Great Things Going On
I would like to congratulate Skoglund Middle School 7th graders Nubia Quintana, Joaquin Martinez, and Monika Mendoza for the great work they did on a poster-making contest we sponsored through a health grant related to the wellness of the human respiratory system. Student posters were judged by our Americorps staff and student tasks included requiring the exhibition of the knowledge of the operation of the respiratory system, and how the personal choices make could cause damage to it. Special congratulations go to Monika Mendoza who finished in first place!
As many of you may already know, since 2009 the Colorado Department of Education has annually reviewed school district. After analyzing much data, districts are classified in one of five categories, the highest being “accredited with distinction” and the lowest being “turnaround.” School districts that land in the bottom two categories (priority improvement and turnaround) are given five years to improve their status or to face a loss of their district accreditation. Last week the Colorado Department of Education released 2014 district accreditation ratings. As a result, eight Colorado districts are currently entering the final year or two of their accreditation timeline and face a possible loss of accreditation. They include such districts as Pueblo City Schools, Sheridan Public Schools, Julesburg Schools, and Aurora Public Schools. I would like to note that upon releasing this information Colorado Department of Education staff gave quite a nod to Center Schools stating, "all of the school districts that are being monitored by CDE serve large populations of poor and Latino students. But not all school districts that serve those populations are on the monitoring clock.” They then highlighted the Center Consolidated School District as a medium-size system that has vastly improved student achievement despite such demographics. Center has a higher concentration of poverty than any other school district in the state, with more than 90 percent of our students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, yet we have been deemed fully accredited by CDE according to this process!
As many of you may already know, since 2009 the Colorado Department of Education has annually reviewed school district. After analyzing much data, districts are classified in one of five categories, the highest being “accredited with distinction” and the lowest being “turnaround.” School districts that land in the bottom two categories (priority improvement and turnaround) are given five years to improve their status or to face a loss of their district accreditation. Last week the Colorado Department of Education released 2014 district accreditation ratings. As a result, eight Colorado districts are currently entering the final year or two of their accreditation timeline and face a possible loss of accreditation. They include such districts as Pueblo City Schools, Sheridan Public Schools, Julesburg Schools, and Aurora Public Schools. I would like to note that upon releasing this information Colorado Department of Education staff gave quite a nod to Center Schools stating, "all of the school districts that are being monitored by CDE serve large populations of poor and Latino students. But not all school districts that serve those populations are on the monitoring clock.” They then highlighted the Center Consolidated School District as a medium-size system that has vastly improved student achievement despite such demographics. Center has a higher concentration of poverty than any other school district in the state, with more than 90 percent of our students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, yet we have been deemed fully accredited by CDE according to this process!
Last week Haskin Elementary students enjoyed a display of African dances presented by our good friends at Crestone Performances. The kids were transfixed on the performance, and many were eager to participate when the opportunity arose. I want to thank principals Kathy Kulp and Sarah Vance for taking the time to arrange this cultural opportunity for our children.
Skoglund Middle School principal Luis Murillo asked me to highlight the great job Nate Koerber is doing in his ESL classroom. Mr. Murillo, who had experience as an English Language learner when he was growing up, had the chance to do an instructional walk-through recently and saw nothing but “excellent things.” He says “Nate is passionate about teaching ESL students and this is easy to see as soon as I walk in his classroom.” “His engagement strategies are top notch and he finds various ways of increasing the rigor in class even though there is a language barrier.”
Skoglund Middle School principal Luis Murillo asked me to highlight the great job Nate Koerber is doing in his ESL classroom. Mr. Murillo, who had experience as an English Language learner when he was growing up, had the chance to do an instructional walk-through recently and saw nothing but “excellent things.” He says “Nate is passionate about teaching ESL students and this is easy to see as soon as I walk in his classroom.” “His engagement strategies are top notch and he finds various ways of increasing the rigor in class even though there is a language barrier.”
Big Things We Are Working On
The months between harvest and the next time our farmers plant can be stressful for students and families, as many folks spend this time of year under employed or unemployed. Center Schools does its best to keep this in mind, especially with how it affects the mental well being of its students. In our district expanded counseling services are provided through San Luis Valley Behavioral Health Group (formerly known as the San Luis Valley Comprehensive Community Mental Health Center). Our two providers for counseling services this year are Dr. Jose Cholula and Whitney Glenn. These services are available on site on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Some parents and children may also wish to receive counseling outside of the school setting and we support them in seeking such services.
Two weeks ago the Colorado Department of Education conducted an on-site review of the Center Schools cafeteria. During such a review CDE makes sure quality meals are being provided for all students, and that they also meet the federal guidelines for quantity and nutrition. CDE staff also reviewed records, especially those related to how we qualify students for the free or reduced meal program. Last week I had the pleasure of reading the exit report and am pleased to say CDE was impressed with the nutritional and taste quality of our meals, and had no concerns about our record keeping related to free or reduced meal identification and requesting financial reimbursement. I want to thank director of food service Dianna Valenzuela for all she did to prepare for this review, and her whole staff for the great work they do day in and day out to nourish our children.
While at the State Superintendents of the Year gathering in Washington D.C. last week I once again had the pleasure of hearing Secretary of Education Arne Duncan speak at length. Duncan talked about seeing many great schools saying, "They focus on rigor, transform students lives, teach grit and tenaciousness, and they literally save lives." To the room full of superintendents gathered there he said, "stay the course." "It takes many years to turn around a school system." “Three to five years just may not be enough.” When asked, “what do most districts need in a superintendent? His answer was, “stability in leadership, a sense of humility, and an understanding the true stars of the system are our teachers and children, so we need to do all we can to support them.”
Two weeks ago the Colorado Department of Education conducted an on-site review of the Center Schools cafeteria. During such a review CDE makes sure quality meals are being provided for all students, and that they also meet the federal guidelines for quantity and nutrition. CDE staff also reviewed records, especially those related to how we qualify students for the free or reduced meal program. Last week I had the pleasure of reading the exit report and am pleased to say CDE was impressed with the nutritional and taste quality of our meals, and had no concerns about our record keeping related to free or reduced meal identification and requesting financial reimbursement. I want to thank director of food service Dianna Valenzuela for all she did to prepare for this review, and her whole staff for the great work they do day in and day out to nourish our children.
While at the State Superintendents of the Year gathering in Washington D.C. last week I once again had the pleasure of hearing Secretary of Education Arne Duncan speak at length. Duncan talked about seeing many great schools saying, "They focus on rigor, transform students lives, teach grit and tenaciousness, and they literally save lives." To the room full of superintendents gathered there he said, "stay the course." "It takes many years to turn around a school system." “Three to five years just may not be enough.” When asked, “what do most districts need in a superintendent? His answer was, “stability in leadership, a sense of humility, and an understanding the true stars of the system are our teachers and children, so we need to do all we can to support them.”
The Past Week
Last week I had the honor of attending the annual State Superintendents of the Year gathering in Washington D.C. representing Colorado. My wife Becky joined me on the trip. Monday was a travel day, though we were able to spend a significant amount of time with Center School’s Einstein Fellow Daniel Newmyer, his wife Kate, and their children Andrew and Chloe. It was truly wonderful to hear about the experience Daniel is gaining coordinating the development of large-scale STEM instruction programs and offering his excellent opinion on regional education and instructional policies. I must also add that Kate is doing a wonderful job homeschooling Chloe and Andrew. What a treat it is for each of them to be able to simply walk over to a museum on the mall any time they want to learn more about a particular topic!
On Tuesday Becky and I were able to do some sight seeing, with the highlight of our day being making our first visit to the World War II memorial. Upon arriving we saw a WWII veteran in a wheelchair being taken around by his son. Of course we immediately looked at each other and cried as we remembered our recently deceased fathers. We then spent our time in the "Pacific Theater" as our dads had during the war (both as airplane navigators and gunners) and we sought out the childhood home state monuments of each (New York for Adam J. Welsh and Ohio for Richard Reed). Our emotional visit was topped off by the playing of taps while one of many wreaths was laid in honor of our “Greatest Generation.”
On Tuesday Becky and I were able to do some sight seeing, with the highlight of our day being making our first visit to the World War II memorial. Upon arriving we saw a WWII veteran in a wheelchair being taken around by his son. Of course we immediately looked at each other and cried as we remembered our recently deceased fathers. We then spent our time in the "Pacific Theater" as our dads had during the war (both as airplane navigators and gunners) and we sought out the childhood home state monuments of each (New York for Adam J. Welsh and Ohio for Richard Reed). Our emotional visit was topped off by the playing of taps while one of many wreaths was laid in honor of our “Greatest Generation.”
On Tuesday night we attended the Superintendent of the Year Gala, a black tie affair at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel, in a ballroom that has held presidential inauguration parties in the past. During this event I had the opportunity to personally talk with United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan about the fine work we have been doing in the San Luis Valley region of Colorado as a result of our Race to the Top collaborative.
On Wednesday I participated in a student data privacy panel discussion, a session on school discipline best practices (which highly encouraged schools not suspending or expelling students into their homes), a Capitol Hill tour, and then a meeting at the White House with President Obama’s Domestic Policy Council, including Roberto Rodriguez, the president's chief advisor for education. At this meeting much discussion took place about possible revision of the federal education laws, and the important work that needs to be done regarding making sure district, school, and educator accountability laws are fair.
On Thursday we were back on Capitol Hill to attend a federal school finance meeting and to participate in a media event. Becky and I then flew back to Colorado that evening, making it home to Center around 1 AM on Friday.
On Friday I, along with many other Center Schools staff members, participated in reading my favorite children’s book to Kindergarten, First, and Second grade students. I also met with Save the Children Foundation folks about a possible expansion of our after school reading intervention and support program through a grant they have secured.
On Wednesday I participated in a student data privacy panel discussion, a session on school discipline best practices (which highly encouraged schools not suspending or expelling students into their homes), a Capitol Hill tour, and then a meeting at the White House with President Obama’s Domestic Policy Council, including Roberto Rodriguez, the president's chief advisor for education. At this meeting much discussion took place about possible revision of the federal education laws, and the important work that needs to be done regarding making sure district, school, and educator accountability laws are fair.
On Thursday we were back on Capitol Hill to attend a federal school finance meeting and to participate in a media event. Becky and I then flew back to Colorado that evening, making it home to Center around 1 AM on Friday.
On Friday I, along with many other Center Schools staff members, participated in reading my favorite children’s book to Kindergarten, First, and Second grade students. I also met with Save the Children Foundation folks about a possible expansion of our after school reading intervention and support program through a grant they have secured.
The Week Ahead
On Monday and Tuesday our Center High School seniors will be taking the new CMAS tests. I will also be meeting with director of instruction Lori Cooper and director of technology Julio Paez about additional technology resources we might need in order to make sure we are ready for PARCC testing later in the year. On Tuesday I will be meeting with Durango Schools superintendent Dan Snowberger, who is hoping to arrange a visit to Haskin Elementary School by some of his building leaders. He has asked us to open our doors to his staff to learn about how we are having such success with our at-risk student populations. On Tuesday afternoon I will be in Alamosa for a BEST Health Plan meeting. On Wednesday I have an Opportunity Coalition phone conference about the upcoming legislative session and I will be attending a superintendent PLC in the Alamosa School District, including walking through some classrooms with our old friend Carrie Zimmerman. Meanwhile, here in Center students in grades 6-12 will once again be working on their Individual Career and Academic Readiness Plans (ICAP). On Thursday I will meet with Center Education Association leaders about possible upcoming salary negotiations, and on Friday, while many Haskin Elementary students will be attending a play in Creede, I will look forward to sneaking into the Skoglund Middle School dance to significantly embarrass my 6th grade daughter Priscilla!
Thanks for listening once again and have a great week!
George
Thanks for listening once again and have a great week!
George