LaBelle March 27, 2018 – At a meeting of the State Board of Education, Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart named Collier County Superintendent Dr. Kamela Patton the 2017 Lavan Dukes District Data Leader of the Year. As a result of Dr. Patton’s leadership over the last six years, Collier County Public Schools has made tremendous progress through a data-driven focus on continuous improvement. “Dr. Kamela Patton’s techniques are a great example of the way data can be used to help teachers and administrators provide students with the best education experience possible, and Collier County students are benefitting greatly,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “What I appreciate most is the fact that she has opened her doors and offered other districts the opportunity to learn about the student-focused strategies that have worked in Collier County so they too can help students reach their full potential. It is truly an honor to recognize Dr. Patton today, and I look forward to witnessing her ongoing success.” Of the 67 school districts, Collier’s district grades ranking has risen to 5th in 2017 from 33rd in 2011. Through strategic and systematic monitoring to ensure students’ needs are met, the “A”-rated district has also experienced a 15.7 percent increase in its high school graduation rate, from 72.5 percent in 2010-11 to 88.2 percent in 2016-17. Upon her arrival, Dr. Patton introduced “Data Dialogues,” which are collaborative and targeted conversations between school and district leaders that have resulted in tremendous gains. Three times per year, following state and local benchmark assessments, school leaders analyze and reflect upon data. This allows school leaders, teachers, students and parents to review the data and determine the best approaches to maximize student impact. During her tenure, Dr. Patton has implemented the Naviance College and Career Readiness platform for grades 6-12, which includes a Family Connection platform that helps students research colleges, scholarships, careers and more. In addition, she has implemented recruitment, retention and professional development systems to create a strong administrator pool for those aspiring to be instructional leaders. The Lavan Dukes District Data Leader of the Year Program highlights the critical role district superintendents play in supporting and encouraging the use of data to improve students’ college and career readiness. The award is named after Lavan Dukes to honor longtime Department of Education employee Garnet Lavan Dukes for his numerous contributions to public education on both the state and national levels. For more information about the award, visit District Data Leader.