The Council of Elementary Educational Leaders convened for its annual business meeting at an elementary school site in Northern California at the beginning of April. Each spring, the council selects a school to visit, aiming to highlight an exemplary program or best practice in action. As part of the visit, council members conduct classroom walkthroughs and observe various instructional programs to gain insights into innovative educational approaches.

This year, the council visited Garden Village Elementary School in the Jefferson Elementary School District, located in Daly City, just south of San Francisco. The visit provided an opportunity to observe programs implemented at the school.

“The school radiated pride, with engaged learners filling the classrooms, dedicated teachers leading with expertise, PBIS strategies seamlessly in place, and a thriving garden program inspiring growth in every sense,” said Kerry Dees (ACSA Region 5).

Led and managed by the exemplary leadership of Principal Nuala O’Sullivan-Haley, Garden Village is an active participant in the California Reading and Literacy Project, an initiative led by UC Berkeley. The CRLP fosters collaboration between universities, school districts and individual schools to enhance teacher professional development. The program is designed to expand educators’ content knowledge and instructional strategies, aligning with state-adopted frameworks, content standards, and the science of reading.

Garden Village Elementary has fully embraced the CRLP model, implementing it with fidelity to maximize its impact on student learning. During the visit, council members had the opportunity to witness the program in action, observing how teachers effectively apply research-based literacy strategies in their classrooms.

Tina Hollander (ACSA Region 7) was able to observe real-time intervention in a third-grade classroom.

“The teacher skillfully used data to drive her instruction, allowing her to work with a small group and provide targeted support,” Hollander said. “By identifying the specific standard students were struggling with, she was able to intervene effectively, ensuring each child received the guidance they needed to succeed.”

Additionally, Garden Village is using Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) that involve students working in pairs or small groups to learn from and teach each other, often through structured activities focused on specific skills like reading or math and the iReady intervention program in grades 3-5.

The visit reinforced the value of strong university-school partnerships in driving educational excellence and improving student literacy outcomes.

“Visiting Principal Nuala O’Sullivan-Haley’s school in Daly City was a true inspiration,” said Dr. Frances Hansell (Region 17). “The students were not just learning, they were thriving. The energy, engagement, and joy in every classroom reflected a community rooted in high expectations and heartfelt connection.”