To Do:

• [This is a partial repeat from my last TRIBE – assuming you have already spoken with Jon regarding any probationary teachers of concern.]  Please see the following reminder/To Do from Jon Lindsay regarding any 3rd year probationary teachers you have this year: Principals/Supervisors, it  is time to start thinking about the renewal/non-renewal process. If you have an employee that you don’t want to renew, then we have some work to do in this area before the public board meeting February 12th. Due by Jan. 21st: Probationary three letters of support.  We need to be hiring and putting the best teachers in front of students.  It is an important decision when moving an employee from probationary status to contract status.  After participating in the board process last several years, I have a better feeling for what the board is looking for in these letters.  The board takes moving a probationary employee to contract status very seriously.  They really want to know that each of you have specific reasons why each one of these employees should move to contract status.  Here is a spreadsheet of probationary three employees and the famous probationary letter from Matt. (Please don’t just change Matt’s name to yours as there will be some other obvious updates needed as well!)If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call – Jon.

This and that:

•  Thought I’d start off 2019 with a fun/quick article for you. The title is: 23 Teachers Who go the Extra Mile… but I reduced it down to be even less (than the 23). I happened to find this over the break and got a few chuckles from it – as well as a little “that’s a pretty good idea” thinking!  Hope you enjoy it!
• On Friday, January 4^th, the district sent a fire & life safety message in the Staff Spotlight to all staff, reminding them of several important practices. We want to emphasize two of these to all administrators:
  • Staff should check for any blocked or impaired fire/life safety devices in their classrooms or workplaces. If they have any potential issues, these are to be reported to administrators and/or staff custodians. These issues should be addressed as quickly as possible.
  • It is a violation of the law to alter, remove, or tamper with any fire safety components.
• I’m sure you have already worked your way through this with applicable employees, but wanted to provide you with some classified evaluation documents in one spot. Here is the Goal Setting form, the Self Reflection form, and the Evaluation form. As we near the mid-point in the year it might be a good time to review the Goal Setting forms you have collected to make sure you are gathering the types of evidence you need for completing their evaluation later this spring.
•  As you know, all public schools are required to have a Safety Committee. However, some of you may have questions regarding what this goals, purpose, and structure of this committee should be. Here is a short memo that provides an overview of (likely) all you need to know about safety committees. Please share this with whomever serves on your building committee.
• DHS is in the process of implementing a statewide Child Abuse Hotline which will be completed in April 2019, but it has already been started in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook Counties beginning on November 1, 2018.The reporting number has changed – it is:  541-693-2854 statewide.
  • They are working to correct some telephone line problems
  • There will be the ability for the caller to leave their return phone number in case they can’t wait for someone to answer
  • They are in the process of hiring 75% additional staff to handle these calls!
  • They have implemented an email address for people to send concerns/feedback to:
    • [email protected]
• I have mentioned in TRIBE previously that Dr. Ross Greene will be coming to central Oregon on May 17, 2019. It is not too early to consider going or sending a few from your building – It will definitely be worth it!  Please read and share this additional information regarding his visit.
• Just as an FYI… you’ll be without your counselor(s) all day on Jan. 25 due to our last secondary counselor training around the Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Plan (CGCP). I am very proud of the work and positive changes our building and district counseling program has seen due to the efforts and shifts our counselors have dove into over the past few years.

Reminders:

• MLK Day, no school on Jan. 21. (This happens to also be Shay’s birthday!)
• Don’t forget to participate in the student shadowing activity activity if you are at all able. The deadline to complete your shadow has been extended to Feb. 1 – so you have some additional time!  Here is a reminder of what you need to know to be involved: a description of the parameters for participating, some interview questions, and a Google form for your reflections. And don’t forget, the level with the highest percentage of building admin participation will receive a hosted happy hour at McMenamins. (I was able to complete my shadowing of a student this week and I appreciated the opportunity to put all of the other things that pull on my time aside and focus on the experiences and interactions of one of our struggling students for a few hours.)
• Stephanie Bent sent you an email earlier this week, but wanted to remind you that the ACT Aspire window is now open – and will be until 2/18/19. If a student needs to be added, you need to use their SSID number, not their district (Synergy) number. Questions? Contact Stephanie or Dave.