Great Things Going On Now
I would like to begin this week by thanking Center High School social studies teacher Scott Poole for the way he continually encourages his senior government students to attend district accountability and school board meetings. By doing so he guarantees our children the experience of learning how the district is governed, and how democracy works, even at the most local level, the traditional American local board of education.
I have noticed that our building leaders Kevin Jones, Carrie Zimmerman, Kathy Kulp and Sarah Vance have been working hard completing classroom instructional walkthroughs aimed at offering feedback to teachers to help them grow in their instruction of students. I know this is a lot of work and I appreciate the continued effort they put forth to do this. The creation of such a culture of continuous feedback has improved our classroom instruction immensely over the past several years.
I have noticed that our building leaders Kevin Jones, Carrie Zimmerman, Kathy Kulp and Sarah Vance have been working hard completing classroom instructional walkthroughs aimed at offering feedback to teachers to help them grow in their instruction of students. I know this is a lot of work and I appreciate the continued effort they put forth to do this. The creation of such a culture of continuous feedback has improved our classroom instruction immensely over the past several years.
I also want to thank Haskin Elementary 2nd-3rd grade math teacher Jessica Stevens for making the trek to Denver to attend a Colorado Legacy Foundation presentation on blended learning, as a representative of the entire San Luis Valley. Ms. Stevens participated in this event with superintendents, district level administrators and principals form other area districts and was able to offer a unique perspective to possible expansion of blended learning opportunities for San Luis Valley because of the experience she has already gained in leading the effort to implement the use of iPads in her classroom.
Haskin Elementary staff members and students were thrilled to see classroom paraprofessional Chris Hintz return to work this past week! Chris has served Haskin students since 1999, but has been out recently attending to personal health issues. Welcome back Chris. Our kids are lucky to have you back in their lives!
Finally, what a great job our Center High School wrestling team did this past weekend in Fowler when they came home with a regional championship and qualified eleven wrestlers to compete at the Colorado State Wrestling Tournament in the coming week. Congratulations to Coaches Ullery, Valencia, Lopez and Chavez for leading the team to such a great accomplishment. We wish you all the best of luck in Denver!
Haskin Elementary staff members and students were thrilled to see classroom paraprofessional Chris Hintz return to work this past week! Chris has served Haskin students since 1999, but has been out recently attending to personal health issues. Welcome back Chris. Our kids are lucky to have you back in their lives!
Finally, what a great job our Center High School wrestling team did this past weekend in Fowler when they came home with a regional championship and qualified eleven wrestlers to compete at the Colorado State Wrestling Tournament in the coming week. Congratulations to Coaches Ullery, Valencia, Lopez and Chavez for leading the team to such a great accomplishment. We wish you all the best of luck in Denver!
The Past Week
The past week was filled with a district accountability meeting, a school board meeting, a regional superintendents advisory council meeting, and a trip to Denver for the Colorado Association of School Boards legislative conference. While at the CASE legislative conference board of education president Michael Lobato and I personally met with legislators working on the revision of the school finance act, as well as the sponsor of the proposed breakfast after the bell legislation. I was busy attending to Colorado Association of School Executive business when Michael Johnston spoke in front of the entire CASB group, but Mr. Lobato informed me that the Senator mentioned the many challenges we have faced in Center and the San Luis Valley in relation to inadequate and inequitable funding for education programs, and he praised the efforts of the many parents and school districts who brought forth the Lobato v Colorado lawsuit which has led to the current conversation on how to remedy these problems.
Big Things We Are Working On
As the new school finance act will likely hit the hopper at the Colorado Senate this week, we will be doing our best to follow its progress and to offer suggestions for improvement. This will requires some time spent in Denver as well as meeting with representatives of all the school districts in the San Luis Valley.
We are also beginning to focus on the early steps to implementation of the Valley wide Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act grant that will bring Lindamood-Bell reading interventions to all SLV special education students and others who are in need of such services. This roll out will occur around the San Luis Valley much like it did in Center when we kicked off the program back in 2010.
We are also beginning to focus on the early steps to implementation of the Valley wide Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act grant that will bring Lindamood-Bell reading interventions to all SLV special education students and others who are in need of such services. This roll out will occur around the San Luis Valley much like it did in Center when we kicked off the program back in 2010.
The Week Ahead
There is a school finance act meeting in Denver on Tuesday I am planning to attend. Other than working around the school this week, I’ll be conducting Race to the top of the Valley work in the Sangre De Cristo school district on Wednesday afternoon, as well as attending a collaborative purchasing meeting of many SLV school district representatives on Wednesday evening. On Thursday I have a meeting with representatives of the El Pomar foundation.
Media Presentation of the Week
In an effort to raise awareness about the issues surrounding education funding in Colorado, Great Education Colorado has declared 2013 the Year of the Student. In this issue of Keeping Our Focus you can learn more about the causes of Colorado's education funding issue and how it is effecting students all over the state. You can view this presentation at this link: http://www.2013forstudents.org/great-education-colorado
Thanks for listening once again and have a great week!
George
Thanks for listening once again and have a great week!
George