The Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT) is the statewide test that measures the academic achievement of public school students toward meeting the Sunshine State Standards. Quarterly benchmark assessment exams in reading and math assess student achievement in individual areas based on these Sunshine State standards, which school districts require schools to apply to students in the appropriate content area. Teachers and administrators dump the information at the end of the exam and data mining begins. The data is analyzed and scrutinized and teachers present their interpretation of the data to the administration to determine what changes should be made within their classes. Teachers, principal and school district use data obtained from benchmark assessments to determine the level of student achievement within the class and create a strategy that will target benchmarks in which student performance was low. The vital issue in the data-driven classroom is the effectiveness of teachers and administrators in interpreting the data from these high-stakes tests and building a successful plan that guides instruction based on the changing needs of the classroom. continually. Teachers and administrators have the ability to assess student achievement and direct instruction to focus on individual student needs. The data-driven classroom helps measure student needs and allows for a certain level of accountability. However, teachers and administrators are sometimes poorly informed about how to create effective teaching practice based on data findings. The important issue facing...... middle of paper ...... lies at the elementary school level, which educates and empowers students about business, financial literacy and the fundamentals of preparation for work. My work ethic and passionate commitment to learning is strong, as well as my love for education and acquiring the skills necessary to provide my community with an effective educational leader. As a public school teacher, I believe I have a unique advantage in understanding not only what students need for focused instruction, but also what teachers need in today's classroom to become successful educators. I'm interested in the connection between student success and using data in high-stakes testing to help successfully guide teachers toward meaningful teaching, which is one of the many reasons I wishes to pursue a doctorate in education with a specialization in educational leadership..