Our first case study in Artesia, New Mexico was done in 2008. This case study updates their PD 360 use, plus the addition of Common Core 360 and Observation 360, components of the Educator Effectiveness System. Read about how their continued use has improved differentiated instruction and created effective questioning. “When I am asked about PD 360, Common Core 360, and Observation 360, I only say ‘Let me show you the data.’ The Educator Effectiveness System speaks for itself and the word is getting around.” Rick Stewart Assistant Superintendent of Federal Programs, Artesia Public Schools, New Mexico

1. PD 360
Case Study
Small, Rural New Mexico District Empowers
Teachers with Personalized Online Development
“Over the past year, 100 percent of Artesia’s staff
has engaged in PD 360, and we are much farther
along in our professional development program
than we ever would have been without it. PD 360
allows the district to set a unified focus for schools,
while still providing each teacher with the differen-
tiated support they need.”
“When I am asked about PD 360, Common Core
360, and Observation 360, I only say ‘Let me show
you the data.’ The Educator Effectiveness System
speaks for itself and the word is getting around.”
Rick Stewart Assistant Superintendent of Federal Programs,
Artesia Public Schools, New Mexico
PROFILE
In the heart of the Pecos Valley of southeastern New
Mexico lies Artesia, a family-friendly town whose strong
commitment to education came to life in 1902 when new
settlers immediately set up a tent school rather than wait
for a two-room cabin to be built the following year.
Artesia Public Schools (APS) is a small, rural district
of 3,800 students in ten schools and a comprehensive
learning environment that inspires students to reach their
highest potential. Recent district honors include:
• National Blue Ribbon School Winner –
Central Elementary
• Ranked #1 among similar sized schools in growth
of Hispanic students on the New Mexico Stan-
dards-Based Assessment – Roselawn Elementary
• Ranked #2 among 46 other similar sized schools on
the annual Opportunity to Learn survey – Yeso Ele-
mentary
• Top 5 4A middle school/junior high school on the NM
SBA – Artesia Zia Intermediate School
• Top 7 4A high school on the New Mexico Stan-
dards-Based Assessment on the NM SBA – Artesia
High School
• Ranked #3 among similar sized schools in student
reading and math proficiency
2008
2014

2. FOCUS
Knowing that student success relates directly to educator
quality, APS is highly motivated to increase teacher effica-
cy. The district’s current focuses are as follows:
• Common Core Standards
• Effective Questioning
• Differentiated Instruction
SOLUTIONS
Artesia Public Schools Assistant Superintendent of Federal
Programs Rick Stewart is a dedicated, enthusiastic admin-
istrator. Seven years ago, he looked for a resource to sup-
port No Child Left Behind requirements and found PD 360,
a personalized program encouraging consistent growth
and increased accountability. A case study written in 2008
highlighted the district’s experiences.
This 2014 study is an update to observe APS’s increasing
usage of PD 360 and the addition of the other compo-
nents of School Improvement Network’s Educator Effec-
tiveness System (EES) - Observation 360 and Common
Core 360. Below are just a few examples of the many
answers available for district focuses.
Common Core
Common Core 360 offers over 300 videos and an inclu-
sive set of tools that walk teachers through every step of
Common Core implementation with aligned lesson guides,
application ideas, and lesson plans..
Effective Questioning
PD 360 program Questioning to Stimulate Learning and
Thinking with Beth Sattes and Jackie Walsh features the
QUILT model - Questioning and Understanding to Improve
Learning and Thinking - in addition to techniques for pur-
poseful and effective questioning to enhance learning.
Differentiating Instruction
Differentiating Instruction for All Students with Carolyn
Chapman and Gayle Gregory is a PD 360 program with a
method of planning and teaching that meets the needs of
all students. It is an excellent resource for understanding
the key concepts and strategies of differentiated instruction.
IMPLEMENTATION AND USAGE
Below are some of the ways APS is currently employing
PD 360 and Observation 360.
Valuable Observations
Classroom observations are significant to teacher evalua-
tions and key to identifying areas of need. APS educators
value the communication Observation 360 opens between
principals and teachers while the self-evaluation template
provides principals a basis for observation and teachers a
feeling of ownership.
“Following a successful training, our principals and teach-
ers have loved that Observation 360 simplifies and hones
the entire evaluation process.”
Rick Stewart
Assistant Superintendent of Federal Programs
Artesia Public Schools, New Mexico
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
PLCs are an important part of teacher development and
PD 360 is a perfect tool to strengthen them. APS teachers
are using PD 360 more than ever in PLCs to understand
the use of data, unify teachers with common language and
practice, and realize best practices in their classrooms.
Common Core Standards
Common Core 360 is training APS educators in a straight-
forward and practical approach to comprehending the
standards. Teachers value the examples showing authentic
realization of the practices within classrooms.
BENEFITS
Artesia Public Schools has enjoyed a variety of benefits
from EES including the following:
PD 360 Advantages
APS teachers have become comfortable with PD 360 as a
base for progress and rely on it for what they need when
they need it.
www.schoolimprovement.com | 801-572-1153

3. Educator Autonomy
Because teachers have unique needs, EES empowers
each one by putting them in the driver’s seat to create
personalized professional development plans.
“Recognizing that every teacher has different require-
ments, the Educator Effectiveness System has moved
teacher autonomy to the forefront with self-reflection
on requirements and growth choices that are added at a
teacher’s own pace.”
Rick Stewart
Assistant Superintendent of Federal Programs
Artesia Public Schools, New Mexico
Improved Student Success
Similar to all schools, APS strives to increase student
achievement and since teachers began incorporating
PD 360 into their classrooms, competency has risen
consistently.
www.schoolimprovement.com | 801-572-1153
“We are so enthusiastic about the worthwhile contri-
butions EES has brought to our district with resources
that grow and keep up with teacher needs. Our teacher
development has gone from a paper and pencil disaster
to a vibrant process.”
Rick Stewart
Assistant Superintendent of Federal Programs
Artesia Public Schools, New Mexico
Real Classroom Examples
A wide variety of actual classrooms from across the
country are in most EES programs so that teachers can
see how to integrate new strategies into their instruction.
“Teachers don’t want ‘tell me’. They want ‘show me.’
The classroom examples in Common Core 360 programs
are doing just that.”
Rick Stewart
Assistant Superintendent of Federal Programs
Artesia Public Schools, New Mexico
Great Usage
APS teachers and administrators alike are enthusiastically
using PD 360 for professional enrichment and enjoying
its flexibility. The high usage numbers say it all.
Artesia Public Schools, New Mexico
October 2012 – December 2013
PD 360 Usage
Registered
Users
Collective
Programs
Viewed
Collective
Segments
Viewed
Collective
Minutes
Viewed
320 1,302 3,599 29,161
A 2011 independent study of PD 360 usage in schools like
those in Artesia Public Schools showed higher minutes
per user resulted in more than twelve times the gains in
math proficiency rates and twice the gains in reading
proficiency rates than district averages.
Math Change
2.50
2.00
High Min/User
Schools
District’s Average
1.50
1.00
0.05
0.00
Comparative Change for
High Min/User Schools vs. Districts
Reading Change
12.0 times
greater gains in
Math vs. District
71.5% greater
gains in Reading
vs. District

4. www.schoolimprovement.com | 801-572-1153
About School Improvement
Founded in 1991 by teachers, School Improvement
Network has spent decades researching and documenting
the best practices in education. From this research, School
Improvement Network has developed the Educator
Effectiveness System. This system delivers a process to
improve teacher practice, and gives educators a set of
powerful tools to drive the process. Research shows that
districts and schools that use the tools in the Educator
Effectiveness System produce better teachers and,
as a result, experience dramatic increases in student
achievement, driving up student test scores by as much as
30 percent in a single year. School Improvement Network
works with thousands of schools and districts in every
state and around the world and has visited over 3,500
classrooms to document best practices in action. Learn
more at www.schoolimprovement.com
CONCLUSION
Mr. Stewart’s enthusiasm and insight led Artesia Public
Schools to PD 360 seven years ago and more recently,
to the Educator Effectiveness System. As a result, APS
students are receiving advantages and will collect benefits
for many years. PD 360 has undeniably become a trusted
addition to the district’s teacher development agenda.
“The benefits of the Educator Effectiveness System are
both valuable and cost efficient. The programs allow us
to make incremental changes at a pace that works for us
and we have seen definite growth in student achievement
which we attribute to our use of PD 360, Common Core
360, and Observation 360.”
Rick Stewart
Assistant Superintendent of Federal Programs
Artesia Public Schools, New Mexico