Over the last three years, Papillion La Vista Community Schools have redefined how they manage and utilize student data to enhance educational outcomes. During a recent Otus Regional Workshop, we sat down with three key leaders from the district—Angie Wright, Matt Moore, and Chad Nichols—to explore their journey and the significant impact of adopting a centralized data solution.
Streamlining Access to Student Data
Previously, for educators at Papillion La Vista, accessing student information required navigating multiple systems, consuming valuable time that could be better spent on decision-making or focusing on students. Each piece of data was scattered across different platforms, making it a challenge to compile a comprehensive view of a student’s performance. This fragmented approach not only slowed down the process but also made it difficult for educators to have timely and informed discussions about student progress. Now, with a centralized platform, educators can quickly gather and analyze information from a single source. This shift has streamlined the process, allowing more time for meaningful discussions about student needs and progress.
“The main thing that drove us toward Otus was its ease of use. Not only does it check all the boxes as far as getting the data in one spot, but it is simple to use. It has a great interface, and you can tell it was built by teachers, for teachers.”
Supporting Informed Decision-Making
Educators need to analyze data at various levels—district, school, and classroom—to make informed decisions. Having a comprehensive data solution provides this view, enabling them to identify trends, address issues, and adjust instructional strategies effectively. The ability to customize data views ensures that specific questions from teachers and principals are answered accurately, enhancing the continuous improvement process. With tailored insights, educators can focus on addressing the unique needs of their students and implementing strategies that foster academic growth.
“One of the nice things about Otus is that we can put our data in, and Otus helps us customize it so it looks the way we want it to look. And that has been really helpful because, as principals or teachers or groups come to me with specific questions, I always say, ‘Well, what question are you trying to answer?’ And then we go to Otus. And if we can’t answer the question with the data there, then I call our specialist at Otus, and she can help us figure it out.”
Empowering Intervention Strategies
Handling interventions efficiently is crucial for supporting students who need additional help. Efficient intervention management allows educators to provide timely and appropriate support for students. Integrating a centralized data platform has radically improved this process by allowing educators to track behavior and academic interventions seamlessly. This capability has improved their ability to make better decisions based on real-time data, ensuring that interventions are targeted and effective.
“When we were gathering information with the last system we used, we had a bunch of different things in different areas. And so to gather all the information about a student in particular, you had to look at multiple spots. That ate up a bunch of time and we’d spend more time gathering the information than making decisions moving forward.“
Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Otus
Otus enables educators to identify performance trends, assess the effectiveness of instructional strategies, and make data-driven decisions to enhance student outcomes and school performance. Watch the video to learn more.
