The Evidence Already Inside Your School
Contributing Author: Allyson Apsey
One of the most overlooked sources of educational research isn’t in journals or at conferences; it’s already happening inside our own schools. In Less Talk, More Action, we argue that teachers are surrounded by pockets of excellence every day, yet we rarely pause to study them. Much like young scientists discovering the world, powerful research begins when we get curious about what’s working right around us.
Educators often assume strong results require outside “programs” or external expertise. But when we ask why they don’t share their own effective practices, their answers reveal a simple truth: modesty, lack of visibility, limited time, and a culture of focusing on weaknesses rather than successes. It turns out that the barrier isn’t willingness, it’s mindset, opportunity, and systems.
The “Unlocking Pockets of Excellence” cycle offers a systematic way to elevate what already works within our schools. This five-step process helps teams identify high-impact teaching in their own buildings, uncover the causes behind that success, and scale those practices so every student benefits. The cycle includes:
Identify the “Who”: Use multiple years of data to find teachers whose students consistently demonstrate strong growth and proficiency. Avoid using averages that can be skewed by outliers.
Analyze the “What”: Observe standout classrooms using a guided lens to surface replicable instructional moves.
Discover the “How”: Engage the identified teachers in reflective conversations to reveal the intentions, strategies, and relational practices that fuel success.
Scale the Success: Use peer observations, collaborative planning, teacher-led PD, and action research cycles to spread effective strategies.
Sustain the Learning: Normalize studying success, not just deficits, to build collective efficacy, which we know is one of the most powerful influences on student achievement.
The big idea: Excellence doesn’t need to be imported; it needs to be noticed, named, and shared. When schools study their own wins with the same discipline used to diagnose challenges, they unlock a continuous cycle of improvement powered by the expertise already in the building.
Learn more about the “Unlocking Pockets of Excellence” cycle and the power of action research in our book, Less Talk, More Action: A Guide to Transforming Schools Through Action Research.
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