More good reads…
From Dave Van Loo: This article is great and touches on an abundance of topics we’ve discussed in Excellence and Equity meetings this year. Plus, the theory of change balancing actions with beliefs is right in line with the professional learning processes on which we’ve been training horizontal teams lately. https://www.nextgenlearning.org/articles/equity-work-too-much-talk-too-little-action
From Kinsey: This is a great article with an awesome response to a parent upset about “woke” curriculum and instruction:
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2021/05/homeroom-antiracist-education/618796/
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To Do:
Share this note from Dean and Michele with your teachers: Since November, we have been putting out a weekly/bi-weekly blog featuring a variety of content: tech strategies, instructional strategies, background in important issues, etc. Your administrators have been linking you to the content when they felt it would be helpful and/or when they felt you had the bandwidth to benefit from it during this uniquely challenging year.
From this point on, we are changing our method of delivery and sending it straight to you. We hope you find it a welcome source of information and support.
For the remainder of the year, we will be launching an exploration of the topic of equity, a topic administrators have been participating in regular thinking and conversations about. To support your planning for next year, we want to begin bringing some of these conversations to you.
This post is a two-part series: an interview with our new superintendent Dr. Steve Cook. It’s a great chance to be introduced to Steve and his thinking about equity:
A Conversation with our New Superintendent, Dr. Steve Cook (part 1)
A Conversation With our New Superintendent, Dr. Steve Cook (part 2)
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Reminder about observation agreements: This was shared with you previously (several months ago), but I wanted to remind you of the certified observation agreements that we have in place for this year. If you have any questions regarding this document please let me know.
Information:
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Information from Jon and Paul in HR: We have contract language specific to personal days. Building leaders only need to allow 5% of our certified staff and 5% of our classified staff to take personal days on a given day.
We are having a very difficult time filling substitute requests. Keeping personal day requests to the 5% could help us as a district. If staff do not use personal days this year, then they can bank one or get paid for them at the end of the year.
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Here is an updated chart from OHA and our Governor’s office regarding allowable limits to indoor and outdoor facility numbers. This is based, obviously, on which category our county is currently at in risk level. Just an FYI.
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Hot Weather – Fans and Doors: There is nothing in RSSL directly related to how to address proper use of fans and the safety of opening exterior doors during warm weather days (or for added ventilation) so our team of health professionals who meets on Fridays gave input into acceptable use. Fans can only be used if they are pulling fresh air in from the outside (stationed by a window or exterior door) not if they are only circulating existing air in the classroom (therefore, ceiling fans should not be used). Any exterior classroom door that is within the fenced area of a school can be opened. Exterior doors not within a fenced area can be opened but must be closely supervised (ie. closed when no adult is monitoring it).
Educational Assistant Application Process: In order to reduce barriers for people who want to apply for entry-level positions in BLS, we are going to remove the cover letter and three recommendation letters requirements for all EA positions. We will still require a resume and our reference check requirement will fulfill the same role as the recommendation letters. We hope that by reducing these tasks during the application process, we will have more people seeking employment opportunities in these hard-to-fill jobs.
Visitor Entry: Your staff members have been doing an excellent job limiting visitors in your building. Please allow BEA President, Sarah Barclay, to visit if she comes by your school.
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Encourage your teachers to consider: We are currently in our recruiting season for National Board Certification. We are holding several virtual informational sessions for teachers who are interested in becoming National Board Certified. One thing that we know is when an administrator tells a teacher “Have your considered National Board certification? You would be great for this!” Teachers take notice, appreciate the compliment and usually pursue this path for their professional learning. Please send this flyer to your teachers and feel free to attend if you would like to learn more about the process, supports and TSPC reimbursements. In addition, BLS has found that when school teams do this work together, it strengthens the team, teaching practice and impact on student learning. We are offering additional supports for school teams who decide to pursue National Board certification together (information for you). We have added extra sub days, resources, and time with a NB mentor to support teams. Contact Michele Oakes if you have any questions or would like to learn more about National Board Certification.
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Space at CFEE in June: The Bend-La Pine spaces for the late-July CFEE have all been filled by members of our leadership team, but there are a couple spaces left in the June session (6/28-7/1, entirely virtual). Please reach out to Kinsey by this Tuesday if you are interested in taking advantage of this personal and professional opportunity for growth with CFEE!
What is CFEE? Coaching for Educational Equity is a deep-dive into the impact of Oregon’s history on ourselves as educators and on the students and families we serve. To date, over 40 leaders in Bend-La Pine Schools have already participated, and it is our intent to continue growing our CFEE-graduate cohort over time. Thanks for considering this opportunity to develop shared knowledge, language, and leadership for equity.
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From Terry Cashmen: I wanted to give you a heads up that we are at a critical level with the number of staff that we have in many of our classified jobs.
Due to this, I am asking Walt to have the custodial staff at each school that has a reader board put the following message on them: Make a Difference Explore Jobs at BLS
The head custodian will let the building administration know about our request and if any of you have a concern with this, please notify me directly.
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False alarm: Several schools have reported receiving information about a teacher appreciation contest with the winning event to be held at Crux. While well-meaning, this looks primarily to be a great advertisement for the brewery and would be in conflict with our policy. We should not advertise or solicit nominations for this event, but the group can advertise on their own. Thanks! The email has been from the following: Amanda Laird and Jennifer Graham [email protected]
Calendar:
Mother’s Day is Sunday! A shout out to all of our mom’s!
Monday, May 10 @1:30 – Graduation Mtg in my WebEx room
Wednesday, May 12@10:30 – HS Administrator Meeting in my WebEx room