As I look out the window of my office right now, I see nine buses rolling in from the elementary and parking in front of the MS/HS building. After watching the video on last night's news of the SE Polk bus that caught on fire with students on board the first day of school, I recognize once again what an important role our transportation department and drivers play in the safety of our children.
Because of the geographical nature of our district, we transport three-fourths of our students--almost 600--every day. We take that responsibility very seriously. Every fall, our students are involved in drills on exiting the bus in case of an emergency. This past spring, the board of education supported the recommendation to require all drivers to pass a physical fitness test. Our buses and vehicles are well maintained and pass rigorous safety tests each year, and a rotation of bus/vehicle replacement is part of the district's long-term financial planning. Furthermore, Jimmy and Kelly Hummel attend training provided by the Department of Education each summer to ensure that they are up to date on the most recent regulations and safety standards.
It was gratifying to hear students of SE Polk talk on the news about the training they had received each year and the confidence they had in both their driver and in knowing exactly what to do in such an emergency.
I am confident our students would respond the same way, knowing what I do about the professionalism, capabilities, and dedication to safety of all those responsible for transporting our students to and from school each day.
If given the opportunity, please consider thanking your bus driver or Jimmy and Kelly for all they do to keep our students safe.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
One Perspective of Iowa's Education Summit
I was fortunate to attend the Education Summit on July 25 and 26, along with Bryice Wilke, board president. I was impressed with both the diversity and quality of presenters at the summit. Educational experts from as far away as Finland, New Zealand, and Canada were speakers for keynote addresses and several breakout sessions. Researchers, politicians, teachers, administrators, and business leaders added their voices to the conversation. While differing on a few areas, their messages had much in common.
Here are a few common themes that emerged from the summit:
1) We must develop a culture of continuous improvement rather than rest on our standing as the nation's education leader from the past. Simply put, Iowa has lost its standing as #1 in education--we are now in the middle of the pack. Other states have caught up by focusing on clear achievement targets at the state level.
2) We must give up the illusion of "local control" when it comes to what we expect students to know, understand, and be able to do. States that have made the greatest gains have established rigorous standards and criteria at the state level to provide clear guidance on what should be taught and assessed.
3) We must shift from mostly teaching facts and content, to ensuring that students can think critically and truly understand the concepts. There simply is too much content to teach in school--we need to teach students how to access, evaluate, and use information from a wide variety of sources. Students need to understand the concepts that hook the facts together, and see the relevance to the world and to themselves.
4) Students must become more active participants in their own learning, using a hands-on, minds-on approach to learning. Too often students are passive participants in the classroom, with teachers doing the "heavy lifting". If teachers are working and thinking harder in the classroom than students, something must change. The role of the teacher must shift from "sage on stage" to "guide on the side".
5) Teachers must be given much more time each week collaborate as they develop a rigorous and aligned curriculum. Teachers working in isolation in their classrooms has not and will not lead to significant improvements in student achievement.
6) We must find richer, more meaningful assessments that measure students' abilities to think, reason, and demonstrate their understanding of the concepts being taught. The current multiple choice state tests Iowa uses are not aligned with the National Assessments of Educational Progress (NAEP) used to measure students' learning at the national level. They have outlived their usefulness. Most states have developed these types of assessments--Iowa must do the same.
7) Iowa must provide adequate resources for early childhood learning. The research is very clear--funding spent in quality educational opportunies prior to Kindergarten pays off throughout a student's entire life.
8) We must create a pre-service education system and compensation approach for teachers and administrators that attracts, develops, and retains the most highly effective educators in classrooms and school buildings.
In the next couple of months, the Department of Education and the governor's office will be using information from the summit and from conversations with Iowa's citizens to establish a plan for next steps for Iowa.
While I often question the motives and final outcome once politicians get involved in telling educators how to do their jobs, nevertheless I am hopeful that Iowa can muster the courage and commitment to create a strong vision and clear plan for education, using the research and insights of those involved in the Education Summit this summer.
Our students deserve the best education system in the nation, and I truly believe Iowa's educators are capable of providing it. Stay tuned!
From an eternal optimist,
Kathy Elliott
Here are a few common themes that emerged from the summit:
1) We must develop a culture of continuous improvement rather than rest on our standing as the nation's education leader from the past. Simply put, Iowa has lost its standing as #1 in education--we are now in the middle of the pack. Other states have caught up by focusing on clear achievement targets at the state level.
2) We must give up the illusion of "local control" when it comes to what we expect students to know, understand, and be able to do. States that have made the greatest gains have established rigorous standards and criteria at the state level to provide clear guidance on what should be taught and assessed.
3) We must shift from mostly teaching facts and content, to ensuring that students can think critically and truly understand the concepts. There simply is too much content to teach in school--we need to teach students how to access, evaluate, and use information from a wide variety of sources. Students need to understand the concepts that hook the facts together, and see the relevance to the world and to themselves.
4) Students must become more active participants in their own learning, using a hands-on, minds-on approach to learning. Too often students are passive participants in the classroom, with teachers doing the "heavy lifting". If teachers are working and thinking harder in the classroom than students, something must change. The role of the teacher must shift from "sage on stage" to "guide on the side".
5) Teachers must be given much more time each week collaborate as they develop a rigorous and aligned curriculum. Teachers working in isolation in their classrooms has not and will not lead to significant improvements in student achievement.
6) We must find richer, more meaningful assessments that measure students' abilities to think, reason, and demonstrate their understanding of the concepts being taught. The current multiple choice state tests Iowa uses are not aligned with the National Assessments of Educational Progress (NAEP) used to measure students' learning at the national level. They have outlived their usefulness. Most states have developed these types of assessments--Iowa must do the same.
7) Iowa must provide adequate resources for early childhood learning. The research is very clear--funding spent in quality educational opportunies prior to Kindergarten pays off throughout a student's entire life.
8) We must create a pre-service education system and compensation approach for teachers and administrators that attracts, develops, and retains the most highly effective educators in classrooms and school buildings.
In the next couple of months, the Department of Education and the governor's office will be using information from the summit and from conversations with Iowa's citizens to establish a plan for next steps for Iowa.
While I often question the motives and final outcome once politicians get involved in telling educators how to do their jobs, nevertheless I am hopeful that Iowa can muster the courage and commitment to create a strong vision and clear plan for education, using the research and insights of those involved in the Education Summit this summer.
Our students deserve the best education system in the nation, and I truly believe Iowa's educators are capable of providing it. Stay tuned!
From an eternal optimist,
Kathy Elliott
Thursday, April 28, 2011
End of Construction Project Results in Changes to District Office
We're Almost There! The construction project is nearing completion--something we are all happy about. The dust and mud, jackhammering and banging, and men hanging from ladders over our heads (literally) have been replaced with a "new normal" on most days. Window treatments are up (finally), the workers have departed (most weeks), and we can get back to the business of educating students (most days). Staff and students have been patient, understanding, and flexible throughout the entire process. Most importantly, everyone appreciates the wonderful new spaces the construction project has provided--it definitely was worth the chaos and confusion!
New District Office Entrance: In our move to the new office area at the secondary (6-12) building last fall, we were able to establish a distinct separation of the district office area from the MS/HS office area. The district office space (which houses superintendent, business manager, and district assistant) now can be accessed through a separate entrance. This entrance is through the southeast doors into the new glass-wall atrium area outside the auditorium. This is the most direct route if you want to visit with the superintendent or business manager.
New District Phone Number: Just as we established a separate space and entrance for the district office, we also needed to establish a more direct way to call this office. The new phone number to reach the superintendent or business manager is 641-755-4144. It is listed in the new phone book under “Superintendent’s Office”. Instead of having to call the MS/HS office and be transferred to the district office, you can now call it directly--one less person to talk to.
Feel free to come to visit and see the new facilities--we love to show them off--they put a great face on our district!
Friday, April 22, 2011
New website
We are excited to begin the process of developing a new website for the district. We met yesterday with the web designer, and he was very open to ideas, had great suggestions, and seems committed to getting the basic design done for us in the near future. We need to put a new "virtual face" to the world to showcase the district!
One of the strongest recommendations we had from staff, students, parents, and community members during our meetings on how technology can improve student learning was the development of a new website. Students stressed the importance of having a place to interact with their teachers and with each other about assignments, to clarify their understanding of new learning, and to seek help when they run into difficulties. Parents, teachers, and community members talked about the need for accurate, timely information that was easily accessible via the website.
Our intent is to have the website up and running by August, ready for the start of the new school year. Teachers will each have their own web page, which will take some time to accomplish. Teachers who are available during the first week of August will have the opportunity to learn how to set up their web pages. Others will need to work on theirs later, with the goal of having all teacher web pages ready to publish no later than October 1.
If you have suggestions on what you would specifically like to see on the district's new website, feel free to leave a post here, call, or email.
One of the strongest recommendations we had from staff, students, parents, and community members during our meetings on how technology can improve student learning was the development of a new website. Students stressed the importance of having a place to interact with their teachers and with each other about assignments, to clarify their understanding of new learning, and to seek help when they run into difficulties. Parents, teachers, and community members talked about the need for accurate, timely information that was easily accessible via the website.
Our intent is to have the website up and running by August, ready for the start of the new school year. Teachers will each have their own web page, which will take some time to accomplish. Teachers who are available during the first week of August will have the opportunity to learn how to set up their web pages. Others will need to work on theirs later, with the goal of having all teacher web pages ready to publish no later than October 1.
If you have suggestions on what you would specifically like to see on the district's new website, feel free to leave a post here, call, or email.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
How can technology change the ways that students learn and teachers teach?
When schools mention the use of technology, we traditionally talk about computers, and taking students to computer labs. Or we think about teachers using powerpoint presentations in the front of the classroom.
While these are good first steps, they don't really change the way students learn. Using a computer lab may help students produce a better written product than the handwritten papers students turned in a decade ago, but the requirements are pretty similar. Likewise, when a teacher creates a powerpoint presentation, the notes shown at the front of the room may be more visually appealing than the handwritten (or typed) notes teachers put on an overhead projector in the past, but the delivery method of providing information is pretty much the same.
One challenge for schools is figuring out how to use technology in ways that fundamentally changes how students learn and how teachers teach. Today's youth will use web-based tools and electronic devices extensively to do the following:
While these are good first steps, they don't really change the way students learn. Using a computer lab may help students produce a better written product than the handwritten papers students turned in a decade ago, but the requirements are pretty similar. Likewise, when a teacher creates a powerpoint presentation, the notes shown at the front of the room may be more visually appealing than the handwritten (or typed) notes teachers put on an overhead projector in the past, but the delivery method of providing information is pretty much the same.
One challenge for schools is figuring out how to use technology in ways that fundamentally changes how students learn and how teachers teach. Today's youth will use web-based tools and electronic devices extensively to do the following:
- Communicate and collaborate
- Gather information and conduct research
- Solve problems and make decisions
- Create and innovate
- Be productive (access, organize, and manage information, pay bills, etc.)
- Function as a citizen in the world
- What should teaching and learning look like to prepare students for future success? What tools and devices should students have access to as part of their experience at school?
- What would our schools look like if web-based tools and electronic devices were used to create and support an "anywhere, anytime" learning environment?
- How can technology be used to fundamentally shift the way our students learn, by personalizing and/or accelerating learning? How can tech tools and devices be used to assist the unique learner?
- How can students be involved in integrating technology into our school system? What role could students play in training teachers in the use of technology?
- How can the use of technology support parents' involvement in their children's education? How can educators, parents, and community partners use technology to communicate and collaborate in providing both formal and informal education for our students?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Welcome!
Welcome to my latest adventure into the world of technology! I have been following several blogs over the past few months, and have contemplated starting to use a blog to communicate on a more frequent basis with Panorama families and patrons.
Like anything else, the most daunting part of this is knowing that once I start it, I will need to be committed to posting regularly. I'll do my best to post often enough to keep it current.
The other part that is perhaps even more scary is wondering if I have anything worth saying that readers will find worth their time to read. I'll do my best on that part as well.
Feel free to let me know how I'm doing, and please share your thoughts with me.
I'll be in touch!
Kathy Elliott
Superintendent
Panorama Schools
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