"Walk-Throughs," Contracts, Etc.

Reminders from the Negotiations Team: Contracts and Work Days. By now you have probably received your contract from your building administrator. A reminder: Your step did not change this year. Instead we all got a raise of $840 . You should check your contract for accuracy before returning both copies to your administrative office. (You will get a signed copy back in the school mail.) Out-of-district teachers' contracts are being delivered by the co-op.

Another note from the negotiations team: the 8 hour, 15 minute day applies only to student contact days. Work days are still 8 hours long.

Walk-Through Training. LNEA Representatives from secondary buildings and three elementaries attended the initial training on Walk-Throughs that you saw mentioned in the Pioneer Pride newsletter dated October 15. These walk-throughs are a great way to stimulate talk about teaching and learning. I got terrific ideas from the elementary and middle level walk-throughs we did as part of the training; I saw marvelously effective feedback and was inspired to look online for a timer that shows on my projector! (Here’s one I found that even plays a little clarinet trill when time is up: http://www.timeme.com/timer-stopwatch.htm.) Thanks to all the teachers whose classrooms we visited!

These walk-throughs are part of our school improvement process through KLN. Their purpose is to gather data for professional development, not for evaluation, but the district is working on a way to give each teacher feedback (again, for PD reasons) after a walk-through occurs. The LNEA reps who attended are hoping that other teachers will be able to participate in walk-throughs as well as administrators. It is very eye-opening and thought-provoking!

Gift Reporting Form. A school board policy passed in September says, “Any organization or individual making a gift to the district shall have the approval of the board. All gifts will be regarded as district property. Persons or organizations desiring to make gifts to the schools should contact the building principal.” Items donated to schools or school programs must be reported, for example, donations of new coats to be distributed to students, a work of art or statuary, or cash or supplies given to a club or program. The small tokens of appreciation students may give you personally at holiday time do not require reporting if they are valued at under $25. (It is a different school board policy that would apply to any personal gifts over $25…let me know if you want more info about that.)

Evaluation. I loved Charlotte Danielson’s statement about how complex teaching is in this interview about pre-evaluation conferences. The link was included in an email we sent members, but in case you didn’t have time to watch then, here it is again: http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol5/526-video.aspx.

National CLEAN Award. Proud of your custodian? Then nominate him or her for the 2010National C.L.E.A.N.™ (Custodial Leaders for Environmental Advocacy Nationwide) Awards. The deadline for application/nominations is December 1, 2010. Find information here.

Ginger Riddle