Dear Superintendents,

Leading is the opposite of following (although every good leader began as a good follower!). But to lead the nation in education means we must lead (not follow) in some very foundational educational areas (high literacy expectations, quality of teaching, test scores, character formation, countering unhealthy cultural currents, etc.). And this is obviously already happening in so many ways across the state (teachers and schools switching to more effective literacy curriculum, some of the best teachers and classroom teaching anywhere, top-tiered NAEP scores, most in-person class time during Covid-19, etc.)

But from a strictly leadership standpoint, the most significant way we can lead the nation in education will be through our school leaders, and of course (it again goes without saying), as the local educational leaders or our local education systems, our district superintendents are the key. As the leaders of our school leaders, it is the statewide school leadership force at the ground level that will produce (if it is to happen) one of the finest state-wide education systems in our country. To be the best, we must be led by the best.

This is a worthy ambition, good for us, good for our country. And after visiting so many of our districts in this state, it is clear we have the personnel to do it. We just need to keep taking the necessary and appropriate steps in that direction, beginning with a School Leadership Training Regimen (more to come on that in the future). In the meantime, let’s keep raising the bar and pursuing excellence. Our parents and students deserve the best, so we must deliver.

Vision & Focus

Three guiding principles for this present WDE administration, in terms of fulfilling the above objective, will be to (1) reinforce the purpose of education, (2) recognize parents as the owners of our schools, and (3) resist the cultural pressures to conform to societal norms and trendings on so many levels.

Regarding the first principle, the purpose of education for our students is “to learn to think” through each of the academic disciplines, with all that that means. For our schools, it means fulfilling our roles as an extension of and support to our Wyoming families, as well as an incubator for and bridge to our Wyoming communities, with all that that involves.

Regarding the second principle, it means that we work for the parents, which means we are accountable to the parents, which means we must listen closely and carefully to the parents – even (at times) the toxic, hostile ones (no easy task, I know).

[As a side note, please know I am doing everything I can as I travel and speak across the state and spread the message that parents are the owners of our schools, to challenge parents who are frustrated and who become unduly confrontational, that they need to be kind and appropriate when asking questions or expressing their concerns to school authorities,  not mean-spirited or nasty. I also remind them that they, as parents, have a huge responsibility in this process and need to step up and take responsibility for their child’s education, not blame everything on the schools or think the schools can do everything.]

Regarding the third principle, William Bennett would always say, “When the culture pushes hard against you and your family (in our case, against our schools), we must push back just as hard.”  So don’t hesitate and don’t apologize if you need to set strong (or stronger) school-wide boundaries on those cell phones! Protecting our kids from the dark hole of the social media scene is certainly part of our responsibility to push back, especially at the elementary and middle school levels.

The Primary Priority

As the team continues to work with the Wyoming Teacher Apprentice (WTA) pilot districts, we thought it might be helpful to begin sharing some of the content being created for the FAQs about the initiative. Over the next several weeks, we will pose and answer a question that has come directly out of the discussions with school districts. Here we go…

Question: Is the WTA for all content or teaching areas, or just those that are hard to fill?

Answer: The Wyoming Teacher Apprenticeship Initiative is focused on supporting districts with developing credentialed teachers to fill positions that will be needed in the future. Any content area or teaching position could be considered for application through the apprenticeship. A comprehensive needs assessment is critical to determine a district’s employment needs extending out one to five years. The program will take one to three years to address the current teacher shortage issues due to the time required for participants to complete the apprenticeship. Districts must also prioritize what areas will be supported by the sustained, long-term effort of building a robust pipeline of teacher candidates.

The following are key considerations when developing a needs assessment for the district:

• Are any schools/subject areas/grade levels experiencing historically higher turnover rates?
• Are individuals currently teaching outside of their certification area? Are there any schools/subject areas/grade levels where this is more prevalent?
• Are individuals currently teaching with emergency credentials? Are there any schools/subject areas/grade levels where this is more prevalent?
• What is the experience level in years of service of the teaching corps? Are there any schools/subject areas/grade levels with more or less experienced teachers?
• Are there any schools/subject areas/grade levels where there is an anticipated need for recruitment based on the trend in the tenure level of current teachers?
• How does the teacher demographic profile compare to that of the students they teach? Where are there gaps?
• How are highly effective teachers distributed across schools/subject areas/grade levels? Are there areas where they are more concentrated versus others? Are highly effective teachers available to mentor apprentices in apprenticeship focus areas?

Security Update

Deputy Superintendent Chad Auer has been engaging stakeholders across the state on the issue of school safety and security. At this point, he has visited with superintendents, parents, teachers, the Department of Homeland Security, law enforcement, principals, legislators, school board members and students. As this is an ongoing discussion, he will be talking with even more stakeholders in the coming months. I’d like to take this opportunity to share some emerging themes with you.

First, Wyoming school districts have been working diligently to ensure that schools are safe and secure. Local leaders are collaborating with law enforcement, first responders and other community entities. Districts have developed and implemented safety plans, conducted ongoing training and have invested in a wide range of systems designed to solidify safety. Additionally, school resource officers are a critical, yet under-funded, element of school safety and security.

Second, Wyoming recognizes that school safety and security is a community responsibility. To that end, districts are working within their communities to expand the dialogue to include healthcare providers, mental health supports and many others. Third, there is no doubt that providing adequate mental health support to students and staff is critical to school safety and security. Finally, there is a need for enhanced communication among agencies at the local and state level in terms of community safety and security.

Deputy Auer continues to keep me updated on this important effort and will be drafting an action plan to address specific needs across the state. Per Deputy Auer, “The bottom line is that school safety and security in Wyoming is very strong, but we are going to make it even stronger!”

In The Spotlight   

Leaders from Black Butte High School in Rock Springs and Kaohsiung Nanzih Senior High School in Taiwan celebrated their partnership this week. WDE Chief of Policy Wanda Maloney, and Deputy Superintendent Chad Auer joined Black Butte High School Principal Bryant Blake and Spanish teacher Christopher Clifton in a virtual meeting with their counterparts in Taiwan. The schools are connecting teachers and students via virtual meetings, in a cross cultural project aimed at building bridges and giving students the opportunity to work together on various educational projects. The group hopes to coordinate face-to-face site visits to each other’s schools in the future.

“This is a great example of why I believe Wyoming school leaders are the best in business,” Auer said. “Principal Blake and Mr. Clifton have forged a pathway for their students to work with others around the world. They are leveraging technology in a meaningful way. I am a firm believer that innovation and creativity are critical to preparing students for the future. Black Butte serves as yet another example of courageous educational leadership in Wyoming”

”Opportunities such as a sistership school with another country provide students and educators with a diverse perspective to experience another culture through classroom connections,” Maloney said.

Creating global thinkers and opening the barriers of geography for collaboration is invaluable to our Wyoming students and leaders. Principal Blake and Mr. Clifton, for your innovative work you are ‘In the Spotlight’ this week.

Mark Your Calendars

Join the Wyoming MTSS Center on September 21 at Little America in Cheyenne for an in-person training on effective MTSS progress monitoring. Registration is open now. For more information about Wyoming MTSS, visit the WDE’s MTSS page here.

Monday memos:

• 2022-090-Student-level-Data-Collection-Updates-and-Reminders-PDF
• 2022-089-Updated-Template-for-Annual-Accreditation-Evidence-and-Assurances-Due-November-1-PDF

Dear Superintendents,

As leaders in the Wyoming educational arena, now-and-then musings on the nature of our roles can not only be helpful but a necessary part of the leadership growth process. In doing so, we sometimes struggle because the inherent tensions within the leadership dynamic seem at first glance to be antithetical rather than paradoxical, so we understandably draw either/or conclusions rather than both/and. But the leadership dynamic is filled with paradoxes and they are worth pondering from time to time, because of the development they can potentially foster.

For example, on the one hand, healthy leadership builds relationships; on the other hand, healthy leaders are not ultimately motivated by having to be “liked” by people. It’s a paradox – both are true, and though they seem to contradict, they really are complementary. Effective leaders are not people-pleasers, though effective leaders like people. The best leaders are not conflict-averse, but at the same time are savvy enough to discern what battles to fight (and when to fight them) and what battles are not a high enough hill to die on.

There are many more of these leadership paradoxes, like servant leadership or silent leaders, or even “leading from behind.” Which ones have you been reflecting on of late?

Vision & Focus

The Teacher Apprenticeship Initiative (update in the next segment), the Literacy Campaign (still being formulated), the School Leadership Training Regimen (also in the works), and the Hospitality-Tourism Project (coming down the pike!) are part of the Vision & Focus of this administration. We are excited about the prospects for each one and will keep you informed every step of the way as they unfold!

The Primary Priority

As you can imagine, we get a lot of questions about the evolving Wyoming Teacher Apprenticeship Initiative. The team is currently working on content to add to the WDE website. This will include FAQs, requirements for applicants, an overview of the phases, information on funding sources, and more. Watch for the link in a future update.

In The Spotlight   

The WDE is partnering for the second year with the Wyoming Army National Guard, and the Wyoming Air National Guard to bring together Wyoming teachers, counselors, and principals from across the state. The Wyoming Educator Leadership Rendezvous (ELR) was held this week at Camp Guernsey, providing an opportunity to learn about the military, leadership and culture-building strategies, develop personal professional learning networks, and improve morale and resiliency among educators in the field. Participants include the 2021 and 2022 Wyoming Teacher of the Year, Wyoming District Teachers of the Year and their principals, Milken Award Winners, Presidential Award Winners for Math and Science Teaching, and school counselors.

At the ELR, educators get to experience the military through fun activities. They are split into squads and each squad will be joined by two guard members (one Air and one Army) to lead them through events created to challenge them as a squad but also individually. Participants will display camaraderie, selfless service, problem-solving, and other leadership qualities as they move through the individual and squad challenges.

This collaboration between our military partners and the WDE is just one example of how we can provide meaningful experiences for our Wyoming educators. Hats off to the Air and Army National Guard, and WDE staff that made this possible (namely Robin Grandpre). For that you are ‘In The Spotlight.’

Mark Your Calendars

The Student Voice Learning Lab is a training series open to all K-12 students across the United States that introduces the fundamentals of how education systems work and how students can be a part of addressing structural inequities in our schools. Virtual Learning Lab workshops are hosted twice a month for one hour through Zoom, and members of the Learning Lab can attend as many, or as few, workshops as they would like. Because workshops are open to all K-12 students across the United States, Learning Lab members are encouraged to invite their peers to participate. More information about the Student Voice Learning Lab can be found here and students can indicate interest by filling out the application here.

Monday memos:

• 2022-086-ARP-ESSER-Time-and-Effort-Considerations-PDF

• 2022-087-New-CTE-Educator-Orientation-PDF

Sincerely,

Dear Superintendents,

We’ll be brief this week, as I am in the middle of the election campaign and you are getting toward the end of your summer (ugh!) and, no doubt, doing all the necessary preparations for the start of a new school year.

In this edition of the Superintendent’s Update, we again include some thoughts on a vision for our students and our schools, an update on the Teacher Apprenticeship Initiative, as well as the latest on the charter school application process. Finally, a piece on how states are addressing persistent teacher shortages with a timely and relevant webinar invitation on the same topic.

Vision & Focus

We’ve been pondering the purpose of education in regard to our students, as well as to our schools. Concerning the former, it is to teach them how to think. Concerning the latter, it is to be an extension of the home, and a bridge to society.

Concerning the former, “Up until about the 1920’s, the emphasis in education was on producing thinkers, not learners. The idea was that if kids could think, they could learn anything for themselves; but if the focus was on ‘learning,’ they would become gullible and passive, believing everything they heard and read.” (Author David Barton)

Concerning the latter, the schoolhouse was supposed to reinforce the home and help strengthen the institution of the family as the cornerstone of civilization. It was also supposed to be a launching pad into society, preparing young people to become informed citizens, involved community members, consequential public servants, teachers of the next generation, committed participants of their faith communities, and great Americans who love their country. Such a vision sustains our focus.

The Primary Priority   

It was a busy week for the Wyoming Teacher Apprenticeship Initiative. Representatives from the three pilot school districts (Laramie #1, Teton #1, and Fremont #24) met with the initiative’s core team to ask questions and collaborate on initial steps and support needed to begin work at the district level. All agreed that although this process will take time to bring certified teachers into their classrooms, it will assist the districts with an additional pathway to support members of their school community to become strong teachers.

This endeavor will ensure that incoming apprentices have ongoing intensive mentor support for three years, while engaged in earning a Bachelor’s degree. An apprentice will receive their teaching license after completing their degree and demonstrating competencies needed to be an effective teacher.

Process Update

The Charter School application will be open through August 15, 2022. Three applications have been received so far:

• Prairie View Community School, Chugwater.
• Wyoming Classical Academy Charter School, Casper.
• Cheyenne Classical Academy Charter School, Cheyenne.

The applications are in the review process with the WDE; the WDE will submit all applications to the State Land Investment Board (SLIB) when deemed complete. SLIB will then hold a public meeting, and do applicant interviews as part of the final approval. For applicants requesting waivers, approval from the State Board of Education will follow.

Mark Your Calendars

How Are States Addressing Persistent Teacher Shortages?

Specific and persistent teacher shortages remain a significant problem facing policymakers throughout the country. Recruiting additional teachers into the field is a common response to shortages. State education leaders also have a number of other policy levers at their disposal they are using to not only recruit but retain high-quality teachers.

In the latest installment of the Partnering for Success webinar series, with support from Teachers of Tomorrow, participants will explore how states are addressing teacher workforce challenges. These challenges include increasing interest in the field to providing ongoing support and opportunities for career advancement. Join the Education Commission of the States for a conversation with Arne Duncan and chief state school officers from Indiana and Nevada. They will share more about their efforts to address teacher shortages along the teacher pipeline. The presentation is set for 11 a.m.-noon MDT on August 10. Register here.

Monday memos:

• There are no memos this week.

Sincerely,

Dear Superintendents,

Leaders are teachers, and teachers are leaders. As district superintendents, you lead the charge of both, our school leaders and our school teachers – no small task. You must teach our leaders and lead our teachers, again no small task. The expectations are high, your responsibilities are enormous, which is utterly lost sometimes on much of the community.

It should not, however, be lost on the Wyoming Department of Education. We will be committed therefore to be as conscious as possible to not increase your already heavy 24/7 load – in fact, we hope to begin finding ways to reduce it. For starters, this will mean at least two things: (1) regular and consistent communication with you as district superintendents, and (2) leadership training and development as a long-term priority. Regarding the latter, we have begun taking some preliminary steps in that direction, and we will keep you posted as this new leadership initiative unfolds.

Vision & Focus

As already stated, the purpose of education in regards to our students can be summed up in four words:  to learn, to think. In addition, the purpose of education in regards to our schools is determined by how our schools are positioned, or how they should be positioned.

According to the vision of our founding fathers and early Americans, the local community schoolhouse was uniquely positioned to be an extension of and support for the home as well as an incubator for and bridge to society. This two-fold vision clarifies our dual focus: working for our homes and working for our society. May we continue to serve both well. More next time …

The Primary Priority   

Looking back, the Wyoming Teacher Apprenticeship Initiative got underway just this past April. Now, a short four months later, we have the WTA Pilot orientation taking place this last week of July, along with the third meeting of the WTA Advisory Group. We were told on several occasions that it could take up to two years to be where we are going into the fall. I guess they didn’t take into account our Wyoming grit.

Side note – we are grateful that these dedicated individuals are taking time out during CFD week to be sure our work continues to progress.

In the Spotlight

The 13th annual Native American Education Conference is set for August 2-4 at Central Wyoming College in Riverton (there’s still time to register here). Our WDE teammate Rob Black heads up the planning and preparation for this very well-received event, which is one of the largest conferences the WDE sponsors.

Rob is the WDE’s social studies, P.E., and health consultant on the Standards Team, and serves as the agency’s Native American Liaison. In that role, he is the WDE lead for outreach and communication with the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes and with the Wind River Indian Reservation school administrators and education stakeholders. He serves on the Indigenous Education State Leaders Network with his Indian Education counterparts from other states.

Rob’s dedication to detail, as well as his strong ties to Wyoming’s Native American community, puts him “In The Spotlight” this week.

Mark Your Calendars

Mark your calendars: The 2022 Early Childhood Cowboy State Conference is set for October 21-22, 2022. Join WY Quality Counts on one or both days to learn more about the recently updated Early Learning Standards, watch inspiring keynote speakers, interact with other Wyoming educators, and more. More information can be found here.

Monday memos:

• 2022-085-2021-22-Student-Level-WY-TOPP-WY-ALT-and-ACT-Review-Window-PDF

Sincerely,

Dear Superintendents,

If leadership is influence, and the number one task of any effective leader is reproducing him or herself in other young leaders, then for our purposes as a state collectively and as districts individually, it is incumbent on each of us as Wyoming’s school leaders to begin taking steps (or continue to build on whatever steps we have already taken) in laying out a long-term plan that will bear fruit for decades to come.

In terms of building a cadre of future educational leaders at the district level (local schools), department level (WDE) and degree level (college/university), these steps and this long-term plan will be best driven by the people in the trenches who are actually doing the work (the districts) and best shaped by some of our most successful and experienced Wyoming school leaders. Accordingly, this is the path we will take as we embark on this statewide journey to build our school leadership to be the finest in the nation. Our expectations, therefore, will of necessity be very high, just as they should be for our students. Stay tuned as we begin to move forward on this.

Vision & Focus

We can lead the nation in education by being absolutely clear about and committed to the purpose of education, in regards to both our students and our schools.

The purpose of education with our students, in a nutshell, can be summed up in four words: to learn to think. That has been the purpose of education for more than 1,000 years. It has only been in the last 100 years that a progressive model shifted the paradigm.

But the great classical tradition was always about teaching young minds how to learn from others so they could think for themselves. And it is this vision of education that brings clarity to our focus, not only defining everything we do as Wyoming educators, but also inspiring it.

The Primary Priority   

As you heard in last week’s update, the three Wyoming Teacher Apprenticeship Pilot districts have been chosen – and now the work begins. The pilot orientation is set for Thursday, July 28. The WTA Work Group is digging in deeper on the competencies and preparation for the orientation. The WTA Advisory Group will also meet at the end of July to continue providing valuable input as the initiative moves forward.

In the Spotlight

Charter school applications will be accepted from July 15-August 15, 2022. All applications must be submitted to the Wyoming Department of Education through the online portal. The application template, submission portal and other resources can be found here. For more information, contact Elaine Marces at 307-777-6210 or elaine.marces@wyo.gov or Beth Lougee at 307-777-6198 or beth.lougee@wyo.gov. Many thanks to our WDE Accountability Division that has worked tirelessly to launch this application, and for that you are ‘In the Spotlight.’

Mark Your Calendars

The 13th annual Native American Education Conference will be held August 2-4, 2022, at Central Wyoming College in Riverton. Fee is only $25 for three days of presentations and workshops dedicated to better outcomes for Wyoming’s Native American students through knowledge of best teaching practices and understanding of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho people. This year’s keynotes include: Sandra Ashley, who will address American Indian history that’s missing from today’s social studies classrooms and Ryan Wetzel, a former professional basketball player who will share his story of being headed for stardom, the injuries and depression that shattered the dream, and the resurrection and purpose discovered through the healing process. Register here.

Monday memos:

• 2022-084-New-WYCTE-and-ASVAB-Accountability-Review-Window-PDF

 

Sincerely,

Dear Superintendents,

Leadership is about influence. Though potentially unlimited in its reach, wise leadership reproduces itself primarily in other budding school leaders, building a cadre of future educational leaders. Think of the emerging dominoes effect there over time. I therefore root for your long-term success in building future leaders for your own district. If done well, this may end up being your greatest legacy.

Vision & Focus

As previously underscored in this section, our vision and focus to lead the nation in education is rooted in the purpose of education as well as its priority. The purpose of education is “to learn to think.” The priority of education is represented by its three key parties: parents, teachers and students, and that crucial relationship surrounding each.

The educational enterprise is a triangular relationship among all three, and only works well when all three work well together – parents, teachers and students. Because less really is more in education, Wyoming should be able to serve parents, take care of teachers, and educate students better than anyone else. Moreover, as these three priorities inform our work, everything else will eventually fall into place.

The Primary Priority   

The WDE and PTSB have announced the school districts chosen for the Wyoming Teacher Apprenticeship Pilot via a media release on July 8. Congratulations to Superintendent Margaret Crespo with Laramie County School District #1, Superintendent Gillian Chapman with Teton County School District #1, and Superintendent Bruce Theron with Fremont County School District #24!

Much thanks to all of the districts who also applied. We certainly wish we could start right out of the gate with all of you, but a steady incremental approach will no doubt bode well for a quality product in the long run.

The three districts chosen will begin collaboration with the WDE and PTSB this summer to prepare for the launch of their own programs. This work will then inform the structure for the eventual statewide rollout, while allowing the opportunity to identify best practices and unique nuances at the district level.

We couldn’t be more excited to work with these districts and see this initiative finally begin to come to life.  We are also full of anticipation here at the WDE for what this could mean for the rest of our districts statewide.

In the Spotlight

You could be a part of moving Wyoming forward in the new and emerging technology of Immersive Learning, Virtual Reality, and the Metaverse. Learn more about the global competition we are recruiting teams for by watching this short introductory video from Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom (WAIC).

WAIC’s mission is to develop students’ understanding of Wyoming’s vast resources so that they become informed citizens, capable of serving as stewards for Wyoming’s future. The organization focuses on three economic drivers; Agriculture, Minerals & Energy, and Outdoor Recreation & Tourism. Check them out here. The team at WAIC puts Wyoming’s next generation in touch with our roots, literally, and for that you are ‘in the spotlight’ this week.

Thanks for all you do!

Mark Your Calendars

Join the Next Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Cohort: Verizon Innovative Learning Schools is now accepting applications for their 10th cohort. Selected schools receive wrap-around support through technology and connectivity for every student and teacher, professional learning, IT support, and access to a national community of more than 500 schools. Learn more about the program and the application process here.

Cancellation Alert

The in-person Wyoming Advisory Panel for Students with Disabilities (WAPSD) meeting scheduled for July 14 in Saratoga has been changed to a virtual meeting. The meeting will now begin at 9 a.m. and can be accessed via this Zoom link. All rooms at the Saratoga Inn have been canceled, and any deposits will be refunded to the card on file.

Monday memos:

• There are no memos this week.

Sincerely,

Dear Superintendents,

As school and community leaders, our responsibilities are great and expectations enormous.  Leadership is not only lonely, as someone observed long ago, but also (at times) overwhelming. When we hit those patches when we’ve had enough, it sometimes helps to circle back and keep our essential role simple: Cast the vision and clarify the focus, reiterate and reinforce our primary priorities, and spotlight those who are getting it done and doing it well.

Oh, there is one more essential element, perhaps the one we ignore the most: taking care of ourselves. I really hope you’re getting the downtime you need, and are having a relaxing and refreshing summer.

Vision & Focus

As a classroom teacher, I would typically conduct the following ritual with my students on the first day of school each year. I would ask them what the purpose of school was: “Tell me, in a nutshell, why do we have schools? … Why do you go to school?”

After a variety of creative (and hilarious) answers, they would eventually say, “To learn! We go to school to learn!”  And I would say to them, “That’s right! (dramatic pause)  And I would write those two words on the board … T-O L-E-A-R-N.  

Then, after another dramatic pause, I’d exclaim, “But that is only half right!” followed by writing two more words on the board: T-O T-H-I-N-K.  

“That’s the other half. Put those two together, and you have the purpose of education:  to learn … to think.  To learn from others, to think for oneself.”

The Primary Priority   

This week, our Wyoming Teacher Apprenticeship Advisory Group had its monthly meeting. It was a spirited and productive discussion, as we tackle the finer details of the initiative. We already have several school districts that have applied for the pilot program for this fall. The three participating districts will be chosen by July 8th, so I’ll share that news in my next update.

In the Spotlight

Congratulations to Cody High School’s Isabelle Radakovich, and Laramie High School’s Keegan Allen Miller, Wyoming’s 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars! The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects scholars annually based on their academic success, artistic and technical excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as a demonstrated commitment to community service and leadership. Read the media release here.

Mark Your Calendars

In partnership with Marzano Research, the WDE will offer a second opportunity for educators and leaders to come together in a regional session and explore the pandemic effect on achievement. In the session, participants will engage in a facilitated, data-driven, decision-making process with Marzano Research leaders, using rigorously analyzed WY-TOPP/WY-ALT combined data. In the end, participants will understand the effect of the pandemic on achievement in core subject areas and generate initial ideas for what to do about it.  Register here.

Monday memos:

• There are no memos this week.

Sincerely,