From Good to Great: How the School District of Omro Transformed Through Strategic Partnership

The Challenge: Finding the Right Path Forward 

The School District of Omro faced a common educational dilemma. They were a solid district - meeting state expectations and serving their community well - but they knew they could do better. Like many Wisconsin districts, they found themselves caught between rising expectations and limited resources, searching for a path that would move them from good to truly great.

The School District of Omro did not have a solid, usable, and understandable plan. Other district plans that were reviewed were too complex and overwhelming to follow. They instead sought a plan that increased transparency, was understandable, and could be used to help build community trust and stakeholder buy in.

But finding the right framework was only the beginning. The real challenge was execution. 

The Partnership: Choosing Collaboration Over Isolation

Rather than attempting transformation alone, Superintendent Jay Jones made a strategic decision that would define Omro’s success: they partnered with CESA 6 for sustained, long-term support. This wasn't a one-time consultation or a quick fix—it was a commitment to an ongoing collaborative journey (now in its sixth year) that would fundamentally change how the district approached improvement.

The partnership began with developing a Continuous Improvement plan that prioritized clarity over complexity. "It's immediately understandable," explained Jones. "It's simple and quickly explained. Other plans were overwhelming with lots of data and sheets. But our plan can be put in a flyer to all district residents, and they understand it."

This philosophy of accessibility became central to everything they built with CESA 6. The plan wasn't just for administrators—it was designed so that every stakeholder, from board members to community residents, could understand and support the district's direction. 

The Strategy: Building on Strengths While Addressing Gaps

Creating Universal Understanding

The plan organized all district efforts around four core areas, ensuring focus and preventing the initiative overload that had plagued previous efforts. But the real innovation was in how they communicated progress. They partnered with CESA 6 to develop an annual reporting process that made complex educational data accessible to everyone.

"It's taken years to develop the process," noted Jones. "We've created an annual way to communicate progress to the Board—helpful for those who don't have an educational background." This transparency created unprecedented alignment between the district's work, how district resources are allocated, and community understanding. 

Empowering Every Role

One of the most powerful aspects of their approach was how it validated every position in the district. "It highlights the work people don't associate with schools—like technology and maintenance," said Sara McKittrick, Instructional and Technology Coach and Math Teacher. "It's a holistic plan."

Teachers could see how their classroom goals connected to district objectives, and support staff understood how their contributions advanced the overall mission. "It creates good alignment and direction and meaning for all staff, not just administration,” explained Kali Dubinski, Curriculum & Instruction Director. “They can see how their goals impact the district. It empowers them and gives value."

The Implementation: Targeted Interventions with External Expertise

The Literacy Audit Deep Dive

Recognizing that their internal perspective might miss critical gaps, Omro embarked on a comprehensive two-year literacy audit process with CESA 6. The audit was made possible and executed based on the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) from their annual report.

"We've done a lot of work to align our practices and have universal expectations," Dubinski said. "There comes a point where we have done the work so many times that we needed an outside resource to help us go deeper."

By strategically braiding multiple funding streams, CESA 6 delivered exceptional value that allowed Omro to access sustained, high-quality support while maximizing the return on their partnership investment.

The first year focused on K-5 literacy practices, while the second year examined 6-12 instruction. The audits provided objective, unbiased feedback that internal reviews couldn't match. "Any time you can get non-evaluative feedback on how you're teaching your kids is immensely powerful," reflected Jones.

The results were transformative. The audits helped identify specific gaps and provided clear direction for improvement. Clear strategies have been developed, or are being developed, to help seek the identified improvements. 

ACT Excellence Through Data Analysis

When ACT scores needed improvement, Omro didn't just hope for better results—they brought in CESA 6’s expert data analyst, Eric Larsen, for intensive data analysis workshops. Teachers worked in small groups over two periods, diving deep into their specific data to understand how to better prepare students.

The approach was both practical and innovative. Larsen helped teachers connect their content to ACT expectations, even when their subject wasn't directly tested. Over the 2024-2025 school year, they incorporated AI tools to enhance ACT preparation while maintaining focus on content mastery.

The investment paid off with considerable ACT score growth year over year since 2022 with one student scoring a perfect score in 2024 and another doing the same in 2025. 

Building Leadership Capacity

The first foundational step in building leadership capacity was having Omro’s administrators and teachers engage in Culture of Continuous Improvement Training - led by CESA 6 CEO Ted Neitzke - followed by implementation support at the building levels from CESA 6 CISO Jeanne-Marie Ciriacks.

For new administrators, the CESA 6 District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) Consortium and Learning and Assessment Collaborative provided essential support during critical transitions. "As a first year C&I Director, I don't know what I'd do without that network," shared Dubinski. "Collaborating with others in my role has been invaluable to my transition."

This collaborative approach to leadership development ensured that district capacity continued to grow, creating sustainability for long-term improvement. 

The Breakthrough: From Meets to Exceeds

The transformation didn't happen overnight, but it was measurable and sustained. Since implementing the Continuous Improvement plan with CESA 6 support, Omro's DPI report card score moved from "meets expectations" to "exceeds expectations" - and they've maintained that level for three consecutive years.

But the numbers tell only part of the story. The real transformation was cultural. The district developed a shared language around improvement, clear alignment between individual and organizational goals, and a community that understood and supported their direction.

"If we want to move in a different direction, we can always compare it back to the plan," explained Jones. "It helps create focus for the district." The CCI plan became their North Star - not a document on a shelf, but a living guide for daily decisions. 

The Model: What Made the Difference

Long-Term Partnership Over Quick Fixes

Omro's ongoing relationship with CESA 6 demonstrates that sustainable improvement requires sustained support. Quick workshops and one-time consultations rarely create lasting change. By committing to long-term collaboration, both organizations could build deep understanding and implement comprehensive solutions.

External Perspective as Strategic Asset

"Having an unbiased perspective tells us what to improve helps motivate staff to focus on improvement areas," noted Jones. External partners provided credibility with stakeholders and insights that internal analysis often missed.

Communication as Foundation

The decision to prioritize stakeholder understanding over system complexity proved crucial. When board members, staff, and community members can easily grasp the district's direction, they're more likely to support and contribute to its success.

Alignment as Non-Negotiable

Every initiative - from professional development to facility improvements - connected clearly to the plan. This prevented a scattered approach and ensured that all energy moved the district in the same direction. 

The Legacy: A Repeatable Path Forward

Today, the School District of Omro stands as proof that excellence isn't all about having exceptional resources - it's about making the right strategic choices and sticking to them. Their partnership with CESA 6 created a model that other districts can adapt: prioritize clarity over complexity, embrace external expertise, maintain long-term focus, and ensure that every stakeholder understands the journey.

About CESA 6

CESA 6 is a non-profit cooperative educational service agency committed to providing innovative solutions for schools. Our literacy experts provide professional development and literacy coaching to schools throughout Wisconsin to help teachers develop curricula, instructional strategies, and assessment practices to support high-impact reading and writing instruction.