Equivalents (FTE), our district is made up of:
65.5% Licensed Staff (teachers, special service providers)
30.2% Support Staff (paraprofessionals, counselors, custodians, food services)
4.2% Administration

Our district thrives because of the dedicated individuals who support student success every day.

Salary & Compensation

Summit School District continues to prioritize competitive salaries and benefits to attract and retain top talent. SSD offers:
Starting Teacher Salary: $54,000
Average Teacher Salary: $82,756
Average Salary + Benefits: $107,716

In Colorado, Summit School District ranks #1 in starting teacher salaries among the 147 Rural School Districts in Colorado. Data reported for the 2022-23 year, showed that the average teacher salary in Colorado is $63,224, which is $6,320 below the national average. Despite financial challenges, SSD remains committed to fair and competitive wages for our educators.

Per-Pupil Spending

Education funding remains a challenge in Colorado, where statewide per-pupil spending is $2,211 less than the national average.
National Average: $15,633 per student
Colorado Average: $13,422 per student

Summit School District continues to advocate for equitable funding to ensure our students and educators have the resources they need.

Tony Byrd, EdD
Superintendent
Summit School District