Great Things Going On Now
I would like to begin this week by congratulating Skoglund Middle School Teacher Joe Martinez for being awarded a 9 News Teachers That Care award. Joe was nominated for this award by a community member and is certainly deserving of the honor.
This past week the Colorado Department of Education contacted Skoglund Middle School Math Teacher Linda Donaldson, Center High School Math/Science Teacher Daniel Newmeyer, Center High School Social Studies Teacher Scott Poole, and Center Schools Teacher/Counselor Katrina Ruggles to notify them that they have been selected to serve on the statewide Colorado Model Curriculum Committee. Kudos to each of you for being selected to do such important work!
Haskin Elementary school Principal Kathy Kulp was recently selected by the Colorado Association of School Executives to participate in a Response to Intervention study group that we expect will bring about a greater knowledge of how to effectively implement the process in our schools. I appreciate her doing this extra work to gain this knowledge and to help solidify our elementary RTI program improvements.
This past week the Colorado Department of Education contacted Skoglund Middle School Math Teacher Linda Donaldson, Center High School Math/Science Teacher Daniel Newmeyer, Center High School Social Studies Teacher Scott Poole, and Center Schools Teacher/Counselor Katrina Ruggles to notify them that they have been selected to serve on the statewide Colorado Model Curriculum Committee. Kudos to each of you for being selected to do such important work!
Haskin Elementary school Principal Kathy Kulp was recently selected by the Colorado Association of School Executives to participate in a Response to Intervention study group that we expect will bring about a greater knowledge of how to effectively implement the process in our schools. I appreciate her doing this extra work to gain this knowledge and to help solidify our elementary RTI program improvements.
I would also like to offer a gigantic thank you to Diana Valenzuela and the entire Center Schools Cafeteria Staff for the great work they have done adapting to our new kitchen. I especially want to thank them for all the extras they do. The staff kindly cooked up around 400 burgers for the community on Wednesday for our Open House event, and followed that up by preparing great sandwich, fruit and vegetable trays to be shared with our cornerstone laying ceremony attendees. Thanks crew!
Speaking of Open House, I would like to offer a gigantic thank you to the many businesses in our community who were generous enough to offer up some door prizes to be distributed at the event. Carter’s Grocery Store, Adams State University, Colorado Sports, SLV Pizza Company, Fyock Community Library, Sand Dunes Recreation Pool, Ninos Restaurant and Monte Vista Dairy Queen all provided wonderful incentives to encourage our parents to attend.
Speaking of Open House, I would like to offer a gigantic thank you to the many businesses in our community who were generous enough to offer up some door prizes to be distributed at the event. Carter’s Grocery Store, Adams State University, Colorado Sports, SLV Pizza Company, Fyock Community Library, Sand Dunes Recreation Pool, Ninos Restaurant and Monte Vista Dairy Queen all provided wonderful incentives to encourage our parents to attend.
The Past Week
Last week was another busy one as I met with Lindamood-Bell Site Coordinator Melissa Garcia and Haskin Elementary Instructional Coach Sarah Vance about our after school reading academy on Monday, participated in many classroom walkthroughs and Elementary PLC meetings on Tuesday, focused on construction and Open House issues on Wednesday, attended the State Superintendent Conference in Colorado Springs on Thursday and Friday, then participated in the Masonic Cornerstone Laying Ceremony on Saturday.
My favorite part of the Cornerstone Ceremony was having the colors presented by the Colorado National Guard, specifically having recent Center High School graduates Juan Gomez and Eidy Guderrama doing the honors.
My favorite part of the Cornerstone Ceremony was having the colors presented by the Colorado National Guard, specifically having recent Center High School graduates Juan Gomez and Eidy Guderrama doing the honors.
Big Things We Are Working On
My Race to the top of the Valley time this week will be spent on projects related to the writing of our Race to the Top Consortium grant for all San Luis Valley School Districts.
I am happy to say that our TIG and Consolidated Federal Programs grants have received final approval from CDE and we can now begin requesting those dollars. Getting this final approval is the result of a lot of hard work on the part of Director of Instruction Lori cooper, Director of Finance Betty Casanova, and Federal Programs Director Becky Reed.
Finally, the Lobato v Colorado legal team is in the process of finishing up its response to the State in relation to the upcoming Lobato v Colorado Supreme Court appeal. I want to offer a special thank you to lead attorney Kathleen Gebhardt for her continued hard work on the case and for the way she has communicated with her clients throughout the entire process.
I am happy to say that our TIG and Consolidated Federal Programs grants have received final approval from CDE and we can now begin requesting those dollars. Getting this final approval is the result of a lot of hard work on the part of Director of Instruction Lori cooper, Director of Finance Betty Casanova, and Federal Programs Director Becky Reed.
Finally, the Lobato v Colorado legal team is in the process of finishing up its response to the State in relation to the upcoming Lobato v Colorado Supreme Court appeal. I want to offer a special thank you to lead attorney Kathleen Gebhardt for her continued hard work on the case and for the way she has communicated with her clients throughout the entire process.
Construction News
We have officially moved our Building Trades and Vocational Technology programs into our newly remodeled Vocational Building. The Alternative and Virtual schools are still about a week away from relocating to their new facility.
Our core construction committee met last Wednesday and spent a lot of time tying out minor construction details. We will be losing GE Johnson’s Chris Scovel at the end of this week as he is pretty much finished with his portion of the project. However, Paul Kosek, our Construction Superintendent, will remain on site through the end of October to take care of the final details.
Our core construction committee met last Wednesday and spent a lot of time tying out minor construction details. We will be losing GE Johnson’s Chris Scovel at the end of this week as he is pretty much finished with his portion of the project. However, Paul Kosek, our Construction Superintendent, will remain on site through the end of October to take care of the final details.
Video of the Week
This week's video was shown at the Great Education Colorado luncheon held last Wednesday honoring outgoing State Board of Education member Elaine Gantz Berman. Haskin Elementary School's turnaround story is discussed prominently in the video. It is great food for thought. You can access the video at this link: http://keepingourfocus.weebly.com/videos.html
The Week Ahead
I am covering the administrative duties in the Middle/High on Monday as principals Kevin Jones and Carrie Zimmerman will be attending a Boettcher Teacher Program training session. Carrie and Kevin had the opportunity to work with some aspiring Adams State University teachers last week who will be working with our kids here in Center during the fall semester. This picture shows one of their introductory meetings.
On Tuesday I will be going to and from Denver to participate in the monthly CASE, CEA, CASB Anchor Group meeting. On Wednesday I will be working for the RtttV collaborative all day. On Thursday I hope to be participating in some of our first Instructional Walks as we take master teachers around to conduct peer teacher observations. On Friday I will be in Denver once again for a Colorado School Finance Project meeting in preparation for the upcoming Lobato v Colorado Supreme Court appeal. I will remain in Denver on Saturday where I will participate in a CASE SB 191 Evaluation training as a presenter.
Thanks for listening once again. Have a great week!
George
On Tuesday I will be going to and from Denver to participate in the monthly CASE, CEA, CASB Anchor Group meeting. On Wednesday I will be working for the RtttV collaborative all day. On Thursday I hope to be participating in some of our first Instructional Walks as we take master teachers around to conduct peer teacher observations. On Friday I will be in Denver once again for a Colorado School Finance Project meeting in preparation for the upcoming Lobato v Colorado Supreme Court appeal. I will remain in Denver on Saturday where I will participate in a CASE SB 191 Evaluation training as a presenter.
Thanks for listening once again. Have a great week!
George