How Principals at Knox County Schools Used Data-Driven Strategies to Drive Meaningful Change
Introduction
Knox County Schools sought targeted leadership support for its CSI schools—a select group of six schools that faced persistent challenges in student learning, school culture, and staff engagement, and were performing in the bottom 5% in the state. Recognizing that strong school leadership is critical to turning around underperforming schools, Region 5 Director Dr. Dexter Murphy searched for a partner that could provide personalized, actionable development and support for principals.
PIVOT: School Improvement Leaders was uniquely positioned to help. Through one-on-one coaching, whole group learning grounded in applied learning experiences, clear goal setting, and consistent progress tracking, PIVOT provided principals with the strategies, tools, and confidence needed to drive meaningful school improvement.
This case study explores how PIVOT’s model helped Green Magnet Academy and other CSI schools in Knox County strengthen school climate, improve accountability, and align leadership strategies with data-driven goals.
Challenges
CSI-designated schools in Knox County faced a range of challenges—some had only recently fallen into CSI status, while others had struggled for years with academic performance, student culture, and attendance. Each school had unique needs, and principals brought different leadership strengths and growth areas to the table. To understand the day-to-day impact of these challenges, let’s look at one school’s experience.
Green Magnet Academy: Addressing Student Behavior and Teacher Attendance
At Green Magnet Academy, student behavior challenges and rising teacher absenteeism had become primary concerns. Various behavior management strategies had been attempted in the past, but without a reliable system to track their implementation, it was difficult to determine which approaches were still in place or how effective they had been. Principal Jessica Holman began evaluating behavior practices to identify adjustments that would strengthen schoolwide expectations and provide teachers with more support.
The Approach
To support school leaders in Knox County’s CSI schools, PIVOT provided customized, hands-on coaching designed to help principals navigate complex leadership challenges. Recognizing that each school had different needs, PIVOT’s approach was highly individualized, allowing principals to focus on the specific areas of leadership growth that would have the greatest impact on their schools.
A core element of PIVOT’s model was one-on-one coaching, blending in-person and virtual sessions to provide continuous feedback and guidance. These coaching sessions created a structured but flexible space where principals could reflect on their leadership strategies, troubleshoot challenges, and refine their decision-making processes. In addition to individual coaching, principals participated in peer learning experiences, where they visited each other’s schools to observe different leadership approaches in action. These school visits encouraged collaboration, allowing principals to exchange ideas, share successes, and gain insight into strategies being implemented across the district.
PIVOT also worked closely with principals to help them assess school priorities and set strategic goals. At Green Magnet Academy, for example, this meant taking a closer look at student culture strategies and evaluating the best ways to track and address student behavior trends.
A key aspect of PIVOT’s coaching was the use of progress tracking tools, which allowed principals, district leaders, and coaches to monitor growth in real time. The coaching relationship emphasized alignment and accountability, grounded in a trusting relationship—principals had full ownership of their leadership development while also receiving targeted support in implementing schoolwide improvements.
Outcomes
After launching the partnership with PIVOT, Principal Holman conducted her own data analysis, reviewing student behavior trends and their impact on school operations. Through this process, she identified a correlation between student behavior incidents and rising teacher absenteeism, recognizing the need for an overhaul of their behavior management processes.
To address these challenges, she developed a data tracker to monitor all levels of behavior incidents, identify trends, keep teachers updated on progress to goals, and inform leadership decisions. She also redesigned behavior team meetings and led professional development sessions on behavior management, investing teachers in the shifts that needed to occur, and equipping them with consistent strategies to create more stable, supportive classrooms.
With these improvements, Green Magnet Academy significantly reduced disruptive incidents: suspensions dropped by 86%, and office referrals decreased by 43%. By using real-time data to guide decisions, the school was able to reduce disruptions, boost staff satisfaction, and create a more positive school climate.
Beyond Green Magnet Academy, PIVOT’s coaching model empowered other CSI principals to apply data-driven leadership strategies to their own schools. Through one-on-one coaching, structured progress tracking, and peer collaboration, principals gained tools to make measurable, lasting improvements in their leadership and schoolwide systems.
Testimonials
Principal Holman emphasized how the PIVOT partnership strengthened her leadership skills and provided both personalized and collaborative learning experiences: "My growth as a leader has improved significantly since becoming part of the PIVOT cohort. PIVOT learning facilitators consistently craft meaningful, authentic, and immersive learning experiences for principals as a cohort and individually. The group and individual coaching sessions work together for a comprehensive, relevant, and timely learning experience."
Dr. Dexter Murphy described the transformative effect of PIVOT’s coaching on district leadership: "The impact was immediate and significant. PIVOT developed differentiated coaching support plans for each of our Executive Principals, tailored to their individual needs and the specific challenges of their schools."
Conclusion
Through a collaborative, data-informed coaching model, PIVOT provided principals in Knox County with the tools, confidence, and strategies needed to develop actionable strategies, align with district goals, and drive meaningful change in their schools.
For school districts looking to build stronger leadership capacity and improve schoolwide outcomes, PIVOT: School Improvement Leaders provides tailored coaching and structured leadership development that leads to lasting impact.
