Using Data Effectively with Jessica Lane and Jenelle McClenahen, ep. 280

Tired of data meetings that go nowhere?
In episode 280 of Instructional Coaching with Ms. B, I sit down with Jessica Lane and Jenelle McClenahen of Symplifyed to explore what using data effectively looks like in schools.
During our conversation, Jessica and Janelle break down the types of data teachers need to gather and what to ignore. We explore why context matters when reviewing data and how combining behavioral and academic information leads to a more complete understanding of student needs.
They discuss using data to make decisions in the classroom, turning data meetings into real cycles, and building habits with your team. You’ll also hear how instructional coaches can have more reflective data conversations with teachers. Plus, learn why new schoolwide initiatives often fail, and what to do instead.
This episode is full of great ideas for starting or enhancing a reflective data process on campus. You’ll leave with actionable steps you can take to use data effectively and build habits that last.
Listen to the full show now to hear how to use data to drive student growth and strengthen teaching practices.
Understanding your school data is so important to school leaders and instructional coaches! These 18 different data forms will help you collect, organize, and analyze your data. Then you’ll use your data and analysis to reflect and make a plan for next steps!
What Kinds of Data Should Teachers Be Gathering and Paying Attention To?
We spend a lot of time collecting data in schools. Sometimes it gets used, and sometimes it doesn’t. Teachers can get frustrated with the process because it feels like there’s no purpose!
So, what types of data should teachers be gathering and paying attention to?
Jenelle recommends collecting the right information that speaks directly to what’s happening in the classroom. She explains that teachers should gather data that is specific to the lessons and micro skills they’re teaching.
For example, it could mean tracking time on task or the response to a specific support strategy. Janelle says we should be paying attention to these things because they are relevant to exactly what’s being done in the classroom.
Next, we talk about how our actions impact the data. Jessica explains that we want to collect data that allows us to see the impact of instructional decisions and adjustments on students. She says doing this over time tells us what supports are working.
When we link whatever we’re doing to the impact that it’s having on students, the data becomes more actionable and meaningful. We really want to make sure that we’re giving short formative assessments. We’re not trying to figure out if students can persist through 15 questions in a limited amount of time; we want to know if they can complete this one skill.
I think this is so right! One of the key ideas that emerged during these conversations was the importance of collecting data that helps teachers make day-to-day decisions in their classrooms.
We get back tons of information, but it’s not actually appropriate to what we’re looking for with that student. If we can look at specific data related to what we are teaching at the moment, the data becomes more purposeful.
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What Context Should We Keep in Mind When We Look at Data with Teachers?
During the episode, Jessica and Jenelle discuss why context matters when interpreting data and why both academic and behavioral factors should be considered together. As Jessica puts it, “behavior gives a lot of context to the academic skills”.
When we look at a student’s behavior, we need to identify the reasons behind it by understanding not only what happened, but why it happened and what was going on in the classroom at the time. Jessica calls it “slowing down the moment”, allowing teachers to reflect on what supports were in place, possible triggers, and important details to document.
The discussion highlights that teachers need to figure out what details to collect and look at that information over time, noting when patterns show up. Janelle explains that collecting data on that one aspect naturally helps impact everything else. When you combine both behavioral and academic context, it helps strengthen the skill in other areas.
In practice, this means understanding a child’s strengths, growth areas, and their feelings about a particular subject, as Janelle illustrated with a story about her son. Over time, reviewing this information alongside academic progress can paint a much clearer picture of where support is needed and whether instruction is truly effective.
I really like this because you’re focusing on one very specific thing that is an underlying requirement for all work that the student will be asked to complete. It can be applied in other areas and informs the teacher’s decision-making throughout the day without being overwhelming.
Using Data to Make Decisions
Does this sound familiar? During the data meeting, your team spends lots of time analyzing data, but little is dedicated to figuring out what to do next.
I asked Jessica and Janelle how we can help teachers use data in the classroom as they make decisions about students. They say simply looking at data isn’t enough; teachers need to act on the information to see real impact in their practice. Jessica explains that the biggest gap school leaders have when it comes to data is actually going through the entire cycle and keeping it going.
The cycle involves:
- Slowing down the moment by asking, “What do we not see in this data?”, “ What’s missing?” “What other data might be beneficial?”
- Identifying a skill for improvement, whether it’s academic or behavioral.
- Monitoring the progress of the targeted strategy or support put in place to address it.
- Scheduling a follow-up meeting to reflect and adjust instructional strategies.
Jessica says you need to keep that cycle alive to make progress. Just looking at the data does nothing; we need to complete all those steps in the cycle and make sure that we have future meetings scheduled on the calendar. I think that it’s so important to build that bridge by committing to a follow-up meeting.
Janelle recommends asking teachers to choose one strategy to test out. She likes to frame it as a science experiment. Let’s try one support to see the impact. It’s intentional, and teachers meet in a week to see if what they tried made a difference on scores.
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How Can Instructional Coaches Have More Reflective Data Conversations with Teachers?
Want more reflective data conversations with your teachers, but not sure how to make it happen?
Jessica tells us that change occurs not from one-time data meetings, but through habit building. She says instructional coaches need to get into the habit of having honest and reflective data conversations with teachers on a consistent basis.
Coaches also shouldn’t expect teachers to immediately fall in love with the process of using data. She stresses to coaches and principals that they’ll have to hold teachers’ hands through the first few cycles until they’re in a spot where they feel like they’re having an impact. This puts the control back into teachers’ hands and helps them keep going.
Jessica explains that a big part of where schools go wrong is when they start data-driven initiatives as something new and big. It’s often presented with large data sets like attendance or state test information. There’s a huge disconnect between what teachers see in that data and what they’re seeing in the classroom.
She says it’s always easier to start super tiny. They like to roll out their tool and data-cycle coaching with only a few teachers who have already bought into the idea. Then they let it spread through word of mouth. As coworkers hear how it saved other teachers time and how positive they feel, they’re more likely to try it themselves.
Jessica ends by saying we want to introduce teachers to new things slowly. That way, teachers are building those habits and reflecting on students and their practice.
Using Data Effectively
One big mistake coaches and administrators make is wasting teachers’ time. I love the way Janelle and Jessica approach this work because it values teachers’ time. Doing this type of work with your teacher teams will directly affect instruction in the classroom and impact student learning.
Listen now to learn all about using data effectively. Plus, hear lots of real-life stories too! You don’t want to miss it!
Topics and Questions Discussed in Episode 280 – Using Data Effectively with Jessica Lane and Jenelle McClenahen
- Using data effectively in schools
- The types of data teachers need to gather and what to ignore
- What context should we keep in mind when we look at data with teachers
- Blending behavior and academic data to get the full picture
- Using data to make decisions
- Turning data meetings into real cycles
- How coaches can have more reflective data conversations with teachers
- Building habits and following up with teachers
- Why new schoolwide initiatives often fail, and how to do it better
About Jessica Lane & Jenelle McClenahen
Jessica Lane and Jenelle McClenahen are former educators and the cofounders of Symplifyed. They’re known for their focus on bringing the human side back to data, helping educators slow down, make sense of what’s really going on with students, and take meaningful action without adding more to their plates.
Turning Insight Into Action: Practical Steps You Can Take After Listening
Here are simple actions you can take today:
1️⃣ Pick ONE Micro-Skill or Support to Track
Challenge your PLC or grade-level team to select a specific skill or behavior to measure this week. Let me know how it goes in the Instructional Coaching with Ms. B Facebook group or on Instagram @buzzingwithmsb!
2️⃣ Join the Instructional Coaching Club
The Instructional Coaching Club is an online membership designed to help instructional coaches improve instruction at their schools. It gives coaches the tools to go out and do it.
Ready to listen?
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Learn more
- Episode 277 – How Required Lesson Plans Can Support Checks for Understanding with Dr. Jana Lee
- Episode 278 – An Introduction to Different Types of Assessments with Steve Ventura
- Episode 279 – Formative Assessments: Quick and Easy Check-Ins with Glen Pearsall
- Buzzing with Ms. B on Instagram
- Join My Facebook Group: Instructional Coaching with Ms. B
- FREE Data Bookmark & Analysis Forms
- Symplifyed Website
Helpful Resources
- Join the Instructional Coaching Club
- PLC Forms for Team: Common Assessments
- Data Forms for Coaches and Admin
- Instructional Coach Binder Megapack – Editable Forms, Calendars, Planning Tools
- Instructional Coaching Binder Megapack – Editable Forms, Documents & Tools on TpT
- Buzzing with Ms. B TpT Store
- The Confident Literacy Coach
- Simply Coaching Summit
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Podcast produced by Fernie Ceniceros









