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a division of Independent School District 15 Community Education | St. Francis, Minnesota
January 2014 | Volume 21, Issue 6
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District 15 staff participate on national panel Debra Parson SFMS 6th grade Social Studies Teacher, Education Minnesota St. Francis Local 1977 President
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) recently asked staff from Independent School District 15 to participate in a fully-funded event that placed a team of three on a national advisory panel to discuss the feedback and continuous improvement model for teacher evaluation and development. ISD 15 was asked to participate because it has reached many of the model’s goals and could offer advice and support to others just starting out. The panel met December 4-6 in Washington, D.C. ISD 15 representatives were St. Francis Middle School teachers Amie Paulson and Deb Parson who is also Education Minnesota St. Francis Local 1977 President and St. Francis Middle School Principal Dale Johnson. The trio had the chance to share what is currently occurring in District 15 and find out what other states and districts are doing in this area.
“It was reassuring that we here in ISD 15 have an effective structure in place in our Teacher Academy, a process for professional review teams and a method to separate teacher improvement from teacher evaluation,” Johnson said. “The attendees were impressed with our system and as I listened to some of the reports of how other districts and states have dealt with the issue of teacher development and evaluation, I am glad to be in ISD 15 and in the state of Minnesota,” he continued. The primary goal of the panel was to strengthen the individual and collective practices of teachers and schools to improve student learning as well as to focus on defining what would constitute as quality feedback. Panelists were also charged with answering the question of how to provide quality, continuous professional development. “This is where ISD 15 really showed itself to be years farther into the process as compared to others at the table,” Parson said. “ISD 15 is recognized by the state as being a leader in this
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10th Anniversary
In a few short months, children will be entering kindergarten. Now is the time to think about what skills they should know, what kindergarten expectations are and how parents can support their child as they take that big step. Destination Kindergarten is a three-week class for parents and children designed to bridge the preschool years to kindergarten. There will be parent/child activity time and parent discussion time. Parent time will focus on moving into kindergarten understanding available choices and how a child will maneuver through bus and classroom routines. Destination Kindergarten will be held in a kindergarten classroom at Cedar Creek Community School Thursdays, January 9–23, 6:15-8:00 p.m. The fee is $12 per child for the threeweek session. Children must be registered by January 6. Contact the Lifelong Learning Center at 763-753-7170 or visit www.communityed15.com to register. Jenny Dupre, ECFE Teacher arena. However, to have the acknowledgement that we are now nationally recognized was amazing.” Parson said her group was approached by one of the facilitators of the panel after the first session. She said that when the idea for this national panel was first brought to the table for discussion, they needed to decide what school districts to invite. ISD 15 was the first one named and remained number one on the
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list throughout the process. There were only six districts represented from across the nation, each with significantly different experiences with teacher development and working relationships with district personnel. “Once again, ISD 15 demonstrated a level of collaboration that was envied by others,” Parson added. Paulson was impressed and honored that ISD 15 was chosen to be on this
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nationwide panel. “During our discussions, it was clear that ISD 15 is on the leading edge of teacher feedback and improvement,” she said. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation financially supports the AFT national headquarters in Washington, D.C. to bring together experts in teacher observation and feedback and continuous improvement.
January What’s Inside Schools in Action..........................................2 School Board Highlights......................... 11 Community Education............................ 13 Community & Business........................... 17 Money Matters........................................... 24 Sports & Outdoors.................................... 27 Life.................................................................. 30 Classified....................................................... 32