Great Things Going On Now
Center Schools would like to thank our local American Legion Women’s Auxilliary for the donation of an American flag and stand for our district auditorium. Lee Finley and some other members came to Tuesday’s board meeting to make the presentation. The American Legion has also committed to donating new flags for our school upon its grand opening in August.
Center Schools would also like to welcome new Center High School ESL Teacher Heatherlynn Butler to the staff. Heatherlynn is filling the position vacated by Sid Ham, who had to take the rest of the year off for medical reasons. Center High School Principal Kevin Jones has already conducted a walkthrough of Ms. Butler’s class and reports that she is doing a wonderful job.
A special congratulation goes out to Skoglund Middle School student Jordan Lobato who has qualified for an all expenses paid trip to attend the International Sustainable World Engineering Energy and Environment Project (ISWEEP) Olympiad in Houston, Texas. She has done so by landing in the top ten of the nation, qualifying her project titled “Colummized, Sand Filtered, Parabolic-Ultra Violet Sterilization of Water for the Developing World and Crisis Situations.”
I would like to thank the Haskin Elementary staff members who have been working so hard during and after school conducting Lindamood-Bell reading interventions for our students who need to catch up to grade level. This work is time consuming and intense, but it is clearly making a difference for our children.
I would like to thank the Haskin Elementary staff members who have been working so hard during and after school conducting Lindamood-Bell reading interventions for our students who need to catch up to grade level. This work is time consuming and intense, but it is clearly making a difference for our children.
Finally, on Tuesday it was announced that Center High School Science Teacher Russ Braiden was named Center Schools Teacher of Year for 2012. Mr. Braiden has immersed himself in Center Schools in many ways. His past leadership on the Middle-High Building Leadership Team helped that organization to move Center Hgih School and Skoglund Middle School forward academically. Our National Honor Society program functions under his sponsorship and for many years Mr. Braiden helped to supervise and open the weight room after school for staff, students, and community members to use. During the past several years Russ has served as an after school tutor. In addition, as a member of Center Schools' technology in-class test group, he learned and shared ways to bring technology to the classroom, and has increasingly used technology to make his assignments more interesting and increase learning opportunities for students. Most importantly, Mr. Braiden is simply an outstanding instructor who has high expectations for learning and treats our kids with dignity and respect. He plans for expert objectives and ways to measure student learning on a daily basis. His use of technology keeps his students engaged at a maximum level. Mr. Braiden’s work in this realm has been so effective that he has been asked to help administrators by reviewing and supporting the development of plans of other staff members. Our kids are truly lucky to have Mr. Braiden working on their behalf. In a district that has dozens of bright teaching stars, Mr. Braiden has become one of our brightest! Congratulations Russ!
The Past Week
During this past week I participated in the Haskin Elementary School Building Leadership Team meeting on Monday. The Haskin BLT focused efforts on its student behavior action plan and designing improvement processes for next year.
On Tuesday I spent time in the school buildings, then attended our monthly District Accountability and Board of Education meetings. On Wednesday I had the pleasure of touring new Colorado Education San Luis Valley Uniserv Director Dennis Carlson around our campus. Thursday brought a routine visit by Colorado Department of Education Turnaround Unit Specialist Wendy Dunaway. Friday’s focus was working with the Haskin Elementary staff during their large group Professional Learning Community meeting.
On Tuesday I spent time in the school buildings, then attended our monthly District Accountability and Board of Education meetings. On Wednesday I had the pleasure of touring new Colorado Education San Luis Valley Uniserv Director Dennis Carlson around our campus. Thursday brought a routine visit by Colorado Department of Education Turnaround Unit Specialist Wendy Dunaway. Friday’s focus was working with the Haskin Elementary staff during their large group Professional Learning Community meeting.
Big Things We Are Working On
The biggest thing we are working on at the moment is beginning to plan 2012-13 improvement processes for Haskin Elementary School. Paths under consideration include supporting Haskin staff with sheltering techniques for English Language Learners. We are also considering additional staff development support for increasing teacher student engagement strategies. In addition, we will be taking a close look at how to possibly invest turnaround dollars in developing a comprehensive Response to Intervention program.
Construction News
This week I had the pleasure of taking three different groups on building tours. Each time I was impressed with the amount of work that is getting done in such a short period of time. Upon touring the building it was clear to see that many rooms are now carpeted, much tile flooring has been laid, light fixtures are beginning to be installed, ceiling tile is being put in place, and of course the removal of the varsity gymnasium is proceeding swiftly.
On Thursday we met with Brent Jones from Contrax, our Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment provider. During this meeting we double-checked furniture purchases for all elementary, middle and high school classrooms and offices. During this meeting we also began building an equipment list for athletic and activity purchases.
On Thursday we met with Brent Jones from Contrax, our Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment provider. During this meeting we double-checked furniture purchases for all elementary, middle and high school classrooms and offices. During this meeting we also began building an equipment list for athletic and activity purchases.
Our Core Beliefs
Last week I presented some hypothetical responses to a staff survey about our core beliefs. I asked readers to think about which of these statements would be reflective of our core beliefs and which might not, based on what they know about our core beliefs. This week I would like to share my opinion about these statements.
Statement 1. I enjoy coming to work daily and feel as if I am a positive influence in my students' lives. I know I am an integral part of the school and feel supported and appreciated. I hope that the instructional initiatives will continue to be as positive as they sound, but I am not completely convinced they will.
My opinion: This person is saying many of the right things but it seems they have not yet bought into our core belief that our initiatives surrounding quality planning, instruction, and assessments will lead to high student achievement for ALL.
Statement 2. Although I support data-driven instruction, I still believe too much time is spent on testing and preparing kids for assessments.
My opinion: This person is saying they support data driven instruction but they clearly have not yet bought into it. Once again our core belief stating that quality planning, instruction, and assessments will lead to high student achievement for ALL may not be adhered to whole heartedly.
Statement 3. Currently I feel that although my job is a bit more challenging than in past years, it is an exciting time to work in the District. We are engaged in many reform initiatives and I feel that I am a stronger instructional leader through the training I have received. Most of all the kids will benefit!
My opinion: This person has not laid out specifics but their statement seems to encompass an adherence to all of our core beliefs.
Statement 4. I sometimes feel that there is so much pressure on our new focus on increasing test scores that we are losing sight of what it is to be a great role model for our students and someone who cares about their welfare. We need to make learning fun and benefit the whole child.
My opinion: I am not sure this person has bought into our core belief that, “with our support all children can achieve at high levels.”
Statement 5. I have concerns over class size increases as they relate to student achievement and budget cuts.
My opinion: Class sizes are definitely something to be concerned about. However, one of our core beliefs is that “there are no excuses for poor quality instruction.” This means that if we have to bump our student to teacher numbers up a bit because of funding issues we must still proceed with the attitude that we can still provide good quality instruction for our students.
Thanks for participating in this exercise with me. I’ll share other core belief scenarios with our readers next week.
Statement 1. I enjoy coming to work daily and feel as if I am a positive influence in my students' lives. I know I am an integral part of the school and feel supported and appreciated. I hope that the instructional initiatives will continue to be as positive as they sound, but I am not completely convinced they will.
My opinion: This person is saying many of the right things but it seems they have not yet bought into our core belief that our initiatives surrounding quality planning, instruction, and assessments will lead to high student achievement for ALL.
Statement 2. Although I support data-driven instruction, I still believe too much time is spent on testing and preparing kids for assessments.
My opinion: This person is saying they support data driven instruction but they clearly have not yet bought into it. Once again our core belief stating that quality planning, instruction, and assessments will lead to high student achievement for ALL may not be adhered to whole heartedly.
Statement 3. Currently I feel that although my job is a bit more challenging than in past years, it is an exciting time to work in the District. We are engaged in many reform initiatives and I feel that I am a stronger instructional leader through the training I have received. Most of all the kids will benefit!
My opinion: This person has not laid out specifics but their statement seems to encompass an adherence to all of our core beliefs.
Statement 4. I sometimes feel that there is so much pressure on our new focus on increasing test scores that we are losing sight of what it is to be a great role model for our students and someone who cares about their welfare. We need to make learning fun and benefit the whole child.
My opinion: I am not sure this person has bought into our core belief that, “with our support all children can achieve at high levels.”
Statement 5. I have concerns over class size increases as they relate to student achievement and budget cuts.
My opinion: Class sizes are definitely something to be concerned about. However, one of our core beliefs is that “there are no excuses for poor quality instruction.” This means that if we have to bump our student to teacher numbers up a bit because of funding issues we must still proceed with the attitude that we can still provide good quality instruction for our students.
Thanks for participating in this exercise with me. I’ll share other core belief scenarios with our readers next week.
The Week Ahead
The major things I will be focused on this week include participation in an Antonito School Board meeting on Monday for the purpose of explaining our Race to the Top Valley Collaborative process to them. On Wednesday we have our bi-weekly Core Construction Committee Meeting. I have a meeting with Lobato v Colorado Lead Attorney Kathy Gebhardt on Thursday evening. We’ll be discussing strategy related to the upcoming Supreme Court appeal. On Friday I’ll be attending the Colorado Association of Leaders in Education Technology meeting in Denver. CALET is a department of the Colorado Association of School Executive and I’ll be attending the meeting in my role as CASE President.
Video of the Week
With much news hitting the internet and airwaves about the many challenges involved in turning around a low performing school I thought it would be fun to link everyone to an old video about the Lindamood-Bell Pueblo Schools Project that took place a little more than ten years ago. You can view the video at this link: http://keepingourfocus.weebly.com/videos.html Folks who have been involved in education for a long time might remember when Bessemer Elementary School was the talk of the nation because of its amazing increase in CSAP reading performance over a period of several years. Unfortunately for the children in Pueblo, their school district has strayed away from the Lindamood-Bell literacy acquisition model and their reading performance is once again among the worst in Colorado, despite a large investment of dollars in the district through federal targeted improvement grants. Fortunately for our kids in Center, we are proving once again that the Lindamood-Bell literacy acquisition model is still a great way to bring significantly at risk readers up to grade level.
Extra Points
It seems we have quite a crop of girls basketball players to look forward to in Center. On Saturday four Center kids competed in the Tri-Star Basketball Skills regional competition in Pueblo. At this event Salma Cendejas took 1st and Ashley Carter took 3rd in the 13 year old category while Natalia Cendejas took 2nd and Melanie Nungaray took 3rd n the 9 year old competition. Because of their hard work and talent these girls will next be competing on April 15th in the Pepsi Center before the Nuggets-Rockets game. Congratulations ladies!
Thanks for listening again and have another great week.
George