How an Area Superintendent uses data to improve schools just a smidge each day
From Data Lit by Data, Research, and Accountability
January 26, 2026 · 29 min · Season 6 · Episode 9
About this episode
Area Superintendent Chris McCabe discusses how data literacy and leadership intersect to improve schools.
How does a district leader filter through countless data points to find what actually matters? In this episode of Data Lit , we’re joined by Area Superintendent Chris McCabe to discuss the intersection of leadership and data literacy. Mr. McCabe shares his personal journey in education and pulls back the curtain on how he identifies the most crucial data for school improvement. We also dive into a vital conversation on shifting the culture of accountability from a punitive "gotcha" to a powerful learning process for schools. Join us to learn about the future of data in our district and how leadership leverages this information “just a smidge” to support every school. Research & resources from the episode: Visible Learning: 250+ Influences on Student Learning December 2025 Educational Leadership Magazine: The Power of Less in Schools Victoria Bernhardt: Multiple Measures of Data WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here . The theme song by Green Hope High School’s Lukas Brandon Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler Contact us via our website or at datalit@wcpss.net Data, Research, and Accountability department…
People in this episode
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Spencer Ziegler
Guest: Chris McCabe
Topics covered
- data literacy
- school improvement
- leadership
- accountability culture
- education
Keywords
- data
- education
- leadership
- school improvement
- accountability
- data literacy
- Chris McCabe
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Wake County Public School System
Books & works: Visible Learning: 250+ Influences on Student Learning, December 2025 Educational Leadership Magazine: The Power of Less in Schools
More episodes of Data Lit
- Looking Back and Dreaming Big · May 18, 2026 · 19 min
- Testing Across the USA · April 29, 2026 · 32 min
- The value of perception data with Principal Juley Sexton · April 20, 2026 · 23 min
- Using Perception Data to Unlock the Human Side of School · April 6, 2026 · 30 min
- It’s elementary, my dear listener: Investigating elementary school library policy · March 23, 2026 · 39 min
- Assessing the Head, Heart, and Hands of Civic Learning · March 9, 2026 · 22 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Data Lit podcast page.