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- Insights from Washington County Schools + How to Conquer New VDOE Performance Level Descriptors
Insights from Washington County Schools + How to Conquer New VDOE Performance Level Descriptors
The Future is Now: AI in Virginia Classrooms.
Spotlight: Washington County Public Schools PD
Last week, TEACH partnered with Washington County Public Schools for a professional development session titled:
“The Near Future of Generative AI in the High School ELA Classroom.”
This wasn’t just another sit-and-get PD. Cary Wright guided teachers through a hands-on, discussion-based journey that blended Virginia’s standards, AI’s potential, and the daily realities of teaching.
What We Did Together
Harkness Conversation – We opened by modeling a Harkness method discussion on the big question:
“How do we implement the VDOE Secondary Research Standard, the AI Guidance Statement, and foster ethical use—both as a topic and a tool—given faculty’s varied beliefs around generative AI?”The-Near-Future-of-Generative-A…
Equity & Access – Teachers examined barriers like the digital divide, achievement equity, and how AI can either close or widen gaps depending on implementation
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Student Challenges Ahead – We explored what’s next for students:
AI in college, jobs, and military service
Risks like misinformation and overreliance
Redefining academic integrity in an AI era
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The AI Scale Spectrum – Teachers placed their own work on a scale from None → Assisted → Blended → Automated, sparking rich conversations about appropriate AI use
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Direct VDOE Alignment – We connected AI workflows to the Virginia Secondary Research Standard and the Profile of a Graduate’s 5 Cs: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Citizenship
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Faculty Concerns & Guardrails – Together we addressed fears like “Will AI replace me?” and outlined practical guardrails: anonymizing data, setting classroom boundaries, and defining “authentic work” in the age of AI
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AI Tools for Teachers & Students – From Grammarly and ChatGPT to Google Notebook LM, we showcased real examples of how teachers can use AI for planning, grading, communication, and data analysis
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“Build a Brain” Activity – Teachers learned how to start creating their own AI Brain: gathering source files, building a data thread, and feeding AI secure, anonymized information for lesson planning and analysis
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Call to Action – We closed with reflection, feedback, and an invitation to extend this work division-wide.
Teacher Feedback
The responses say it all:
“I came with a basic knowledge of ChatGPT and other AI tools but left with a much better understanding of ways that these tools can help me and the teachers I work with.”
“I loved Cary! His energy and enthusiasm were contagious.”
“I think this was one of the more engaging and directly meaningful PDs I’ve been to.”
“Great job making this relatable. The content was presented in a way that allowed for a variety of perspectives and meaningful conversations.”
Contact us today to start your own PD sessions
VDOE’s New Performance Level Descriptors: What They Mean for You
Beginning Spring 2025, Virginia students will be assessed using new Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) in both Reading and Mathematics. These descriptors don’t just raise the bar—they change the way teachers must prepare students.
📖 End-of-Course Reading (2024 SOLs, effective Spring 2025)
The new descriptors move beyond recall and require depth of analysis.
Here is a snapshot:
👉 Why It Matters: Teachers now need to push students toward synthesis and critique, not just comprehension.
➗ Grade 6 Mathematics (2023 SOLs, effective Spring 2025)
The math descriptors are equally detailed, laying out exactly what “Below Basic,” “Basic,” “Proficient,” and “Advanced” look like in each reporting category. Here are a few highlights:
🧠 How TEACH Helps You Conquer the New PLDs
Our AI-driven processes make these shifts less overwhelming by:
Data Threads: Upload formative data and screener results into secure AI threads, producing instant analysis against PLDs.
Customized Lesson Plans: Generate lessons tailored to specific PLD expectations—whether analyzing author’s use of rhetoric or justifying fraction solutions.
Scaffolding for Subgroups: Target underperforming groups (SPED, EL, Black students, Students with Disabilities) with PLD-aligned interventions.
Teacher Workload Relief: Automate planning and data synthesis so teachers can focus on relationships, feedback, and authentic learning.
AI doesn’t replace teachers—it amplifies their expertise to meet Virginia’s new performance demands.
🚀 Ready to Get Ahead of 2025?
Don’t wait for the new assessments to catch your district by surprise. TEACH is already helping districts build PLD-aligned systems that prepare teachers and students now.
💬 Join the Conversation
What challenges do you see with the new PLDs in your classroom or district? Hit reply and share—we’d love to feature your insights in our next newsletter.
Together, let’s transform Virginia education with AI.
Cheers,
Tyler Hunt & Cary Wright
