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W ESD101 Regional news & events
ocus on education
June 2011 Vo l u m e 2 5 , N u m b e r 4
Odessa science program shines on Student Kira Powell headed to competition in London A year ago, when he was named regional teacher of the year, Odessa High School’s Jeff Wehr sat down for an interview to discuss his approach to science education. Since his arrival in Odessa seven years prior, the district was becoming known as a regional mecca for science education. What was his secret? Throughout the interview, Wehr modestly deflected attention from himself, saying the district’s success could be traced to talented colleagues, enterprising students and an inquiry based method of study known as Advanced Science Research.
Jeff Wehr, Kira Powell
in sodium. The plot with the 2.5 percent concentration showed no change. The plot with the higher concentration actually showed a decrease in sodium. She chronicled her methods, analysis and research in a 36page paper and submitted it in a regional science contest that drew hundreds of entries from Eastern Washington. She won at regionals and advanced to state. There, she won again, earning one of the state’s two slots in the national competition. A first-place finish at nationals in the environmental science category punched her ticket to London, where she will compete in July against the best students in the world.
While Wehr understated his own role, there is no doubt his system works. The latest evidence: Odessa is no longer winning just regional, state and national science competitions. Today, with an international championship already in hand, one of Wehr’s students is now preparing for a July trip to London for a second international competition.
She will go to London with an international resume already in hand. In May, she traveled to Los Angeles for Intel’s International Science and Engineering Fair, competing against 1,500 students from 75 countries. The result: First place for independent research and a Best of Category award in Plant Sciences.
Meet Kira Powell, an 11th grade chemistry student. Growing up in dryland wheat country, she devised an inquiry based science project last year that hit close to home. She wanted to test ways of retaining soil moisture and, ultimately, increase crop production. To make a long story short, she conducted considerable research that led her to draw an improbable connection between baby diapers and soil science.
Each victory brings scholarship offers from colleges – from as close as Washington State University, to as far away as Ohio Wesleyan. With another year of high school remaining, more offers likely will follow.
The connecting piece was a non-toxic polymer known as sodium polyacrylate. It’s the substance that makes baby diapers absorbent. If the substance worked in diapers, could it also work in wheat fields? Powell decided to find out. A family friend allowed her to plant three plots of wheat, each one-fifth of an acre. The first plot, containing no additives, would provide her baseline data. The second contained a 2.5-percent concentration of the polymer in a powder/crystal form. The third, a 5-percent concentration. The result – the 2.5 percent concentration produced a 22-percent higher yield than the plot with no additives; the 5 percent concentration, a 27-percent higher yield. She then tested the soil to determine possible environmental impacts, particularly changes
“Kira has many qualities that contribute to her success, but a few that stand above the rest are modesty and expectations,” says Wehr. “Where a lot of students try to achieve at the level the educator may set, Kira exceeds her own expectations; she sets her own bar. “I understand and appreciate this level of commitment. Yet, when she receives the accolades that are warranted for her dedication, she is humble and appreciative. Kira has what I call the astronaut quality.” Kira is just one of many talented Odessa students whose achievements in science have earned them scholarships and other honors, Wehr says. With each honor, Odessa’s reputation grows. The small school in Eastern Washington has ascended to the world stage. Astronaut quality abounds. (S.W.)
ocus f on education
Focus is published during the academic year by the Superintendent of NorthEast Washington Educational Service District 101. Focus is published to provide current information about NEWESD 101 sponsored and co-sponsored programs and issues of educational significance to staff in the 59 public school districts and 46 state-approved private schools receiving administrative and instructional support services from NEWESD 101. Comments, questions or suggestions should be sent to the editor, NEWESD 101, 4202 S. Regal St., Spokane, WA 99223, (509) 789-3540. Future stories and story ideas are always welcome and should be sent to the editor by July 15, 2011 for the next edition of Focus.
June 2011 Volume 25, Number 4 Board of Directors Robert Bauer Gary Coe, Board Chair Dwaine Klein Dr. Gary Livingston J. Rand Lothspeich Ronald Schmidt June Sine Superintendent Michael Dunn Editor Steve Witter switter@esd101.net Design & Layout Deb Ramsay Web site www.esd101.net
W ESD101
NorthEast Washington Educational Service District 101 4202 S. Regal Street Spokane, WA 99223
The true story, told together Though it can seem at times like a day goes slow or winter and a cold spring hang on too long, the school year in whole goes fast. Almost at the finish line of another academic year, each of you assuredly can look back on professional accomplishments and, importantly, on your contributions to helping the students in your schools and districts make meaningful progress and earn significant achievements over the past nine months. As I reflect on this school year, I am heartened by the outstanding work you do, the unfailing commitment you bring to your individual roles, and the successes earned by the students you serve. I am saddened, however, that the media too often fail to share that story. Indeed, it is both frustrating and maddening to read and hear too many accounts of “failing schools, ineffective teachers and staff, and students who don’t achieve or progress to high school graduation and beyond.” The late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” It is my opinion that criticisms of education are not based on actual facts. For instance, in this year’s annual Gallup Poll more than 75 percent of Americans surveyed gave their local schools a grade of A or B, yet only 25% gave the nation’s schools those same grades. How can the schools people know be good, yet schools in general be bad? The high dropout rate of students is a headline shared frequently, though the fact is that the national dropout rate has been declining since 1972 and high school completion rates continue to trend upward. Further, graduation rates for African American, Native American and Hispanic students are increasing the fastest. We often read and hear about American students’ lack of competitiveness internationally and that achievement compared to international peers is in decline, though it is a fact that NAEP scores for America’s 4th and 8th graders are higher now than they have ever been. Additionally, when reporters hold up
Finland as the world’s highest-achieving nation, on educational measures, it is rare that the facts about Finland are actually shared. These are the facts you don’t hear – that only 3 percent of the country’s students live in poverty; that the country administers no standardized tests until students are headed to college; that the Finnish spend more money and time on educators’ professional development than is true in the U.S.; and that educators in Finland are deeply respected, valued and competitively compensated. None of this is to assert that American education and educators don’t need to improve or that we must help more of our students achieve more and progress to high school graduation with college- and careerready skills; certainly we do and we must. Yet it seems unfair that a focus on the lowest-performing schools, educators and students should define education, schools and educators in whole. We in education can and should tell a true and complete story, highlighting our shared commitment to excellence every single day, and for every student we serve. And we should do so together; education is a team sport. At your ESD, we have the valued opportunity to serve 59 public school districts and 46 state-approved private schools, allowing us a window to the progress and dedication to quality that exists almost everywhere in northeastern Washington. It is through joining together in telling our true story that our fellow citizens, who trust their local school and district, will have their confidence rightfully restored in schools in total. As this year ends, summer begins, and plans for the next year continue, be proud of yourselves, your schools and your students, and do your part individually and collectively to help the larger public see and understand what each of us knows is true about its schools, educators and students.
Michael Dunn Superintendent
Achievement Awards presented to 23 in region
East Valley, Pullman artists claim state honors
The NEWESD 101 region was well represented when the State Board of Education presented its Washington Achievement Awards for 2010. The awards were formally announced this spring in a statewide videoconference, followed by regional ceremonies in each ESD.
Two students from the NEWESD 101 region – Jennifer Smasne of East Valley and Keghouhi Bedoyan of Pullman – have been named state winners in the 38th Annual State High School Art Show.
In the NEWESD 101 region, which had 23 winners, the awards were presented by Amy Bragdon, a Spokane member of the SBE, in a morning ceremony at the Regal Conference Center. Schools are selected for the award on the basis of assessment data the previous three years. Success is recognized in multiple areas – overall excellence, strength in specific subject areas, graduation rates and success in closing achievement gaps. Honored schools from the NEWESD 101 region for 2010 included: Overall excellence
Central Valley School District – Liberty Lake and Opportunity elementary schools. Cheney Public Schools – Windsor Elementary. Colton School District – Colton School. East Valley School District – Continuous Curriculum School. LaCrosse School District – LaCrosse Elementary. Newport School District – Sadie Halstead Middle School. Odessa School District – P.C. Jantz Elementary. Selkirk School District – Selkirk Junior-Senior High School. Spokane Public Schools – Moran Prairie and Wilson elementary schools. St. John/Endicott Cooperative Schools – St. John Elementary. Washtucna School District – Washtucna Elementary and High School. West Valley School District – Ness Elementary.
Language arts
Smasne and Bedoyan advanced to the state finals after both earned first place in a regional competition sponsored by NEWESD 101. Smasne, in fact, was the top individual performer in the regionals, winning four of the top prizes. Her school was similarly successful; East Valley High School captured 17 of the top 19 awards. East Valley artists captured nine firsts, three Platinums, two Judges’ Choice awards and three individual choice awards presented by Avista Utilities, the NEWESD staff and the NEWESD superintendent. All told, EV artists won 25 of the 40 total awards presented (citations also bestowed for second place, third place and honorable mention). Other high schools earning prizes in the regional competition included Cheney, Freeman, Gonzaga Prep, Northwest Christian, Pullman, Ritzville, Saint George’s and Shadle Park. Top finishers in the competition included: First place awards
East Valley High School: Sydney Freel, Lorna Harris, Cassie Jacobs, Courtney Pyatt, Jennifer Smasne, Hope Wagner, Brietta Winfrey-Chavez, Pachee Xiong, Alex Zurfluh. Pullman High School: Keghouhi Bedoyan; Shadle Park High School: Zachary Shore.
Platinum awards
Newport School District – Newport High School.
Extended graduation rate
Of the 108 pieces of art considered in the state competition, only 14 were selected for the highest honor.
East Valley High School: Michelle Earl, Brittany Joy, Emmalee Ohlstrom.
Colton School District – Colton School. Garfield/Palouse Cooperative Schools – Garfield/Palouse High School. Nine Mile Falls School District – Lakeside High School. Medical Lake School District – Medical Lake High School. St. John/Endicott Cooperative Schools – SJE High School.
Judges’ Choice awards
East Valley High School: Kacie Sheldon, Jennifer Smasne.
Avista’s Choice award
East Valley High School: Jennifer Smasne.
Improvement
NEWESD 101 Staff Choice award
Closing achievement gaps
NEWESD 101 Superintendent’s Choice award
Central Valley School District – Barker High School. Cheney School District – Sunset Elementary. Mead School District – Shiloh Hills Elementary.
East Valley High School: Jennifer Smasne. East Valley High School: Hope Wagner.
NEWESD welcomes Howard
Starting Strong: August 11-12
NEWESD 101 is pleased to welcome a new member to its fiscal services team. Nick Howard – a graduate of Mead High School, Gonzaga University and Eastern Washington University – has come aboard as a fiscal systems manager serving local districts. He joins NEWESD 101 after three years as an accountant in the private sector. Welcome, Nick.
Early childhood educators, principals, superintendents, policymakers and parents are encouraged to attend the event, focusing on alignment from pre-kindergarten through grade 3. Nick Howard
For information and registration: www.esd101.net/startingstrong.
WV finds answers within
First time a charm – and a sweep – for Curlew
How can schools provide high-quality professional development, focused on improving instruction, while meeting the needs of all teachers? And how do you provide it in an affordable way in these times of budgetary cuts? These were just a few of the questions leaders in the West Valley School District were asking. The answer: Data-In-A-Day (DIAD).
Before this year, students from Curlew High School had never competed in the Washington State Science and Engineering Fair. Inexperience proved no handicap. Competing in a field of more than 450 students, every member of Curlew’s seven-member team walked away with honors.
The concept behind DIAD is simple. Embedded professional development is offered by capitalizing on the strengths of teachers within the district. This innovative approach to qualitative data collection not only highlights the bright spots in teaching, but also encourages replication of effective teaching strategies across the district. Modeled after the work of Seattle’s Cleveland High School, West Valley introduced DIAD in a recent training at Seth Woodard Elementary School. Four teams of administrators, instructional coaches and classroom teachers spent the day observing in classrooms. During their observations, the visitors documented student engagement strategies and included direct and specific feedback to support their observations. At the end of the day, they debriefed and presented their findings to the Seth Woodard staff. The observers presented a building-wide perspective on engagement strategies, then presented teachers with individual feedback. During follow-up discussion, it was evident that this powerful learning experience had provided all participants with a deeper understanding of quality instruction that could immediately impact their practice, whether in a leadership capacity or in the classroom. DIAD was so well received that it will be expanded next year to each elementary and middle school. To add new perspectives, the visiting teams will eventually grow to include community members, parents and high school students. By capitalizing on the strengths of teachers throughout the district, Data-In-A-Day will become a sustainable feature in West Valley schools.
The team of Cole Chamberlin, Tayler Bell and Christopher Browning won first place in the Alternative Energy category for “Oilgae biofuel: Steps to fulfilling the promise.”
Natalie Wilson, Cole Chamberlin, Chanel Somday, Cody Mannick and Katie Wimpari. Not pictured: Tayler Bell and Christopher Browning.
First place also went to the team of Katie Wimpari and Natalie Wilson in the Microbiology category for “Quorum sensing/quorum quenching in the control of milk spoilage.” Cody Mannick and Chanel Somday both earned second place for their projects. Mannick was honored for “Evaluation of current methods of microbial bioremediation of nitrate enriched mining effluent;” Somday was recognized for “The quest for new antimicrobials and the ethnobotany of North American natives and lichens.” The students were thrilled to compete in the prestigious state science fair at Bremerton and were proud that their projects were so competitive at the state level. The projects, trophies and awards are on display in the Curlew School lobby. Way to go Cougars!
Take a bow …. Bill Motsenbocker, Liberty Bill Motsenbocker, superintendent of the Liberty School District, has been named one of the state’s outstanding school administrators. Earlier this spring, Motsenbocker received a 2011 Robert J. Handy Most Effective Administrator Award from the Washington Association of School Administrators, PEMCO Insurance and the School Employees Credit Union of Washington. Three awards – based on district size – are presented annually to administrators for their success in building high-performing schools. Motsenbocker received the award in the small schools classification. He was recognized for his open communication style, commitment to passing two levies and a bond and his successful efforts to upgrade the district’s instructional technology.
Cory Plager, NEWESD Cory Plager, NEWESD 101’s director of School Financial Services, has been awarded the Certified School Business Official designation (CSBO) from the Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO). Recipients of the CSBO designation, representing high standards of professional ethics and competence, is one of the highest honors bestowed by WASBO. Under Plager’s leadership, NEWESD 101 staff members advise and assist school district personnel in all areas of financial management, reporting and compliance. More than a dozen districts contract with NEWESD for full service business manager services. See a video of Cory discussing NEWESD services: http://scripts.esd101.net/businessmgt.