Well, we are off and running into a new school year already! Parents, staff and students are trying to establish new routines now that changes in staffing and various requirements, such as the school lunch program, are now in effect. As always, we are monitoring the delivery of services to students, staff, and families for the purpose of supporting everyone through this transition.
Our teacher back-to-school in-service focused on a phrase that appears in our high school, “Coming together is beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is unity. Thinking together is success. Let’s succeed!” This is important as we seek to be a “Destination District”. Our destination isn’t a place but a new way of thinking that emphasizes the importance of motivating students to learn and engaging students in the process of learning. Jim Rickabaugh from the CESA 1 Institute presented a compelling reason to focus on personalized learning and established a common understanding amongst our staff regarding the practice of personalized learning.
In regards to State Initiatives in Education, we are currently working on preparing for online testing for state and local assessments. We foresee educational issues to have a significant presence during the upcoming election and legislative sessions.
Our staff development committee has met three times and has established requirements and learning opportunities for certified and professional staff in the District for the 2014-15 school year. The staff development opportunities that the committee develops will fulfill the annual requirements to participate in 20 hours of staff development. Examples of staff development activities: Shared Leadership, Tech Academy, Data Retreats, and District Book Study. The committee is focused on providing opportunities that are collaborative, connected to student learning, available to every certified/professional staff member, not a part of the professional responsibilities, and occur beyond the scheduled work day. The Staff Development Committee’s mission is to achieve student growth by creating staff development opportunities that are diverse, collaborative, relevant and engaging; and, their vision is a destination district valuing staff growth and collaboration that promotes student learning.
As we look forward to the school year and making Merrill a “Destination District”, remember that our destination is not a place, but a new way of seeing things. I am anticipating a great school year!