also supplies the district and the board with a pulse on what is and is not working through a process called systematic rounding. “[Rounding] is being able to have two-way conversations between leadership and their staff to build a stronger culture,” DeGraaf said. She said that along with ensuring these conversations happen on a regular basis, the district has also employed surveys at the district level and to parents and employees to ensure that everyone’s voice gets heard. For the school board, this type of information is already proving invaluable as it begins monitoring Studer’s progress. “That feedback we receive as a board really provides valuable insight into what’s working well and where opportunities for growth exist,” Hurda said. “Which allows us as a board to make more data-informed decisions.” THE ROAD AHEAD As this work continues, Forward Janesville and the district look forward to measuring outcomes and overcoming challenges. The district set an overarching goal to have at least 15 schools meet or exceed expectations on the State of Wisconsin School Report Card by the 2026-27 school year. Holzman said that while the report card is not the only factor for determining success, he is optimistic about achieving this goal and hopes to see all the schools in the district eventually meet or exceed expectations. The district also hopes to implement Bright Spots in more schools and ensure that all students in the district grow by two percent, especially in the district’s focus areas of reading, math and attendance. DeGraaf said that, at times, the challenge has become staying committed to the focus areas, especially when external factors, such as declining enrollment or the flood damage at Washington Elementary School earlier this year, threaten to drive the focus in a different direction. But staying the course pays off. Monroe Elementary School recently became the district’s third National Blue Ribbon School, an honor it received for its strong academic performance. DeGraaf said this can be attributed to the school’s strong focus on reading, math and attendance. “They’ve been very intentional about the strategy,” she said. “They’ve been very intentional about what they’re measuring and how they’re measuring it, but, most importantly, they’ve been really strategic about how they’re monitoring the data.” Even as challenges come up, however, Hurda said the strong partnership forged between the district and Forward Janesville has made maneuvering them easier. “What’s really impressed me the most is the willingness of our district leadership, entities like Forward Janesville and our community partners to work through challenges together, learn from the experience and adapt when needed,” she said. In fact, the partnership between Forward Janesville and the district has created so many opportunities for growth in Janesville that Holzman hopes to present on the partnership at the 2027 Wisconsin State Education Convention. “We want to tell our story because I think it’s unique in Janesville, but it doesn’t have to be,” he said. “This model for K-12 education is necessary. Ultimately, we’re doing something special here.” 10 | FORWARD JANESVILLE Teachers, staff, and administration celebrated district progress on higher scores in math and reading and improved attendance numbers, while getting pumped up for the school year, at the Back to School Kickoff 2026. Awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, National Blue Ribbon Schools are honored for their exemplary standards of excellence and success in closing achievement gaps. In 2023, Director of Learning and Curriculum Allison DeGraaf (left), Monroe Principal Sally Pope (center) and Monroe Academic Learning Coach Dennis Condon (right) attended the national conference to receive the Blue Ribbon School award. “We want to tell our story because I think it’s unique in Janesville, but it doesn’t have to be. This model for K-12 education is necessary. Ultimately, we’re doing something special here.” “That feedback we receive as a [school] board really provides valuable insight into what’s working well and where opportunities for growth exist…Which allows us as a board to make more data-informed decisions.”
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