Testing Season Is an Event—and You’re the Planner
If you’ve ever been a campus testing coordinator, you know what I mean when I say: it’s not a job—it’s an event. And you? You’re the planner. You’re in charge of the venue, the schedule, the guests, the security, the weather, the backup plan, and making sure no one walks in with a weed-eater during the reading section.
Testing isn’t a moment—it’s a month (or three). And when I was doing it? There was no TestHound. Let me tell you… I wish there had been.
From Notebooks and Nightmares to Software That Actually Helps
Most of my career was spent as an elementary school counselor. Back then, counselors were the testing coordinators. I had binders, spreadsheets (that I wasn’t great at), Word docs with room assignments, and a memory full of last-minute changes.
I woke up in the middle of the night wondering, “Did I move little Susie to the right room? Did her accommodation change? Did someone even tell me she enrolled yesterday?” And sometimes, teachers were the ones catching what I missed. That was the system.
Until one day at the Texas Assessment Conference, I saw a demo of TestHound. My jaw hit the floor. I remember thinking, Where has this been all my life? I ran back to my district and said, “We have to find a way to buy this.”
And we did. And it changed everything.
The Tools I Wish I’d Had Sooner
Let’s be clear—TestHound won’t turn testing into a picnic. But it will save you from drowning in forms, folders, and 3AM panic. Here are a few features that would’ve changed my life:
- Seating charts and material forms: No more teachers hand-writing names and booklet numbers. TestHound makes it easy to indicate who’s sitting where and what materials they need.
- Master Accommodations Report: The spreadsheet we all tried to keep manually? TestHound has it ready to go. Accurate, real-time, and easy to update.
- Performance Tracker: Stop juggling multiple spreadsheets of scores and retest lists. Let TestHound track who needs to test—and with what—so you can get straight to work.
- Autopilot: Automatically brings in accommodation data from your vendors. That’s right—no more manually typing in support needs from 14 different emails and sticky notes.
You Can Keep Doing It the Old Way… But Why Would You?
I’ve had folks say, “I’ve been doing it my way forever. I don’t want to learn something new.” I get that. I really do. But once you’ve seen what TestHound can do, there’s no going back.
In my last district, I didn’t force anyone to use it—but by the time I left, every campus had adopted it. Even the skeptics. Because once they tried it, they realized how much time and stress it saved.
It doesn’t just help you do the job—it helps you breathe while you do it.
Three Things I Tell Every Coordinator
Whether you’re using TestHound or not, here’s what I wish I’d known earlier:
- Don’t wait till the last minute. Seriously. Plan early, check often, and leave room for changes. Something will change.
- Use the system all year. Don’t just boot up TestHound in April. Use it for benchmarks, mock exams, and six-week tests so it becomes second nature.
- Find your people. Testing coordination can be isolating. Whether you’re a counselor, AP, or testing lead, connect with others who’ve done it. Join webinars. Hop into tune-ups. You’re not alone.
Support That Knows What You’re Going Through
Here’s the thing—our support team? We’ve been there. We’re former counselors, testing coordinators, assistant principals. We know what it’s like to be up in the middle of those sleepless nights wondering how you’re going to make it all fit.
That’s why we don’t make you wait 24 hours for a response. If you put in a ticket, you’ll hear back fast—because we know you’re working against the clock. And we don’t just answer questions about the software. Sometimes folks ask, “How do I even be a district testing coordinator (DTC)?” We try to help with that, too.
We’ve seen assistant superintendents step in last-minute as testing coordinators. We’ve helped brand-new campus testing coordinators (CTCs) get through their first spring. We’ve cried with you, laughed with you, and walked this road right alongside you.
The Bottom Line
Testing season is never going to be easy. But it can be easier. You don’t have to shut your door for three weeks and hope for the best. You don’t have to build it all from scratch. And you don’t have to do it alone.
My hope? That TestHound gives you time back, reduces stress, and maybe—just maybe—reminds you to smile.
