A District Leader Who Views Parents as Partners in the Process

Family involvement is key to community-based accountabilityDr. Lori Rapp is the Deputy Superintendent at Lewisville Independent School District (LISD), just north of Dallas. The district is a member of the Texas Performance Assessment Consortium (TPAC), a collective of more than 40 districts across the state who are pushing the envelope in ways to modernize accountability methods for students. The goal is to move away from standardized test scores as the measuring stick for student progress and look at the whole student, school and district performance to let parents and others in the community know how kids in Lewisville are actually learning.

One thing that this new community-based accountability system encourages is regular participation by parents. “We believe strongly that our parents are more than partners in the education of their children,” Lori says. “I think that’s a different view than from when we went to school where it was more ‘I drop my students off, they participate in learning, and I pick them back up.’

“Now, with this idea of community-based accountability, the community is an advocate for what schools need to look like and parents are partners in learning. Parents are part of the experience and parents are part of helping ensure that the conversation about what it means to be future ready is important.”

Lori says it is important that the member districts of TPAC follow through to the end with this new approach to accountability. I think it is clear that she is ready to lead the charge into doing just that.

About Dr. Lori Rapp

Dr. Lori Rapp has worked for LISD her entire career. She joined the district in 1996 as a secondary mathematics teacher at The Colony High School, where she worked for eight years.

She then served as a Secondary Math Teacher on Special Assignment for one year, where she created and delivered professional learning and instructional support for secondary math teachers. Following, she was LISD’s Director of Pre-K – 12 Curriculum for three years. Prior to her role as Chief Learning and Teaching Officer, she served as the district’s Executive Director of Learning Design and Support since 2011.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from Texas Tech University. She received her Masters of Science in Mathematics from Texas Woman’s University and her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Dallas Baptist University.

AuthorDr. Berger is one of many industry education correspondents for the Mind Rocket Media Group, An educator and former school administrator. He often hosts education panel discussions and develops strategic content. As an academic Dr. Berger is a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. A former assistant principal, he has been an adjunct undergraduate professor and developer of online college courses. He is a passionate Detroit sports fan who has also adopted Nashville sports teams as his own. 

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Further Reading

1. The Cross Timbers Gazette – Next school year will start early for Lewisville ISD students
2. Huffington Post – A Superintendent Balancing Data with Community Feedback
3. eSchool News – 5 questions to ask when rethinking accountability systems