Back In the Saddle!

I spent the past couple days back with my students - teaching! I was actually a little nervous about returning to the classroom. That same feeling I get right before school starts in August when I don't sleep the night before worrying and planning the first day. However, my kids were great - welcoming me back with hugs and questions and genuine happiness. Some Teachers of the Year (not necessarily from Kansas but other states) become consultants, administrators, or seek other positions after becoming a TOY...I won't be doing that. These past few days were just a reinforcement of what I already knew. I belong in the classroom with young people surrounded by colleagues that challenge my philosophy, encourage me, and make me laugh.

Speaking of philosophy - I had two issues come up when I was in the classroom that I am still muddling through. I would love to have feedback on them as I struggle with what is BEST for the student, FAIR to all, and yet not LOWER standards for learning. It is a typical issue that comes up for most teachers often. If you are a teacher reading this, you will be able to relate to it. If you aren't a teacher, I hope you can still understand the struggle and issues teachers go through daily to make education the best possible experience.

Here it is! My students took a Calculus test and did not do very well on it. Their grades suffered some so they asked if I could grade "on the curve." I have never graded on the curve. I think it excuses students from really studying if they know their comparison and standard is the smartest student in the class. I want my tests to accurately reflect what I expect them to know - period. So with that option out, they asked about correcting the test for credit. I know they are more worried about the grade than understanding it most of the time, but at least correcting it gets to my goal of "making sure they know the material." I agreed to the corrections. Some teachers asked how this prepares them for college? Do they get to make corrections in college? Wouldn't they just have to suffer the consequences, shell out more money for repeating the class, and learn their "lesson?" Those are difficult questions. My goals are for them to learn the material, hold them accountable, hold myself accountable and finally, have some fun. Each day is a balancing act....anyone have advice?

So second issue. What if a student misses a lot (by a lot - I mean most of the year) of class due to illness? Should they be able to get credit by just taking the tests? Is it fair to other students if the student does not have to do the homework, take the quizzes, do the class projects or work in cooperative groups? Do assessments provide enough practice to lay a good foundation for future success in their next math course? Yep - tough questions again. This really brings to surface the concept of the Carnegie Unit and the way high schools give credit. Perhaps what I am really asking is should we be moving to an entirely standards based curriculum? I am still processing that concept. Yes, I want my students to master the standards but I want MORE for them at the same time. I want them to learn how to work in groups, how to manage time, how to become self-disciplined and how to communicate. I hope my curriculum is more than just a list of standards to be mastered.

"Coaching sets the pace to get the best out of others while giving the best of yourself."
- David Cottrell

KEEN Conference Day Two -Our Future

The Teachers of Promise ready to be honored!

The second day of the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) Conference we were given 4 questions to answer from Dr. Diane DeBacker, Deputy Commissioner of Education. She also shared a couple quotes that I really liked, "We must transform not reform schools" and "If you are not part of the problem, you can't be part of the solution." So after setting the tone with those quotes, here are the questions:

1. How would you implement 21st Century Skills?
2. Where can you put your best energies during these times of budget cuts and reductions in staff?
3. How would you redesign the delivery system? (ie: create the ideal school)
4. What type of compensation model would you create to recruit and retain teachers?

As you can see, these questions are pretty "weighty!" We broke out into small groups, brainstormed, agreed, disagreed, and finally, came up with lists of our best answers to share with KSDE. In my group, were 4 "experienced" teachers, 1 Teacher of Promise, and 3 Horizon Award Winners. I loved learning from our from our brightest and best educators in the state. They shared such hope and promise that only youth can have. I wish I could spend an hour every day with them...they are invigorating!

The Horizon Awardees line up to be honored

At the luncheon, KSDE and the Senate honored the Teachers of Promise and the Horizon Award Winners. For those unfamiliar with those two honors, a Teacher of Promise is a senior in college majoring in education that has been nominated by a professor for showing great "promise" as an educator. The Horizon Award winners are currently 2nd year teachers and were nominated by principals for making a difference in student learning and their schools in the first year of their career. There are 8 awarded from each of the Congressional Districts for a total of 32 Horizon Awardees. Dr. Posny was the keynote speaker at the luncheon and she shared how much a part of our economy is education. I had never thought that way about education much before this conference. But after talking to many of the policy-makers, I am starting to understand this concept more and more. Dr. Posny shared that we invest a little less than $10,000 in each student but that student then creates an economic investment of over $210,000. I hope our leaders remember this as budget cuts are considered all over the state.







Here is the "Buhler Crew" with our very own Horizon Awardee, Teresa Sindelar.

"A memory is a picture you take with your heart."

KEEN Conference Day One

There is nothing like being surrounded by excellent educators, legislators, policy makers, and administrators who put kids first...and that is exactly what I got to do today in Topeka at the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN). Dr. Posny set the stage as our keynote speaker at lunch sharing just how great Kansas education is and the progress we have made over 8 years. Please check out her PowerPoint on the KSDE website...it is impressive. I wonder if everyone knows just how much improvement the state has made in math, reading, social science, and science - especially in our subgroups. Did you know that the Legislative Post Audit Report showed that a 1% increase in funding produced a .86% gain in student achievement? That is almost a one to one correlation.
I had the opportunity to attend two break-out sessions. The first session was on the P-20 Council. This Council is made up of 22 people from many different areas of education. Their mission is "to improve student achievement by creating a collaborative, seamless system of education guided by the principle that success in college begins in kindergarten." Dr. Blake West, President of KNEA (pictured above), and Janet Waugh, Chair of the KS State Board of Education, gave us great information about how bringing together the PreK to Graduate School policy makers just may transform education as we know it. It is encouraging to know this diverse group of individuals are coming together to find the best way of educating children for the 21st Century in our state.


The second session I attended was on the Teaching in Kansas Commission. This group has 5 goals in recruitment and retention of teachers: 1. Regulations/Requirements/Data 2. Image and Promotion 3. Teacher Preparation 4. Working Conditions 5. Salary and Benefits The KEEN attendees were excited to watch the first showing of the changelivesTEACH video. IMPRESSIVE! This was part of the Commission's goal of Image and Promotion. I was relieved to hear KSDE has revamped the licensure procedure to make it less cumbersome. Also, I found out that if you want to pick up another certification, all you have to do is pass the content test in that area!! This means if you are a science teacher or business teacher and wanted to get certified in math, all you need to do is pass the content test. (click on content test for possible areas and sample tests). Any takers???? I can think of about 10 right off the top of my head that could do this. Dr. Pamela Coleman, Director of Teacher Education and Licensure, is reforming this department. She is accessible, friendly, and wants to HELP educators through this process.

Part of the group of NBCT's lined up and ready to get honored

This evening was a banquet to honor the 2008 National Board Certified Teachers and the 2008 Milken National Educator, Vanessa Martinez. It was only 2 years ago when I was one of the NBCT getting honored and it brought back all the anxiety, rush of adrenaline, and sense of accomplishment of when those scores come in. Kansas is really blessed to have the association we do with Emporia State University and Roger Caswell for candidates going through National Boards. We recognized 27 teachers tonight. INCREDIBLE. Each one of these educators will receive $1,000 each year for 10 years for being a NBCT. Not only does this process develop your teaching skills and really force you to think differently about instruction, it pays pretty well too! Congratulations to all of you!!!

Dr. Alexa Posny, Vanessa Martinez, and Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson

We also were introduced to Vanessa Martinez, Assistant Principal of Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet, and now the 2008 Milken National Educator! She receives $25,000 from the Milken Foundation for this honor. She is making a difference in Wichita and students are the better for having her in their lives. Congratulations!!


Dep. Commissioner, Dale Dennis, who somehow escaped my table picture!

Which one doesn't belong?? Yep - me! What a night!!

So, I have to close with a little commentary on my dinner table folks. I found out right before the dinner started that I had a reserved spot at one of the tables with some amazing, powerful, intellectual, and knowledgeable people. Nervous doesn't even begin to describe how I felt sitting between Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson and Commissioner of Education, Dr. Posny. Also sitting at the table were Dep. Commissioner, Dale Dennis, Senator John Vratil, Mrs. Janet Waugh, Chair of SBOE, and SBOE members, Mrs. Jana Shaver, Ms. Carolyn L. Wims-Campbell, and Mrs. Sally Cauble. Perhaps intimidated, humbled, shaking and scared better describe what I was feeling. During the blessing of the food, I was busy praying not to make an idiot of myself! However, after only a minute, these powerful people made me feel very comfortable. Turns out they are pretty normal! They have the same hopes and dreams for their children, the same struggles with decisions that impact their families, and the same concerns about money as we all do. I have always thought these people as lived in a different world than what I do (and they sort of do) but what I found is we all have more in common than what we have different. I think that is true with all humans. We all have a need to know another human being and be KNOWN by them. From listening to the conversation at my table, I know as children all over the state of Kansas are sleeping right now, that their education is being protected by policy makers that put KIDS FIRST. Good night and sweet dreams!

Halstead

Monday morning I was invited to Halstead. We met at Bentley Primary School in Bentley. I have always wanted to go to Bentley as I see a sign for it on the way to Wichita. I really loved the town. It reminded me how important local schools are to the survival of communities. Many think consolidation or closing smaller schools is the answer to budget issues, but if you visit these schools, you can definitely see the need and use of those facilities to our students.
I once again learned strategies during my presentation (I may be learning more than the participants!). I now am armed with the Matharena by Brenda Barrow to share with my colleagues and students...now if I can just follow the directions on the sheet!
I got lots of feedback from this district and I so appreciate it. Turns out I used Metaphor when I should have used Simile! I always got those mixed up and guess I still haven't learned it well. I will get that changed ASAP. The use of similes at the end was a little rushed so I didn't get to explain much how to use them in instruction - maybe they will invite me back?? :-) Or if anyone reading this wants to post some comments, ideas, suggestions on using similes for everyone to read - go for it! We can learn from all the great educators across the state together!
(Sorry I didn't get any pictures this time. My camera batteries were dead.)

Marysville and Memories

Marysville teachers taking part in the yarn web activity

I was invited to Marysville USD 364 to speak and learn with the educators there. They were so GREAT - dancing and singing with the music that I played - participating in all the crazy activities that I threw at them - and even tolerated my bad jokes! They really treated me well and I even had a reserved parking place there which made me feel way more important than I am!
The whole day was a great trip down memory lane for me. I played many basketball games in the Marysville gym (I graduated from Belleville High) and coached many games there (when I taught/coached in Concordia).

Kathleen Stump - a rockin' music teacher!

After a snowy drive back to Belleville to eat lunch with my parents (who treated me like a Queen), I dropped in to visit my old elementary school. The principal there was my middle school principal (only we called it junior high school) growing up. I saw art work hanging in the hallway and signs for Jump Rope for Heart (a program my mom started years ago!). My purpose of visiting the school was to see my former music teacher, Kathleen Stump. She is amazing and has helped me and my family on countless projects - including my TOY gifts in Dallas. It was obvious watching her that her students love her as much as I do! I didn't think anyone would believe me how "bad" the weather was, so I took a picture while driving...in retrospect, not the smartest thing I have done.


Next stop - Concordia High School to see my beloved friend, Tami Peltier. She has this wonderful art room - aka The Castle. As an extra bonus, teaching right next to her was David Gieber who I taught math and coached with! We had a great time catching up, talking education, family, and retelling old stories. It is wonderful to have a history with people, buildings, and towns. I have learned that the world of education is very small. Almost everywhere I go there is someone who knows someone who knows me. I LOVE THAT!

David Gieber, myself, and Tami Peltier

IRONIC!

The Buhler Representatives (my friends!) getting recognized - cool banner!

I was at the KSDC Conference again today. There were a couple of highlights for me...one was seeing my district, Buhler USD 313, receive the Systemic Learning Award. My district leaders and staff have worked hard at implementing and embedding Professional Learning Communities into our "way we do business." It was great for the district and our leaders to get that recognition. I heard all kinds of research about how time for PD (Professional Development) increases student achievement and how China, Finland, and Japan spend more time on PD and teacher collaboration than the US and their students are reaping the benefits. Staying up on current research, learning new methods of teaching, and time for networking is IMPORTANT - yes, even in education! Seriously - would you go to a doctor that said they hadn't kept up on current research or didn't attend continuing education courses? Why would we think it appropriate to send our children (our FUTURE) to teachers who don't? That is exactly what is happening across the state. In the times of budget cuts, even my own district (the one that just got recognized) has frozen all PD for the rest of the year. It is often the first "cut" districts will make.

Dr. DeBacker sharing great stories, data, and relevant legislation

So...this brings me to the second highlight of the day: hearing Dr. Diane DeBacker, Deputy Commissioner of Education for Kansas, speak. Dr. DeBacker is a great speaker and her passion for putting kids first came through loud and clear! She shared with us the Senate has a bill being proposed (Senate Bill 130-see section h) provides the school term to start no sooner than the day after Labor Day and must end before Memorial Day and PROHIBITS STAFF DEVELOPMENT OR INSERVICE DURING REGULAR SCHOOL TIME! When do legislators think educators should collaborate, study student learning and effective teaching strategies? I urge you to write, email, or call your Senator and discuss with them the importance of protecting PD!

USD 232 De Soto Visit

1st Graders putting on a program- just for us!

Wow! We have had a 'whirl-wind' of activities this month. Today's visit (February 9, 2009) completes our fifth district visit out of eight.

We visited Jennifer Hartman's district; De Soto; on Monday, February 9, 2009. Jennifer picked us up at 7:00 a.m. and we traveled to her building, Clear Creek Elementary, where we visited with Dr. Sharon Zoellner; Superintendent, and Alvie Carter; PR Director, and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast with our new friends. Later we had the privilege to visit with the Clear Creek Principal; Mike Stithem and their building instructional coach Carrie Handy on several topics including;
1)The Basic School: A Community for Learning by Ernest L. Boyer
2)PLC (Professional Learning Communities)
3)MTSS (Multi Tiered System of Support) and
4)the Learning Coach model for their district.
We hurried down to the gym to watch Jennifer's first graders present their Kansas Day program for us. The program was around the book; S is for Sunflower; A Kansas Alphabet by Devin Scillian. Jennifer divided the book into student speaking parts and added music to accompany the book. HOW CUTE!

Then we were off to the fifth grade music class. Jennifer is trained in ORFF, as well as other music teachers in her district. The students demonstrated several musical numbers on the drums and the xylophones. According to the ORFF philosophy; musical numbers are first learned orally, before they are put to music. What a talented group of musicians! The students then took us on a quick tour of their building. (left: 5th graders drumming it out)

The next stop on our district tour was at Monticello Trails Middle School. Again we were welcomed by a wonderful group of five 8th grade student ambassadors and their building counselor; Dave Anderson. A quick building tour, and question answer session with the ambassadors was followed by a UNIQUE opportunity to have lunch with Mr. Keil Hileman (2004 KTOY) who teaches an elective class called; Museum Connections, in his museum/classroom. All I can say is you have to see it to believe it! Oh to be a student again!

After lunch we walked to Mill Valley High School, and visited with Joe Novak; Principal, and sat in on a science lab with Eric Thomas; teacher, as well as USD 232 Secondary nominee for 2009 KTOY.

We then had the unique privilege to listen to Cheryn Swanson of Monticello Historical Society tell us some brief history about a one room school house, that sits on district property. Boy, it would have been chilly to have been in attendance on a day like today!

A look into our educational history - a one room school house.

Finally, we were able to visit with Linda McPherson; USD 232 KTOY coordinator.

WHAT a DAY! WHAT a GREAT DISTRICT!
Posted by: Cindy Venard