2012
- Secretary's Column:
Recognizing educators this month and every day
- Hot Topics:
Teacher Appreciation Week
HB1234 questions answered
- HB 1234: Moving forward
Composition of some work groups announced
- Longitudinal Data System pilot begins in June
- Smarter Balanced Consortium awards first contract for development
- South Dakota partners with Smithsonian Institute
- Important Advanced Placement exam update
- Complete school library survey by May 16
- Upcoming Events
- Harvest of the Month training
June 5-6 in Sioux Falls, June 12-13 in Rapid City OR Aug. 7-8 in Pierre
- LifeSkills Training
June 6-7 in Watertown OR Aug. 15-16 in Spearfish
- Summer Education Conference
June 12-13, Pierre
- ELL/Migrant Education Conference
June 20-21, Chamberlain
Secretary's Column:
By Dr. Melody Schopp
Department of Education
Recognizing educators this month and every day
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6-12, and this time of year always reminds me that I can’t thank you and your teachers enough for all the good work you do to give South Dakota’s children a chance at the future they deserve.
In my years with the Department of Education, I have had the opportunity to meet some of the state’s outstanding teachers. These individuals routinely demonstrate a commitment to their students and an energy and passion for their craft. But beyond that, they also possess an impressive commitment to their own learning and professional growth. They always strive to find new and better ways to challenge their students as well as themselves.
Teachers don’t teach in hopes of garnering fancy awards or living a glamorous life. We’re in it for the students: the light we see in a child’s eyes when everything “clicks” and we know that we’ve made a difference.
Teaching is a challenging craft. There’s no doubt about it. But it also can be one of the most rewarding and respected professions. I often tell a story about my mother-in-law, who in her last years could not remember many things but who could always remember that her daughter-in-law (me) was a teacher. When she would tell people what I do for a living, she would whisper in the most reverential tone … “This is my daughter-in-law, and she is a teacher.”
It is with that same sense of awe and appreciation that I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to educators across the state for your service to South Dakota’s most important resource – our children, our future.
Hot Topics:
Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6-12. Don’t forget to thank your teachers for all the good work they do.
HB1234 questions answered
Looking to learn more about HB1234? Go to http://doe.sd.gov/secretary/documents/HB1234FAQ.pdf for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Individuals selected to serve on HB 1234 work groups
The Department of Education has announced the composition of three of the work groups related to House Bill 1234. These work groups include: Teacher Evaluation, Principal Standards and Evaluation, and Local Teacher Reward Plan Advisory Council. The secretary of education appoints these groups.
According to Secretary of Education Melody Schopp, the groups were formed with the goal of getting broad representation based on school size, geographic area, content area and experience. “I feel like we have accomplished that goal and have assembled a group of outstanding educators and community and school leaders,” she said.
There are several other groups associated with HB 1234: Critical Needs Scholarship Board, Local Teacher Reward Plan Oversight Board and Education Reform Advisory Council. Members of those groups are appointed by the legislature and/or the governor.
TEACHER EVALUATION WORK GROUP
Teachers:
Candy Ballard, Lead-Deadwood
Nicole Keegan, Rapid City
Paul Kuhlman, Avon
Pat Moller, Mitchell
Kristin Skogstad, Sioux Falls
Sharla Steever, Hill City
Principals:
Kyley Cumbow, Pierre
Kym Johnston, Lennox
Kevin Lein, Harrisburg
Superintendents:
Don Kirkegaard, Meade
Shayne McIntosh, Parkston
School board members:
Pam Haukaas, Colome Consolidated
Rebecca Reimer, Chamberlain
Parents:
Pete Anderson, Rapid City
Amy Blum, Chamberlain
Shauna Hogland, Dell Rapids
Stacy (Bauer) Jones, Brandon Valley
Representing:
South Dakota Education Association: Steve O’Brien, Watertown
School Administrators of South Dakota: Executive Director
Associated School Boards of South Dakota: Wade Pogany
PRINCIPAL STANDARDS AND EVALUATION WORK GROUP
Principals:
Rob Coverdale, Pierre
Melinda Jensen, Brookings
Lisa McNeely, Aberdeen
Jay Nelson, DeSmet
Mark Rockafellow, West Central
Brad Seamer, McCook Central
Teachers:
Janelle Farris, Rapid City
Andrew R. Johnson, Hamlin
Heather Whetham, Meade
Superintendents:
Pam Homan, Sioux Falls
Deb Johnson, Chamberlain
School board members:
Denise Lutkemeier, Wilmot
Tom Morris, Dell Rapids
Parents:
Jane Klug, Spearfish
Shelly Munson, Tea
Amy Policky, Rapid City
Representing:
South Dakota Education Association: Mary McCorkle, Mobridge-Pollock
School Administrators of South Dakota: Executive Director
Associated School Boards of South Dakota: Wade Pogany
LOCAL TEACHER REWARD PLAN ADVISORY COUNCIL
Principals/Superintendents:
Nick Gottlob, Lead-Deadwood
Tami Hummel, Dakota Valley
Tim Mitchell, Rapid City
David Pappone, Brandon Valley
Jarod Larson, Timber Lake
Tim Pflanz, Tri-Valley
Teachers:
Tanya Czepull, Brandon Valley
Brett Distel, Douglas
Becky Lockwood, Brookings
Mary Schneider, Armour
Joann Stephens, Belle Fourche
Amber Stout, Pierre
School board members:
David Haagenson, Baltic
Neil Putnam, Mitchell
Mary Williams, Wall
Longitudinal Data System pilot begins in June
South Dakota will begin a pilot of its new Longitudinal Data System, called STARS, next month. The overall goal throughout the development of the new system has always been to enable administrators and instructors to use data to inform instruction and improve student achievement.
The system has been designed for schools and districts with the idea that educators can use data to drive instruction. By using the system, teachers and administrators can diagnose issues faster and pinpoint which particular concepts students are struggling with within a singular content area.
The 10 pilot districts are all Teacher Incentive Fund grant schools: Andes Central, Belle Fourche, Bennett County, Oelrichs, Smee, Todd County, Shannon County, Winner, White River and McLaughlin.
For more information, visit the Department of Education’s Longitudinal Data System page (/www.doe.sd.gov/ofm/lds.asp).
Smarter Balanced Consortium awards first contract for development
The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, of which South Dakota is a member, announced last month that CTB/McGraw Hill will lead a team of assessment experts in developing the first set of next-generation assessment items and performance tasks.
The contract is the largest issued to date by Smarter Balanced and will produce 10,000 items and performance tasks to be used in the pilot test of the assessment system in early 2013. A total of 47,000 items and performance tasks will be needed for the implementation of the assessment system in the 2014-15 school year. A separate contract solicitation will be issued for item and performance task development for the field test of the assessment system in spring 2014.
The Smarter Balanced assessments will go beyond traditional multiple-choice formats. Through this contract, CTB and its partners will research innovative item and task formats to ensure that the assessments provide authentic information that can help improve teaching and student learning. CTB will also hire and train educators from Smarter Balanced states to write and conduct quality reviews of these next-generation assessment items and performance tasks.
This new item-writing contract builds on the efforts of Smarter Balanced work groups and partners over the past 18 months. The consortium has developed content specifications in English language arts/literacy and mathematics, which ensure that the assessments cover the range of knowledge and skills in the Common Core State Standards. In addition, item and task specifications provide guidance on how to translate the content specifications into actual assessment items. These materials are available for download at http://www.smarterbalanced.org/smarter-balanced-assessments/.
South Dakota partners with Smithsonian Institute
South Dakota’s Office of Indian Education is collaborating with the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of the American Indian to compile a collection. Eventually many of these resources will be available to educators online.
Last month, a team of experts with the Smithsonian Institute, based in Washington, D.C., traveled to Pierre to meet with state and tribal education leaders. The Smithsonian’s goal is to provide quality resources to support regional efforts, and it plans to pursue partnerships with other states hoping to develop a similar program.
The Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings and Standards were developed by South Dakota’s Indian Education Advisory Council to define the core concepts essential to understanding and teaching the history and culture of the Native people of the Dakotas. The work began in 2008 and was completed in September 2011.
Contact Roger Campbell, Director of the Office of Indian Education, at roger.campbell@state.sd.us for more information.
Important Advanced Placement exam update
Additional funds are now available from the U.S. Department of Education to help districts and students offset the costs of Advanced Placement exams.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the funds will cover all AP exams taken by qualifying students in May 2012. This is a change from previous correspondence sent out by the department.
The 2012 federal contribution to low-income students taking an AP exam will now be $53 per exam. There is no longer a limit on the number of exams funded per student; the three-exam cap has been removed.
The College Board extended the ordering deadline for AP exams to April 25, in an attempt to ensure schools have the opportunity to place orders for any affected students; however, if more time is needed beyond April 25 to order, alternate exams for late testing can be ordered up until May 18.
Please reach out to eligible students and parents who may have elected not to sign up for AP exams for reasons of cost, and encourage them to reconsider taking the exams. Communications on additional funding have been sent to each district directly from College Board.
If you have any questions about the change in funding for AP exams, contact Sarah Carter, South Dakota Department of Education, at (605) 773-5213 or sarah.carter@state.sd.us.
Complete school library survey by May 16
The deadline to complete and submit the school library survey to the South Dakota State Library is drawing near. The survey collects data for the 2011-12 school year with the purpose of providing information to assist with the district’s decision-making processes and school improvement planning.
Each district is asked to submit one survey per district rather than one survey per library. The survey will close on May 16. District superintendents should have been notified of survey access details last month.
If you have questions about the survey, please contact Daria Bossman, Assistant State Librarian for Development Services, at (605)773-3131 or daria.bossman@state.sd.us.
Upcoming Events
- Harvest of the Month training
June 5-6 in Sioux Falls, June 12-13 in Rapid City OR Aug. 7-8 in Pierre
- LifeSkills Training
June 6-7 in Watertown OR Aug. 15-16 in Spearfish
- Summer Education Conference
June 12-13, Pierre
- ELL/Migrant Education Conference
June 20-21, Chamberlain
- Using Literature to Teach Health
Aug. 13-14, Spearfish
Early Childhood Education Conference
April 12-14, Spearfish
The theme for this year’s conference is “Planting the Seeds of Change.” There are tried and true best practices available to parents and early childhood education professionals alike, but there are always new and improved methods we may utilize to develop our future leaders.
For more information or to register go to:http://sdececonference-org.doodlekit.com/home.
26th Annual TIE Conference
April 15-17, Sioux Falls
The annual TIE Conference has gained a reputation for having the best classroom teachers, network administrators and education administrators share their strategies, methods and best practices. This year’s event will feature dozens of four-hour, in-depth workshops, nearly 100 breakout sessions, three world-class keynote speakers, an expanded exhibit hall, prizes and much more.
Watch tie.net/ for more information as the conference date approaches.
SPARK Physical Education Workshop
May 29-30, Mitchell
Teachers will be motivated and ready to “SPARK-up” their students for a lifetime of good health with the SPARK Physical Education workshop held May 29- 30 at Mitchell Middle School.
SPARK PE has been identified as a successful model for improving the quantity and quality of physical activity/education. Participants in the SPARK PE workshop will learn how to maximize class activity time, without sacrificing learning and to make their PE classes more inclusive, active and fun!
21st Century Community Learning Centers Conference
May 29-30, Pierre
Attend the annual 21st CCLC conference to learn how to provide students with the best possible learning experience – inside and outside the classroom. Find out how to build on, enhance and support academic enrichment outside of school time through communication and community involvement strategies.
Preference is given to 21st CCLC grantees, but registration is open to other schools or organizations as well, and renewal credit is available for educators.
Go to https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dE82Y2VkYUZTSDNaZnBHeWJmYzVYckE6MQ to register or email jill.cotton@state.sd.us for more information.
LifeSkills Training
May 30-31 in Watertown OR Aug. 15-16 in Spearfish
LifeSkills training will be conducted in Watertown on May 30-31, and on Aug. 15-16 in Spearfish. LifeSkills is a proven, highly effective, substance abuse prevention program. This comprehensive program provides adolescents and young teens with the confidence and skills necessary to resist social pressures to smoke tobacco, to drink, and to use drugs.
Harvest of the Month training
June 5-6 in Sioux Falls, June 12-13 in Rapid City OR Aug. 7-8 in Pierre
Learn how to organize a Harvest of the Month Team for your school or community. Attendees will prepare recipes, create lessons and evaluation, discuss food-to-table demonstrations, and learn about growing and transplanting.
The cost is free for up to two people per school or community agency, with a $500 Team Nutrition mini-grant available for implementation of a Harvest of the Month project. College credit and CEUs pending. Go to http://doe.sd.gov/cans/teamnutrition.asp for details on how to register.
ELL/Migrant Education Conference
June 20-21, Chamberlain
Join Dr. Catherine Collier for a one-day workshop, with keynote presentations by Dr. Sara Waring and Jane Hill, as part of the Department of Education’s inaugural ELL/Migrant Education Conference.
With the percent of migrant and English Language Learner students on the rise in South Dakota, come learn about the challenges that migrant and ELL students face and find out about the latest strategies to help them succeed.
Registration is free, with some meals provided. One transcripted credit is being offered at the participant’s expense.
