Reimagining School with WIN Time: Stephanie McConnell on Transforming Student Success

  The Ruckus Report Quick take: The factory model of education is dead. This school leader transformed a failing campus into a Blue Ribbon award winner by reimagining intervention through WIN Time - and now she's showing thousands of leaders worldwide how to do the same.   Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Stephanie is a veteran school leader, author, and owner of Principal Principles. With 18 years as a principal and now serving as an assistant superintendent of schools she's passionate about leadership, student success, and innovative school solutions. She's also the creator of WIN Time, helping schools implement data-driven interventions. Connect with her at PrincipalPrinciples.net!   Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, Stephanie McConnell challenges traditional education paradigms: Key Insight #1: Intervention Without Interruption What's broken: The old pull-out model where students leave class for intervention and miss core instruction The shift: WIN Time - built into the master schedule where every student gets intervention AND enrichment without missing anything Impact: Transformed McConnell's school from an F-rated campus to a National Blue Ribbon Award winner in just two years   Key Insight #2: Flexible Grouping Based on Real-Time Data What's broken: Static intervention groups that trap students in remediation all year The shift: Data-driven regrouping every 2-4 weeks based on student progress Impact: Students can receive double-blocked reading intervention AND math enrichment based on individual needs   Key Insight #3: Culture of Ownership > Compliance What's broken: Teachers following prescribed programs without investment in outcomes The shift: Challenging the "why" behind every practice and building true teacher ownership Impact: Teachers shift from "I taught it" to "students learned it" mindset, driving real results   Quotable Ruckus "Since the things that matter the most should never be at the mercy of the things that matter the least." – Stephanie McConnell   Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Ask yourself "why" about one existing intervention practice in your school This Month: Audit your master schedule to find where WIN Time could fit This Semester: Visit a school using WIN Time or bring Stephanie's framework to your team   Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: [Link] 🔗 Follow Stephanie McConnell: Instagram, Facebook 💪 Join the Ruckus Maker Movement: Link 📚 Join Stephanie's Leadership Group: Link   Do you Subscribe to the Ruckus Maker Newsletter? Do School Different 3x a Week. Join for FREE here.   Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with:   IXL: Meet your students where they are and take them where they need to go. Join over 1 million teachers who trust IXL to drive data-informed excellence in their classrooms. 🔍 Learn more here   Expressability K12: Your inbox isn't a task manager. Your mind isn't for storing mundane processes. It's time to break free. With Expressability K12 Ruckus Makers can prioritize student success by offloading time sucking tasks. Visit Expressability K12 to learn how here   ODP Business Solutions: "Our STEAM program is too complicated" = Code for "We're doing it wrong." Stop letting fear kill innovation. While some schools struggle with integrating STEAM, other leaders are using a 3-part framework to transform their programs. The secret? It's not what you think. Get the playbook here   Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?