(Editor’s note: Courtney Andrade, while a student at CSU Stanislaus, was an associate editor for The Westside Express. After earning her teaching credential, Andrade joined Bear Creek High School in Lodi as teacher of English Language Development and Theater courses.)
Los Banos Junior High School is proving to be a school that is a model for a relatively new and very successful educational strategy.
On Sept. 23, teachers from the Lodi Unified School District traveled to Los Banos to observe teachers at the Los Banos school as they modeled a teaching strategy called “visible learning.”
Dr. David Horton, former Director of Secondary Education at the Los Banos Unified District and is now serving Lodi Unified as Associate Superintendent of Educational Services, has been influential in bringing visible learning to Lodi.
Visible learning was identified in 2016 by a professor and researcher in education, John Hattie, as one of the most effective teaching strategies for students’ success. This strategy has been used successfully around the world, including at Los Banos Junior High School.
The visible learning strategies promote student success through modeling, inquiry, exemplars and student accountability. The process more than doubles the speed of learning and helps students reach and exceed education goals rapidly.
After working with teachers in the Lodi district, Horton teamed up with Los Banos Junior High Principal Deo Brasil to organize this educational opportunity for Lodi teachers to see this successful strategy in practice.
Lodi teachers were given the opportunity to observe eight different classes that Tuesday. They arrived in each class taking pictures of class materials and observing students engage with the lesson and hold each other accountable.
One of the shared highlights was stepping into a social studies classroom and observing the way students annotate and engage with their book. Lodi teachers were amazed to hear that students get to keep those books at the end of the school year.
After watching Los Banos teachers demonstrate their excellence, Lodi teachers sat with Los Banos teachers for lunch, provided by the Los Banos school’s culinary arts class.
During the exceptional meal, Principal Brasil spoke of how closely Los Banos Junior High works with nearby Pacheco High School to ensure students are prepared for that next step. Brasil noted that many students are unprepared for the wide variety of electives offered in high school, but the culinary and agriculture programs are helping to bridge that gap.
The common observation of the day was consistency. Throughout the Los Banos school and the classes observed, common procedures and resources were used to instruct students. A teacher from Morada Middle School in Lodi noted that “school-wide goals are clearly posted in every classroom.” A Tokay High School teacher identified “consistency among teachers” as the number one takeaway of the day.
Kelley Simpson, a teacher at Bear Creek High School in Lodi, commented “I was truly impressed by the strong sense of collaboration and consistency among the teaching staff. It’s clear that the educators work as a cohesive team, guided by a shared commitment to student success
“I also witnessed visible learning in action—students were engaged, aware of their goals, and actively participating in their growth,” Simpson added. “The support from administration was evident in both structure and community, creating an environment where teachers feel empowered and students thrive.
“Most notably,” Simpson said, “there was an authentic care for each student that went beyond academics, reflecting a school culture rooted in respect, compassion, and high expectations. As an Honors ELA and AVID elective teacher who regularly uses visible learning teaching strategies in her own classroom, I was encouraged and inspired. I’m so glad Dr. Horton invited to see these committed teachers in action! “
The consensus of the visiting Lodi teachers was that students at the Los Banos Junior High School are demonstrating proficiency in education because of the proven efficacy of visible learning and their own strength in working as a team to provide a consistent learning model for students.
