Practices of Effective K-2 Teacher Teams with Dr. Jake Downs

Guest host Dr. Kristin Conradi Smith interviews Dr. Jake Downs about the ‘secret soup’ of highly effective K-2 teacher teams. Link to Jake’s Study: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/2/259 Downs, J., Martz, K., & Mohr, K. (2025). Exploring the Instructional Effectiveness of High-Growth K-2 Teacher Teams in Foundational Reading. Education Sciences, 15(2), https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020259 Link to ULEAD Report: https://schools.utah.gov/ulead/uleadfiles/reports/ipr/Instructional%20Clarity%20Early%20Lit%20IPR.pdf Please write a short impact statement for Jake’s USU review packet (and thank you!): https://forms.gle/QcUs8ciMcAy2yG6L6 Episode Outline & Show Notes 00:00 — Host Introduction & Listener Call-to-ActionJake asks listeners for impact statements to support his third-year review. 01:23 — Guest Host IntroductionKristin Conradi Smith introduces herself and the episode’s focus on effective K-2 teacher teams. 01:44 — Introducing Jake & Study OverviewKristin introduces Jake as the guest, outlines his research on high-growth teacher teams. 02:20 — Defining Teacher EffectivenessJake discusses different ways to define “effectiveness” and the study’s focus on student growth. 04:07 — Why Study Teams?Jake explains the importance of studying effective teams, not just individual teachers. 06:32 — District BackgroundJake describes the “Lincoln School District,” its shift in reading instruction, and its reputation for growth. 09:00 — Study Methods: Quantitative DataJake explains how teams were identified using ACADIS data and effect sizes. 11:32 — Student Growth ResultsJake shares impressive proficiency gains by grade level and discusses effect sizes. 13:43 — Mixed Methods & Qualitative InterviewsTransition to focus group interviews with teacher teams and how themes were identified. 16:36 — Theme 1: CollaborationTeams engage in active, data-driven collaborative planning and shared student ownership. 21:23 — Theme 2: Affordances for InstructionTeachers describe autonomy, flexibility, and supportive professional development. 28:59 — Theme 3: Data Practices & Goal SettingRegular data meetings, intentional goal setting at team/class/student levels, and actionable use of data. 41:29 — Theme 4: Teacher FactorsDiscussion of teacher knowledge, beliefs, and collective efficacy. 44:57 — Key Takeaways & ReflectionsJake and Kristin reflect on the “secret soup” of effective teams, the importance of systems, and actionable insights for schools. 53:21 — Assessment & Goal Setting in PracticeHow effective teams use assessment and goal setting to drive instruction. 57:20 — Teacher DevelopmentThe value of both top-down and bottom-up professional learning. 1:00:26 — Final Thoughts & OptimismJake and Kristin discuss optimism for the future of reading research and practice. 1:04:02 — Closing & Kristin’s TakeKristin summarizes the study’s impact and calls for more collaborative, teacher-centered research.