GILLETTE, Wyo. — Wagonwheel Elementary School Principal Brandee Maurer presented a positive academic report to the Campbell County School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday, highlighting the school’s achievements and ongoing improvement efforts.
The report detailed strong performance in state assessments and progress toward school improvement goals.
Maurer began by noting the steady staffing levels and enrollment at the school, with particular enthusiasm for the Ready for Learning program.
Regarding academic performance, Maurer said, “We are pleased to report we are meeting expectations for the state of Wyoming’s accountability, and we are exceeding for the ESSA.”
She emphasized that the school reached its highest achievement scores to date.
The report indicated that every grade level at Wagonwheel Elementary improved in English Language Arts, and six out of nine areas showed overall improvement. Maurer attributed the success to district collaboration, new tools and supports, and teachers’ professional development. She also noted the effectiveness of vertical alignment and strong core instruction provided by teachers.
Maurer said Wagonwheel’s fourth- through sixth-grade scores exceeded Wyoming’s average. She also mentioned changes to the WY-TOPP assessment for third grade, which now focuses solely on reading, allowing for more targeted data analysis.
Looking at the school’s performance over the past six years, the report showed a return to “exceeding expectations” in the 2023–24 academic year after meeting expectations following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maurer outlined the school’s continuous improvement goals, emphasizing the Professional Learning Communities process, tiered interventions and enrichment opportunities for students. She also highlighted the integration of science investigations aligned with the district’s Panorama resource and the value of the school’s science, technology, engineering and math labs.
A significant focus of the report was student well-being, with Maurer detailing the school’s wellness committee, staff and student celebrations, including a recent Distinguished School ball and a visit from Superintendent Megan Degenfelder.
“Our main goal there is to support teacher retention by giving teachers opportunity and outlets for them to be able to come together, build that culture, but also for us to support them as people who are working in a hard field,” Maurer said.
Regarding accountability report goals, Maurer highlighted the optional weekly training led by school staff to build collective capacity. She also emphasized goal setting with students and cross-curricular integration, such as the upcoming war museum project.
“Wagonwheel likes to celebrate, as you can tell. So, we’re proud of what we’re doing and we’re going to really commit to continuing for improvement,” Maurer said.
Board members expressed their appreciation for the report.
“I had the privilege of being there yesterday during your celebration. Really, really impressive. It’s a great school. Great teachers, great staff,” Trustee Rollo Williams said.
“I was there last week for the afternoon. I missed the red carpet, but I got to go around with your wagon, and I am telling you, you just get such a happy vibe in your school,” board chair Lisa Durgin said.
Wagonwheel Elementary’s academic report is attached below:
