2005
  • Secretary's Column:
  • Hands-on exhibits create new energy in libraries
  • New education law book available
  • Apply now for grants to fund community learning centers 
  • White Lake Elementary honored
  • Two appointed to practices and standards commission
  • Trautmann selected as American Star of Teaching
  • Upcoming Events

Secretary's Column

Words of hope

I had the opportunity to hear Jason Kamras, the 2005 National Teacher of the Year, speak at a conference that I attended in November. Jason is a middle school math teacher in the District of Columbia. As you can imagine, Jason works with a large number of students who are considered low income. Yet he refuses to make excuses for his students or himself when it comes to student achievement.

Jason illustrated some key points about poverty when he asked one half of the audience to stand – demonstrating that one of every two students from families of $90,000 income or more have a chance to attend postsecondary education. He then illustrated through audience participation that only one in 15 young people from families that make $35,000 or less have a chance to attend postsecondary education.

After that background, Jason went on to talk about the importance of ignoring the factors associated with poverty and providing hope to young people that come from low-income homes. He gave the audience two challenges. They were so simple, yet so profound, that I wanted to share them with you.

Maintain High Expectations
Jason challenged us to “passionately reject causes for low achievement” and continue to expect all of our students to achieve. There have been many critics of No Child Left Behind – people who feel that its expectations are unrealistic. Yet we need to continue to believe that all students have the ability to succeed. If we don’t believe that, then we know they won’t succeed.

Accept Personal Responsibility
Jason stated the need for classroom teachers and school administrators to “invest in student learning.” One of the questions that we used to ask our teacher candidates was “How do you feel when one of your students fails?” What we wanted to hear is that the teacher felt that he or she had failed as well. That is an indication of investment in student learning. If the students haven’t learned it, then it hasn’t actually been taught. We all should feel a sense of responsibility for student learning in our classrooms and school buildings.

Jason Kamras has received an honor that could be bestowed on thousands of teachers in this country. However, I don’t know if there would be a better spokesperson for the teaching profession than Jason Kamras. Let’s all internalize his two key points above and help all of our students to achieve in our schools.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jason Kamras’ speech will be available on the Council of Chief State School Officers’ Web site (www.ccsso.org) after the first of the year.

Hands-on exhibits create new energy in libraries

Roam with the beasts. Split white light into a rainbow of colors. Kids across South Dakota can participate in these hands-on science activities, thanks to a series of traveling exhibits that combine science, literature and art.

The easy-to-assemble exhibits are poised to visit libraries across South Dakota. A group called the Hands-On Partnership (HOP) for Science, Literature and Art in South Dakota purchased the exhibits and plans to tour them year-round. HOP’s members include the South Dakota State Library; South Dakota School of Mines & Technology; South Dakota Discovery Center & Aquarium, Pierre; Dahl Arts Center, Rapid City; and Rawlins Municipal Library, Pierre.

“We expect these exhibits to generate new energy in school and community libraries across the state,” said Dorothy Liegl, director of the South Dakota State Library. “They are a great way to show that combining science, literacy and art activities together can make learning fun for all ages.”

While schools are invited to book the exhibits, HOP partners hope that community groups become the driving force behind offering the exhibits. “With the mandates required by No Child Left Behind, schools don’t have time to do a lot of extra things,” said Karen Kern, HOP director. “With this program, community groups such as the local Rotary Club or Lions Club can take this project on – allowing teachers to focus on the basics.”

Two traveling exhibits currently are available from HOP. They are titled “Light & Color” and “Dinostories.” Two additional exhibits, “A Bug’s Eye View” and “Animals as Architects” should be ready to travel the state by late 2006.

Each exhibit is designed to be a turn-key operation. Each comes with an exhibit manual, ideas for school field-trip activities, and educational kits filled with related experiments and art supplies.

“Light & Color” recently made its South Dakota debut at the Huron Public Library, where it had a successful run. “There is no way that this exhibit could fail to make an immense educational, artistic or kinetic impact on anyone who will be fortunate enough to come in contact with it. There are simply too many ways to have fun, to learn and to succeed with this display,” said Betty Gilchrist, the children’s librarian at the Huron Public Library.

From Huron, the exhibit went to Woonsocket. It is currently headed to Plankinton.

Schools or community groups interested in bringing one of the exhibits to their library should contact Karen Kern at (605) 773-5050.

New education law book available

The most recent version of South Dakota Codified Laws is available from publisher Thomsen West. Volume 9 covers Education (Title 13) and Libraries (Title 14). It includes laws passed during the 2004 Legislature, as well as an insert covering laws passed during the 2005 Legislature.

The 2004 version of South Dakota Codified Laws replaces the 2002 revision, which was published by LexisNexis/Michie.

To purchase an updated volume of South Dakota law related to education, please contact James Anderson, Thomsen West, at (605) 336-7643 or james.w.anderson@thomson.com. www.west.thomson.com

Apply now for grants to fund community learning centers

Organizations may apply for 21st Century Community Learning Center grants to establish or expand community learning centers. These centers provide students with academic enrichment opportunities outside of regular school time. The activities are designed to complement the students’ academic program.

A total of nine applicants could receive $50,000-$100,000 grants per year for five years. Grant recipients must:

  • Provide academic enrichment activities to help students meet state and local standards in core subjects, especially reading and mathematics.
  • Provide a safe environment for students when school is not in session.
  • Offer families of these students, literacy and related educational development.
  • Be located in public schools or other similarly accessible facilities.
  • Serve students from schools with 40 percent of families receiving free or reduced price meals.
  • Offer opportunities in areas such as community service, music, arts, cultural activities and/or physical activities.

Applications are available online. Click on “Application Process.” The due date for applications is Feb. 17, 2006.

For more information, contact Sue Burgard at (605) 773-5238 or sue.burgard@state.sd.us.

White Lake Elementary honored

White Lake Elementary School has been selected to represent South Dakota as a Title I Distinguished School for 2005. Fifty-two schools nationwide were chosen to receive the award. This is the first year that South Dakota participated in the program. Staff from White Lake Elementary will attend the National Title I Conference in Dallas this January to receive the award.

Title I Distinguished Schools are academically outstanding schools that have risen above obstacles of poverty with the help of the Title I program. They are selected for outstanding results in one of two categories: 1) Exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years or, 2) Closing the achievement gap between student groups.

“Title I Distinguished Schools,” according to Kathryn Manning, president of the National Association of State Title I Directors, “despite great challenges, hold their students to high standards and take seriously their charge to improve children’s learning. The selected schools are an example to other Title I schools of approaches, programs and creative education techniques that work.”

White Lake Elementary was chosen from the pool of South Dakota’s Distinguished Schools for 2005. The state’s 2004-05 Report Card shows that 100 percent of the school’s 3rd-5th grade students scored proficient or advanced in math on the Dakota STEP. Ninety-eight percent of those students scored proficient or advanced in reading. In order to be eligible for this award through the national Title I organization, schools must have a poverty rate of 40 percent or higher and provide Title I services. White Lake meets these criteria as well as exhibiting high student achievement.

Title I is the largest federal-aid program in K-12 education. Since 1996, the National Association of State Title I Directors has selected examples of superior Title I school programs for recognition.

Two appointed to practices and standards commission

Governor Mike Rounds has appointed Michael Taplett, Huron, and Barry Eikamp, Gettysburg, to the South Dakota Professional Administrators Practices and Standards Commission.

The commission has authority to reprimand or recommend that disciplinary action be implemented against a school administrator, when it has been determined during a formal hearing that the administrator has violated the Code of Ethics for School Administrators.

Taplett is the principal at Huron Middle School. His term expires Dec. 31, 2007. Eikamp is a school board member for the Gettysburg School District. His term expires Dec. 31, 2006.

Trautmann selected as American Star of Teaching

The U.S. Department of Education recently recognized Lloyd Trautmann as a No Child Left Behind 2005 American Star of Teaching. Trautman is a math and science teacher with the DIAL Virtual School. The award presentation took place during a face-to-face visit with Trautmann’s math students in Todd County, located more than 350 miles from where he teaches.

A cooperative arrangement between DIAL (Dakota Interactive Academic Link) and the Britton-Hecla School District allows Trautmann to teach classes from a video studio located in Britton.

Trautmann has been a full-time distance teacher for the past three years. A fully certified high school teacher in South Dakota, Trautmann teaches math and science in grades 7-12. He has a master of science degree and holds a South Dakota Advanced Professional teaching certificate. He has been teaching for 37 years.

Teachers across all grade levels and disciplines will be honored this fall as American Stars of Teaching. One teacher will be recognized in every state and the District of Columbia. A committee of former teachers at the U.S. Department of Education selected the American Stars from among 2,000 nominations.

Upcoming Events

For a more complete list of professional development opportunities, visit www.southdakotapd.com.

  • Pre-test workshops address Dakota ELP, Dakota STEP-A

  • Study sessions prepare special education teachers for Praxis II

  • Crosswalk training for CTE teachers scheduled
     

Pre-test workshops address Dakota ELP, Dakota STEP-A

Pre-test workshops for the Dakota English Language Proficiency Assessment (Dakota ELP) and the Dakota STEP-A, the statewide alternate assessment for the Dakota STEP, will be offered in January. The sessions are provided by the South Dakota Department of Education and Harcourt Assessment.

Topics covered for the new augmented Dakota ELP will include test coordinator information, administration, using the rubrics and scoring the oral portion of the Dakota ELP. Topics related to the Dakota STEP-A will include receiving, distributing and returning test materials, as well as administering, collecting and documenting evidence.

School districts are strongly encouraged to send test coordinators, teachers administering the Dakota ELP, special education directors and special education teachers administering the Dakota STEP-A to the workshop.

The workshops are scheduled as follows:
Jan. 9, Rapid City
Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn
505 N. 5th St. – Exit 58

Jan. 10, Pierre
Pierre Chamber Community Room
800 W. Dakota Ave.

Jan. 11, Aberdeen
Best Western Ramkota
1400 8th Ave. N.W. (Hwy 281 N.)

Jan. 12, Sioux Falls
Holiday Inn City Centre
100 W. 8th St.


All workshops will run from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. Registration is required. Please register at www.southdakotapd.com.
 

Study sessions prepare special education teachers for Praxis II

The South Dakota Department of Education is sponsoring free study sessions to help special education teachers prepare for the Praxis II content exam. These study sessions will be conducted by faculty members from Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University, and the University of South Dakota. Each study session will be held on a Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sessions are being offered now through April 2006.

Participants will:
• receive detailed study guides;
• view Web sites containing help materials and practice tests;
• review test-taking skills; and
• become familiar with the format of the Praxis exam.

Some study sessions already have been held. The remaining sessions (listed below) will focus on the Praxis Middle School Content Test.

  • Jan. 14 - Rapid City - Location to be determined
  • Jan. 28 - Aberdeen - Location to be determined
  • Feb. 4 - Watertown - Location to be determined
  • Feb. 4 - Winner - Location to be determined
  • Feb. 11 - Sioux Falls - Location to be determined
  • April 1 - Sioux Falls - Location to be determined

A limited number of seats are available at each study session. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, visit http://everyteacher.tie.net/content/praxis.htm.

 

Crosswalk training for CTE teachers scheduled

By April of 2006, all of the state’s career and technical education (CTE) teachers are required to have their crosswalks completed and syllabi on file with the department’s Office of Career and Technical Education.
An upcoming workshop will train teachers in the crosswalk process and give them time to develop or update their course syllabi. The workshop is slated for Jan. 31 in Mitchell.

The goal of the statewide Crosswalk Project is to provide a standards-based curriculum for CTE programs that includes technical standards, academic standards and employability standards. By going through the crosswalks process, CTE teachers will:

  • develop instructional strategies that meet the learning needs of all students;
  • identify areas within the curriculum where academic, technical and transferable work skills need to be enhanced and integrated;
  • meet Perkins accountability;
  • assist schools in meeting state-adopted academic standards;
  • help schools meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind.

Teachers can register for the workshop online at www.southdakotapd.com or by downloading the form and faxing or mailing it to the South Dakota Department of Education, Office of Career and Technical Education, 700 Governor’s Drive, Pierre, SD 57501. Fax: (605) 773-4236.