The Real Inspiration

It is amazing how time flies!  It seems like just a few weeks ago we were preparing for the 2015-16 school year and now it is half-way over.  Last year at this time I was busy traveling on a variety of roads to districts across Iowa serving as an ambassador of education along with gathering ideas for MCSD.  This year I have entered a full-time position as Director of Professional Growth & Student Learning.  It has been a time of  learning how to approach the process of moving instruction forward in our district.  I may now be housed at Central Office, but my heart remains with teachers and students in the classroom.  I entered the administration field believing I could have an impact on teachers and therefore students through a position that focused on curriculum and instruction.  As I listened to the Briggs Elementary students sing during their holiday program, I could not help but come to the realization that the further you move from the classroom, the less significant impact you actually have on the world.  There is nothing as meaningful as developing relationships with students, guiding them to find their talents, moving them to hone their skills, and providing them a new way of looking at their world.  I am still striving to impact instruction by working with teachers in the buildings across our district, but my heart will always be filled with strong memories of  students.  As a teacher, I always worked at sharing my enthusiasm for learning and was driven by a desire to inspire, but I now realize the real learning was by me and the inspiration I received was through others shining with the light of learning in their eyes.  May we all know the value of what we do for one another!

POINTS of PRIDE: Central Community School District in Elkader

Superintendent Nick Trencamp

Superintendent Trencamp shared about the town of Elkader.  For
a small Iowa town, Elkader is busy and thriving.  Two local businesses are hiring - CAT and Mobile Track Solutions.  The school district has an early out every Friday and business has increased on Fridays for the downtown businesses.  The town is named after Abd el-Kader, an Algerian freedom fighter who lived from 1808-1883.  Elkader is a sister city to a city in Algeria.  Abd el-Kader was a unique leader who became known for his release of captured Christians.  He was unusually well-studied and loved horses.  In the 1880s his exploits were published in the United States.  Investors from New York came here to build a wheat mill and named the town.  There is much admiration for Abd el-Kader, and the ambassador from Algeria and some of his family have visited Elkader.  Last spring Algerian diplomats paid Elkader a visit.  Sometimes the best stories are found in small towns!

District Demographics:
Enrollment - 450
Free & Reduced Lunch - 25%
Elementary school - organized in multi-age groups - K-1, 2-3, and 4-5 with five sections of each

Initiatives at Central Elkader include a focus on Iowa Core, implementation of Professional Learning
Communities, and establishment of the Multi-tiered Systems of Support at the elementary level.  Mr. Trencamp is a firm believer in Blended Learning where you don't have to have four walls to share classrooms; this encourages collaboration between districts.  Currently in Iowa there are 338 school districts of which 143 have 600 students or less.  These school have high transportation costs due to geography, and collaboration and sharing are key for success.  These districts also face the challenge of bringing in concurrent classes.  One solution for Elkader is to train retireds to get the training to offer the classes. 

Another example of problem-solving is in the area of their school calendar.  According to their data from MAPs assessments, there was a 50% loss of skills overs the summer break.  Because of this, they built in breaks throughout the school year to lessen the summer gap.  Elkader has built in breaks after each quarter with an early out every Friday.  With built in snow days each quarter, they do not have to tack on snow days at the end of the year.

This year they are transitioning to personalized professional development where teachers choose what they want to learn, but then they must participate in a peer review component: share at a conference, blog about their learning, or create a TED talk.  They used Oelwein as their example with the focus:  creating teachers who design a plan for their growth.  According to Mr. Trencamp, a district builds capacity by building experts in a building. 

In the area of instruction, teachers have been examining standards-based grading.  They have spent time analyzing each standard in the Iowa Core and have developed a list of priority standards.  In order to monitor learning, every teacher does a pre and post assessment for each unit.  The data is tracked using Google Docs, and data-based decisions can then be made to move students forward in their achievement.

Central Community School District in Elkader may be small but it is mighty as it seeks best practices for continuous improvement in the classroom, in their staff, and in their community.

POINTS of PRIDE: Camanche Elementary

Principal Neil Gray

The mission of the Camanche Community School District: In
partnership with the family and community, empower students to develop the knowledge and skills to become lifelong learners and successful, productive citizens in a diverse, technological, ever-changing global society.

Neil Gray, Camanche principal grades PreK-4, proudly describes the strong special education program.  This program works with a significant number of students and successfully exits many every year.  With enrollment of 486, there are six full-time special ed employees (with anticipated addition of one this school year).  Mr. Gray is happy with the same direction the staff is heading through Iowa Core training, crediting the AEA coaching as being instrumental in its successful implementation.  Camanche's math instruction has been improving through best practices being developed and implemented through a math studio format.  By studying the book LEARNING BY DOING, the staff has been simplifying its response to intervention.  It is the intent to eventually implement a literacy studio to improve practices.  The TAG program participates in Lego League and the third graders have qualified for the World Expo for the past two year.  They also have a robotics program in kindergarten. Mr. Gray says Camanche is a great community where students feel cared.

On a special note, Mr. Gray talked about Camanche's middle school teacher, Erin Montgomery, who went on the Iditarod for one month.  She faced -60 degrees weather and had to fly into some places while traveling on snow mobile where they couldn't fly in.  Because of the Iditarod, schools shut down for a week, and ushers interact with the children in the area.  Erin was able to share her experiences with the students of Camanche.  She recorded her experiences on the cite: 2015 Iditarod Teacher on the Trail blog.

The belief statements for Camanche Community School District include the belief that children are the community's future.  It is a district that believes all students can learn and that education should enrich our lives.  In the words of Allan Bloom, "Education is the movement from dark to light."

POINTS of PRIDE: Independence

Independence Community School District where the belief is "Start Here and Succeed Anywhere!"  It gladly proudly displays the Mustang Way:  Be Responsible.  Be Respectful.  Show Kindness.  Live Gratefully.

 

This district houses four buildings - PK4 at Early Childhood Center, grades K-2 at East Elementary, grades 3-6 at West Elementary, and grades 7-12 at Junior/Senior High School.  The Junior/Senior High School was built two years ago and its facilities are stunning!

Independence boasts strong Career and Tech programs.  The Ag program is privately funded with land provided through community support.  A greenhouse was built recently for work with hydroponics.  The secondary building has a strong Family Consumer Science program offering a course on fashion and fabrics.  The Building Trades Program gains practical experience by building houses in the community.  Their Project Lead the Way program is excited to be forging the innovation generation and is a noted "school of excellence."   Other courses offered are automation, robotics, and 3D Modeling.  Auto Mechanics is a college credit class and the Career and Tech programs value topnotch work quality.  Independence has a full time manager overseeing the auditorium.  Their band is a highly successful extra curricular who has been the state jazz band champion for 21 years. 

District Demographics:
District enrollment 1345

Free & Reduced Lunch 43%

Academics are valued across the district.  The secondary school offers Tier I interventions at the end of the day.  Those needing enrichment can participate in various options including tech skills, weightlifting, and fitness.  East Elementary offers Mustang Time lasting 30 minutes for academic interventions. West Elementary has intervention time using data results from a variety of assessments including FAST, MAPs, STAR, Fontis and Pinnell, and Iowa Assessments.

2014-15 East Principal Blaisdelle

In the spring 2015 East Elementary had a Boost Up Room for brain-based activities.  They also added 20 minutes to PE time to assist with the concept of - as students do something mentally they are also doing something physically.  Their focus has been on implementing sequential K-2 rubrics tied to the Iowa Core in the area of writing using pieces of writing as anchor papers.  They have focused on project-based learning incorporating a garden into the curriculum.  The Kindergarten grows sunflowers to gather seeds to feed the birds.  First grade has established a butterfly garden.  Second grade grows vegetables to prepare stone soup.

West Principal Hupke

West Elementary has a brand new playground, a full-size elementary gym, mobile labs for every grade level, and within two years there will be two labs per grade level.  Their achievement scores are high, and they use research-based programs including Daily Five and Read Naturally.  They hold Character Counts assemblies that recognize the positives of students with guest speakers talking about the importance of doing the right thing. They receive great support from the community where businesses donate snacks for students taking the Iowa Assessments.  Their fifth/sixth grade band builds a strong foundation for future Independence musicians.

The Vision of Independence School District: Creating a climate in which individuals of the Independence Community School District will strive to become effective communicators, problem solvers, responsible citizens, and productive people.   Mission of Independence School District:  Educating people to be life long learners and respectful, responsible citizens.  This district continually strives to bring alive its mission through actualizing its vision.  After all, it is the Mustang Way!

POINTS of PRIDE: Clarke Community Schools

Clarke Community Schools - "A whole child, a whole school, and a whole lot of imagination." (Covey)

Clarke Community Schools and the local community of Osceola carry the brand: "Proud of our history; ready for our future!"  Clarke is a  Leader in Me district where all strive to empower leaders.  According to Steven Covey, "Leadership is communicating people's worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves."  Inspiring leadership is a huge undertaking at Clarke Elementary which houses 800 students grades K-6.  They are the second largest elementary in the state of Iowa.  At Clarke Middle School grades 7-8, there is emphasis on a two-fold message:  "Be the change you wish to see in the world; be the leader you wish to see in yourself."  At Clarke High school, "an idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs it in." (Bernbach)  It is always special when a person can visit a Leader in Me school.  You know you will leave being inspired.


District Demographics:
Enrollment 1450
Free & Reduced Lunch 60%
There is a lot of industry in this community so a partnership with Southwest Community College provides concurrent enrollment courses especially in the area of building trades. 
Hormel is a big business in the area, bringing many Hispanic families to the district. The Clarke Development Corp assists with securing grants for the district and the local casino is also generous in supporting the classrooms in the area. 

Initiatives in the district focus on technology and professional learning communities.  Project Lead the Way is a course at the middle school with a focus on robotics. Technology is growing in the district with a 1-to-1 iPad initiative in grades 4-12. Iowa Core implementation is a focus with the PLC framework providing teamwork and collaboration for successful implementation. 

"We are not placed on this Earth to see through each other but to see each other through."  Through the Leader in Me program, students and staff see each other through as they move towards preparing for the 21st Century.

LEADER IN ME QUOTES: 

• "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right thing." (Drucker)
• "Leadership is communicating people's worth and potential so clearly they are inspired to see it in themselves." (Covey)
•  "A leader takes people where they want to go.  A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be." (Carter)
• "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." (Keller)

POINTS of PRIDE: Creston

Superintendent Steve McDermott

When you enter a district where the superintendent is a former art teacher, you know you will see a place where the arts are not forgotten.  This is a welcoming district with that sense of welcome communicated in a message on their website:  "We are so proud of our students, staff, parents, and community! Together we are all focused on our local girls and boys and their learning. We genuinely care about each and every student and we do our best to prepare our children for future success. Our Panther Pride has been built upon the accomplishments of our students, our alumni, and everyone else involved with our schools."  The district as well as the community has a unified purpose. Creston cares by "cultivating achievement and responsibility while educating all students."

District Demographics:
Enrollment 1400
Free & Reduced Lunch 50%

Professional Development is strong K-12.  Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) is the focus which started at the high school.  Read Alouds and Think Alouds are throughout the district which began at the elementary.  There is also a focus on Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR).  Recently, the board doubled their technology budget for Chromebooks at the high school.  The shift to the culture is not about the devices but about expanding instruction.    Their focus is to use technology to create an energy around innovation with an enthusiasm to "stir it up!"  They strive to create a culture that makes you want to teach in their buildings.  They are also striving to offer more contemporary classes to prepare students for the world.  There is an enthusiasm for both arts and extra curriculars with band & drum line, Drama &  Speech, and strong art classes.   The elementary and middle school  make celebrations a part of what they do - celebrating both academic and student character successes.  


PBIS and Character Counts are part of the way they do business.  Coaches and sponsors use the Character Counts pillars with students by providing reminders of what these pillars look like both on and off the field or floor.  For extra curriculars, there is a focus on positive coaching as a way of making students "double champions" - folks that win but also build character.  To encourage this focus, all coaches participated in a book study using Positive Coaching by Jim Thompson.  


Superintendent McDermott sees his role as continually sharing the vision for his schools through strong communication with staff and community.  He also sees his job as one of building the culture of learning by monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the curriculum as well as the quality of instruction and assessment.  A quote found in this district that speaks to the collaboration of Creston staff and community is:  "Alone we are just drops but together we make it rain!"  Keep on "raining," Creston!

POINTS of PRIDE: Audubon

Principal Sam Graeve

Welcome to Audubon Community School District - home of the
Wheelers where school is the hub and the community is the outside rim. Principal Graeve says that small schools cannot be a success without community support. 

Great things are happening in Audubon.  The day begins with the Character Counts pledge followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  This district has completed its first year of Professional Learning Community implementation, and professional development is teacher driven.  The Teacher Leadership and Compensation framework has been implemented in the fall 2015 consisting of two instructional coaches as well as mentor and model teachers.  It is the belief of administrators to "hire well and get out of their way." 

District Demographics:
Enrollment 534
Free & Reduced Lunch Rate  45-47%
Elementary School grades K-4
Middle School/High School grades 5-12

Academic achievement is looked at with pride in this district.  There are 1-to-1 laptops at the high school.  Principal Graeve spoke with pride about their work with aligning to Iowa Core, their high math scores through using Saxon Math grades K-12, and strong ACT scores.   Even with inadequate funding from the state, this district has been able to maintain their high achievement scores.  Poverty rates are rising in rural areas because families in need are more able to afford housing in these areas than in the cities.  With all staff on the same page, achievement remains strong. 

Wellness has a focus in this district that began with a PE for Life grant five years ago.  This grant supports wellness activities at the school and in the community.  There is a wellness room at the high school for students and staff. Audubon is in the process of making their facilities ready for 21st Century learning. 

Audubon School District won the District Class 1A Bank Iowa Challenge Cup Award, a program that recognizes Iowa High School students for academic excellence in the classroom and outstanding achievement during state competitions.  According to their website, the Bank Iowa Traveling Challenge Cup is a combined, statewide, year- long competition among all member high schools of the Iowa High School Athletic Association, Iowa High School Music Association, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Speech Association. A separate winner is determined for each of the four high school state classes.  Quite an accomplishment for any district!

In 2012 Audubon was recognized in the DesMoines Register as one of the best places to work.  With a staff that works extremely hard, a custodial class that maintains top notch facilities, and a strong administrative staff this district has many positives that keep it growing and moving forward.