District Dialogue For employees of the Laveen Elementary School District
February 28, 2014
Note: We have had a request to produce the District Dialogue twice per month. It will now be issued on the second and fourth Friday of the month.
Trailside Point wins PBIS Silver Award Trailside Point received the Silver Award for high fidelity PBIS implementation and student outcomes at the annual Behavior Education Technology Conference (BET-C). Trailside implemented PBIS three years ago. Since the Panther P.A.C.T was launched, discipline incidents have significantly decreased and academic achievement has increased with Trailside going from a ‘C’ to a ‘B’ label. In the first two years the school focused on Tier 1 interventions and defined what the Panther P.A.C.T. would look like. This year, Trailside focused on beginning Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions. Staff members conduct check in/ check out mentoring with students. Small group interventions have resulted in new groups such as a Bully Patrol trained to report and monitor bullying, an Ambassadors and Classy Ladies groups for middle-school students, and the Panthers-Cubs mentoring program.
Trailside Point representatives at BET-C.
Meadows teacher is February’s TEC recipient Congratulations to this month’s Technology Excellence in the Classroom Award winner, Steven Humble. Humble effectively integrates technology into his junior high science lessons. Students regularly use Chromebooks and iPads to access the curriculum, engage in digital labs, and apply research and writing skills. Virtual reality is used to bring science concepts to life such as taking a “star walk”, participating in a PhET Density Simulation, or investigating biotic vs. abiotic factors in the environment. He designs lessons to include guided study projects, which he posts through his online science portal. He provides students with a wealth of digital resources, including downloaded documents, links to research, and video screen casts to engage them both at school and at home as they work through the scientific inquiry process. Humble (middle) with Meadows Assistant Principal J.P. Ketchum and Technology Director Jordy Fuentes.
Laveen staff to receive raises All Laveen staff members will see an increase in their pay next year of approximately 4%. Each salary schedule will increase by 2%. Additionally, employees will receive a step increase, representing another 2%. The Governing Board approved the salary schedules at their February board meeting.