...NewsLinks

A Web-based newsletter for the staff of Everett Public Schools

May 14, 2010 (NewsLinks articles are now archived on Docushare)

 

ITEMS IN THIS ISSUE:

·        District, EEA and EASA sign Race to the Top partnership agreement

·        Interview with former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich

·        We’re Proud – submit your good news for upcoming NewsLinks recognition

·        Your school board at work – board meeting materials online; board discusses temporary, supplemental levy

·        Administrative staff – changes announced

·        Retirements – board says “thank you” for service and dedication

·        News around the district – information about good work everywhere

·        Opportunities – for students and staff

 

RACE TO THE TOP – school board signs partnership agreement

Everything you ever wanted to know about Race to the Top is on the Web. More news articles and official documents will be added over time.

 

SAVE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS – Robert Reich explains why and how public schools need an infusion of public funds

You can read or listen to the 10-minute interview.  

 

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WE’RE PROUD SUBMISSIONS –

Everett Public Schools will salute staff and their family members celebrating educational milestones this year. We’re Proud will be published in the last issue of NewsLinks in June. To recognize someone, please complete the brief survey by June 4.

 

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YOUR SCHOOL BOARD AT WORK –

Check out what’s on the board agenda and review board meeting materials

School board meeting agendas and full packets of materials are now available on the Web by the Monday before each regularly scheduled meeting. Among the reports included in those board packets is a monthly district financial report which includes information about the district’s fund balance.

 

A full listing of past and planned board meeting topics and work study session topics is on the Web.

 

Board approves special session to discuss a temporary, supplemental levy Because the state Legislature approved lifting the levy lid another four percent, school districts are deciding whether they will now ask the voters for the additional funds. The board will have a special session on May 20 to consider putting a temporary, supplemental levy on the ballot, possibly in August or November of 2010. 

 

Board members tag study session on to Tuesday’s board meeting

After completing their regular agenda on May 11, board members and district administrators gathered for a work study session on two topics – a review of information from the Center for Educational Effectiveness and a discussion of State of the Schools Reports (SOSRs). Board members each made it a point to

attend some of the SOSRs and relayed what they had learned in the process and how important the SOSRs are to a better understanding of the impressive work done in schools each day.

 

A common theme board members reported having heard throughout the SOSR season is the need for collaboration time.

 

Board congratulates administrators moving into new positions

·        Eric Bush has successfully filled the interim assistant principal position at Everett High and was the successful candidate for the position of assistant principal at EHS. Eric came to Everett Public Schools from the Tumwater district in the 2002-03 school year – teaching at Sequoia High School. Eric moved from Sequoia to H.M. Jackson in 2004 and became a district literacy facilitator in 2007. Eric has proven district leadership in the area of literacy and is a lifelong learner who constantly works to refine his own vision and practice. When introduced to the board, Eric thanked the district for the nine years he’s spent here and said, “I want to make it 29!” He also thanked his family and gave them credit for his getting to this point.

 

·        Dave Peters has been selected to move from his current position as assistant principal at H.M. Jackson to Cascade HS – his original Bruin home! Dave began his tenure in the district at Cascade in 1997 as a math teacher and became JHS assistant principal in 2004. Dave’s emphasis on relationships with staff, students and parents as well as his demonstrated leadership skills and humor makes this a win-win opportunity for both Dave and Cascade’s administrative team.

 

·        Dave’s move created an opening at H.M. Jackson which will be filled by Nyla Fritz, a graduate of Whitworth University who received her masters of teaching degree from Seattle University and will complete the UW Danforth Leadership Program in June. Nyla comes to Everett from Bellevue where she has been since 2001 and where she taught middle school. She has coordinated the Bellevue School District’s AVID program at high school and middle school, focusing on preparing students for four-year college eligibility and success. This school year Nyla has been Dean of Students at Sammamish High. Nyla brings high energy and a belief in the capacity of every child to learn and be successful. This summer Nyla will be involved in AVID training for staff in Everett Public Schools.

 

Other district-level staff announcements

Just before spring break Superintendent Cohn announced that Dr. Sue Dedrick is moving to the position of Assistant Superintendent of Special Services in Northshore.  

 

On May 7, human resources announced that Dr. Cynthia Jones has been offered and has accepted the position of director of categorical programs to replace Dr. Dedrick.

 

Cynthia began her career in education in Colorado Springs. Next, she taught in a multilingual, multicultural American school in Quito, Ecuador. After her work in Ecuador, Cynthia moved to Cochabamba, Bolivia where she worked in staff development and as principal at Cochabamba Cooperative School, a multicultural American K–12 school.

 

Upon her returned to the United States, Cynthia taught in the Edmonds School District. In 1996, we were fortunate to have her join our team in Everett as the assistant principal at Emerson, Jefferson, and View Ridge. She became the principal at Emerson in 2001 and led them through a Gates Grant process and a remodel. She has been a tireless advocate for the various student populations at Emerson; successfully administering Title, ELL, LAP, and special education programs. Cynthia has also been a valued member of several district committees including Budget Advisory Committee, HR Advisory and the district’s negotiating team with the EEA.

 

Dr. Sara Hahn has been hired as a principal in Portland Public Schools in Oregon for the 2010-11 school year. Sara has been the principal of Hawthorne Elementary School for the past three years having come from the Salem School District where she was an elementary principal of a bilingual Spanish school for five years. Sara has accomplished much in her tenure as the Hawthorne principal by establishing strong systems for promoting research-based instruction, application of frequent formative assessments to monitor student progress, and staff development focused on applying research to practice. 

 

Believing “it takes a village,” Sara has reached out to all members of her school community to build an inclusive environment focused on serving students. She has supported The Hawthorne Ambassadors, a collection of former staff members and students (including Board President Ed Petersen) devoted to providing ongoing support to the school in its efforts to serve students, along with a strong, active PTA, Delta neighborhood community partnerships and a large multiethnic/multilingual group of consistent parent volunteers.

 

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RETIREMENTS

School board honors retirees – Throughout the school year, the school board invites all staff who are choosing retirement to attend a school board meeting to be recognized. On May 11, three staff members chose to attend the meeting to be so honored:

1.      Pam Larson was introduced by Sequoia Principal Sally Lancaster and commended for the grace and ease and professional integrity with which she has always done her work. As a 32-year district employee, Larson has worked in the Center, in athletics and now with Denney Youth Center. “She has never lost her patience or her focus even though she has handled the paperwork for more than 15,000 students in her time with Denney,” said Lancaster. Larson thanked the board and said she always felt appreciated in the many jobs she has held in the district.

 

2.      Elaine Reitan is leaving after 30 years in education – mostly in Everett. Madison Principal Mark Toland lauded Reitan for building connections with the community and inspiring love for music and the performing arts. “Elaine’s voluntary before- and after-school clubs are always packed, and her three-times-a-year concerts are always filled to capacity.” Reitan noted that she was born in Everett and worked elsewhere before coming back home, considering that it was a privilege to work where she had started. She has retirement adventures planned and is leaving with many thanks for the support she has received from the district and co-workers over the years.

 

3.      Teresa Wright has worked as a special education teacher in the district for two years, but has 34 years as an educator. Her heart has always been in Everett because she attended K-12 education here. “I was so happy to come teach in the district that taught me so well!” Gateway Principal Peter Scott called Wright a natural teacher whose students are loved and appreciated. “As many legends do, Teresa is retiring while she is at the top of her profession.”  

 

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NEWS AROUND THE DISTRICT – information about good work everywhere

 

05.14.2010 Board signs on to Race to the Top

05.14.2010 Everett students win art awards locally and nationally

05.13.2010 DJJC youth create children's book

05.12.2010 IKE's Advanced Band takes gold at festival

05.12.2010 Silver Lake kindergartner wins PUD art contest

05.11.2010 Mill Creek Elem earns over $15K in Jump Rope for Heart event

05.10.2010 VR Evelyn Doran wins World Citizen Essay contest

05.10.2010 Volunteers spiff up North Middle School grounds

05.06.2010 Getting ready for Kindergarten open house dates

05.04.2010 Mill Creek Elem students create multimedia artwork for auction

05.04.2010 EHS student earns Gates scholar honors

05.03.2010 Gates Millennium Scholar at EHS makes third in five years

04.30.2010 Monroe Elem teacher instigates Washington state proclamation

04.29.2010 CHS receives national student council award

04.27.2010 H.M. Jackson High's Food for the Fight

04.27.2010 JHS band members win awards at state competition

04.23.2010 Superintendent Cohn selects high school art for Purchase Award

04.23.2010 Reading adoption preparation for district

04.23.2010 Comcast volunteer day mobilizes nearly 600 volunteers

04.23.2010 Student perspectives sought for district's strategic plan

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OPPORTUNITIES – for staff and students

 

1.      The Scoop on Cool Careers Fair, May 22 – Bring your kids to meet local professionals with cool jobs, eat ice cream and learn how to prepare now for exciting careers. Hosted by Congressman Jay Inslee. See poster for more information.

 

2.      Teachers wanted for summer and after-school fine arts program – The Foundation for Fine Arts in the Schools and Art Wizards presents summer and after-school “Everyone Can Draw” classes geared for elementary school students. Art background helpful, but not necessary. Good teaching skills a must. Summer classes are two hours on four consecutive days. After-school classes are one hour long once a week. Email Ilene@artwizards.org.

 

3.      As of May 1, Clothes For Kids has provided approximately 4,874 free wardrobes to low-income children in Snohomish County this school year. As we head into the “home stretch” here, we are appealing to our partners at the school districts to help us get the message out to the community that we still need their donations of new and gently used clothing – both to help us finish out this year, and to begin preparing for back-to-school shopping for next fall. Call 425­741-6500 for more information.

 

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OPPORTUNITES IN BRIEF – quick reminders from past issues

 

1.      Sign up to be a Culminating Exhibition panelist, or share this information with someone you know.

As high school students prepare to graduate, they complete a culminating exhibition. Students present this major, self-directed project to a panel of volunteers, sharing key elements of what they have learned from their academic work, and how they plan to take responsibility for their future learning.

 

Being a panelist takes only about four hours of your time and is a great opportunity to see what high school students today do to meet standards and to graduate. Your feedback is invaluable in these milestone student presentations.

 

Below is a list of dates when panelists are needed at each school and how to contact a panelist coordinator.

 

 

2.      Summer camp info is on the Web. Check out the opportunities for your own family or your students on the athletics department website.

 

3.      Do you know a student interested in becoming a softball umpire? The Snohomish County Softball Umpires Association is recruiting high school seniors who would like to try their hand at officiating softball while earning a little money. Please contact one of the following before May 31, 2010, for more information:

                        Nick Nickerson          sportsofficial_@msn.com                425-327-9300

                        Steve Andersen        steve@pnwsports.com                     425-327-2400          

                        Joe Martin                  fishon_01@msn.com                       206-669-1586

 

POLICY & PROCEDURE INFO – links to all policies and procedures are online

 

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Everett Public Schools complies with all federal and state rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or disability. This holds true for all students who are interested in participating in educational programs and/or extracurricular school activities. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the school district's Affirmative Action Officer, Title IX Officer, ADA District Coordinator, or Section 504 Coordinator. Affirmative Action Officer, Carol Stolz, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett WA 98201, 425-385-4106, Title IX Officer, Randi Seaberg, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett WA 98201, 425-385-4104, ADA Coordinator, Kristine McDowell, 202 Alder St., Everett WA 98203, 425-385-5250, Section 504 Coordinator, Becky Ballbach, 4730 Colby Ave., Everett WA 98203, 425-385-4086.

 

 

Diane Bradford (previously Lindenstein)

Communications Dept.

Everett Public Schools

425-385-4040

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