Matt Alley

West Central Elementary School
West Central School District
Humboldt, South Dakota
matt.alley@k12.sd.us

As principal of West Central Elementary School (WCES) for the last nine years, Matt Alley has made it his responsibility to establish a positive and energetic school culture by leading by example. As an instructional leader, he challenges his team to make changes that align practice with a shared vision a school where every child’s learning needs are met. This work has been particularly evident and impactful in his implementation of learner-based instruction. Using funds from a South Dakota Technology in Education grant, Alley led grade-level teams in exploring Personalized and Customized Learning, a process that increased student engagement and improved performance, while contributing to a more cohesive and collaborative teaching culture. To support this shift in instruction, Alley also led WCES through a transition to standards-based grading, creating the opportunity for more responsive teaching practices and more meaningful dialogue with families regarding their student’s performance, including weekly family information meetings for every classroom. Alley is a founder of the New Principals’ Luncheon, an annual statewide networking event that supports the development of freshman administrators, and has served as vice president and president of the executive board of the South Dakota Association of Elementary School Principals, where he currently serves as state representative. He holds a B.A. from the University of Sioux Falls and an M.A. and Educational Specialist degree from the University of South Dakota.