Dear Superintendents,

We have a big week under our belts and a big week ahead:

Stakeholder groups including the accreditation task force and Chapter 29 panel met separately this week to continue work on their respective projects. The involvement of education leaders and stakeholders in the most important policy decisions is critical. I say it often and I will say again–thank you for your involvement in various groups and for generously allowing us to tap your top leaders from schools to assist us in our work!

We kicked off Random Acts of Kindness in Wyoming (officially February 11-17). Madelynn Oden, 15, of Casper, who with her two sisters, Katelynn and Delaney, raised $500 for Kindness Wyoming. First Interstate Bank matched the $500 and Madelynn presented the Kindness Wyoming Team with a check for $1,000.

Please encourage your schools to participate, invite media to cover culminating events, send photos to us to share on our social media, and pay it forward with a few RAKs of your own. More ideas at: http://www.kindnesswyoming.org/

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead sits at a desk to sign the Random Acts of Kindness proclamation, surrounded by State Superintendent Jillian Balow, members of the Leadership Wyoming classmates that requested the proclamation, and three girls who raised money for Kindness Wyoming.

Proclamation signing for Random Acts of Kindness in Wyoming Week–February 11-17

2018 Legislature

The legislative session begins next week. On Sunday, I’ll have the opportunity to address legislators at their party caucuses. I’ll summarize the state of Wyoming schools and comment on several bills including early learning programming, computer science, accountability, and school funding.

S5S

Don’t forget to register! https://edu.wyoming.gov/educators/conferences/s5s

Superintendent's Policy Summit; Save the Date; S5S 2018; February 26-28, 2018 in Cheyenne, WY.

Memos to be released on Monday, February 12, 2018

Jillian