CHEYENNE – Two Wyoming educators – Katie McCue and Craig Williams – have received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). President Joe Biden made the winner’s announcement on Tuesday.

PAEMST is the highest recognition that K-12 mathematics, science, or computer science teachers can receive in the U.S. Nominations and awards are facilitated by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science Foundation.

“It is an honor to be selected for the Presidential Award in the area of mathematics and to join the ranks of other outstanding educators in mathematics and science education,” said McCue, a second-grade math teacher at Eastside Elementary in Cody. “Being selected for this award is particularly meaningful because I believe in being a champion for education and this award reinforces that my instruction is worth recognition. It is humbling even to be nominated for this prestigious award. I would like to thank all of my colleagues that have supported and mentored me.”

“The award has connected me to a network of high-achieving educators in Wyoming, while also opening doors to influence curriculum and best practices for students,” said Williams, a fourth-grade math teacher at Buffalo Ridge Elementary in Cheyenne. “I hope to connect with teachers nationally to network about best practices in the teaching of mathematics and bring those home. The award has increased my confidence in my ability to prepare my students in STEM fields and help mentor teachers in their own growth in mathematics.”

Each year, up to six finalists in each state are chosen for the award through a rigorous peer review process. The applications are forwarded to the National Science Foundation, where the final selection for the national Presidential Awardee is made. Enacted by Congress in 1983, the program authorizes the President to award 108 math and science teachers each year in recognition of their contribution to excellent teaching and learning.

“These teachers are not only leaders in their field, but they are an inspiration to students and colleagues alike,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Schroeder. “I am truly proud of Craig and Katie for their dedication in teaching mathematics, and for their commitment to the students of Wyoming.”

The awardees come from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity schools, and schools in four U.S. territories. Each awardee will receive a certificate signed by President Biden and a $10,000 award from the NSF. Awardees will also travel to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony at a future date.

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High-resolution photo of Katie McCue

High-resolution photo of Craig Williams

Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov

CHEYENNE – A formal swearing-in ceremony for Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Schroeder will take place in the Capitol Rotunda at 3:15 pm on Friday February 4, 2022. Chief Justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court Kate Fox will administer the oath of office. The ceremony is open to the public.

Governor Mark Gordon appointed Schroeder to replace Superintendent Jillian Balow, who resigned January 16, 2022. Schroeder will serve as Superintendent for the remainder of Balow’s term, which ends in January 2023.

– END –

Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) announced today that high school graduation rates increased to 82.4% in 2020-21, marking the eighth-consecutive year of improvement from the class of 2013, where 77.6.% of students graduated.

Full graduation rate statistics are available here.

Seventeen Wyoming school districts posted graduation rates of 90% or above:

• Sheridan #3 100.0%
• Washakie #2 100.0%
• Teton #1 97.6%
• Sublette #9 95.0%
• Lincoln #1 94.7%
• Weston #7 94.7%
• Park #1 94.2%
• Sublette #1 94.1%
• Converse #2 94.0%
• Big Horn #3 92.9%
• Uinta #4 92.5%
• Fremont #6 92.3%
• Platte #2 92.3%
• Carbon #2 91.9%
• Fremont #24 91.7%
• Uinta #6 90.5%
• Weston #1 90.2%

Since the 2009-10 school year, the WDE has calculated graduation rates using the Federal Four-Year Adjusted Cohort Methodology established by the U.S. Department of Education, complying with federal law that requires all states to calculate graduation rates the same way. Students are counted in the four-year, “on-time,” high school graduation rate if they earn a diploma by September 15 following their cohort’s fourth year. Five- and six-year graduation rates are also calculated, and can be viewed with the rest of the graduation rate data.

 Graduation Rate Brochure

Graduation Rate Methodology

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CHEYENNE – Cameron Nicholas Reckard and Tamica Lee Smith will join Senator John Barrasso and Senator Cynthia Lummis in representing Wyoming during the 60th annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Washington Week, set for March 6-9, 2022.

The USSYP was established by the U.S. Senate in 1962, and provides an educational experience for students interested in public service careers. The program provides an in-depth view of the Senate and federal government, as well as a deeper understanding of the relationships between the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive Branches. During the program week, the student delegates will attend online meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies and senior members of the national media, among others.

Delegates and alternates are selected by the state departments of education nationwide, after nomination by teachers and principals. The chief state school officer for each jurisdiction confirms the final selection.

Reckard and Smith, both of Sheridan, were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation who will each also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 program will break ground as the first-ever fully virtual Washington Week, and is designed to be a highly interactive and exciting education and leadership forum for the nation’s most outstanding student leaders.

Reckard, a junior at Sheridan High School, serves as the Student Council Junior Class president. He also serves as the secretary general of the Model UN team, is co-vice president of the  Speech and Debate team, and is a member of the National Honor Society. Reckard participates in Interact, a  community service club, competes on his school’s highly successful We The People team, and volunteers in his community with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. He attended the 2021 Summer High School Institute at the University of Wyoming and represented his school at the Wyoming Hugh O’Brian Youth  Leadership conference. He has also written, directed, filmed, and produced a short film in collaboration with  the WYO Film Festival. After graduating in 2023, Reckard hopes to pursue an undergraduate degree in  business, followed by his MBA.

Smith, a senior at the Arvada/Clearmont High School, serves as the president of the Clear  Creek Future Farmers of America (FFA). She is an active member of numerous student organizations,  including serving as the president of Student Council and president of National Honor Society. Her  community FFA organization hosted the Jerry Hampshire Benefit, a fundraiser for a community member  diagnosed with cancer. She has also been recognized for her accomplishments and leadership through  earning Student of the Second Quarter in 2019, and the Student of the First Quarter in 2021. After graduating  in 2022, Smith plans to pursue undergraduate degrees in marketing and studio arts.

Chosen as alternates to the 2022 program were Jaden Sophia Campbell of  Saratoga, who attends Niobrara County High School, and Jackson Bridger Fouras of Teton  Village, who attends Jackson Hole High School.

Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program brings the most exceptional high school students – two from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity – to Washington, D.C. for an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. However, this year, the program will be held online. The mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service.

For more information, visit: www.ussenateyouth.org.

Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov

– END –

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Summer Food Service program for kids offered through the Wyoming Department of Education served thousands of meals last summer to Wyoming children and teens.

The Summer Food Service Program is a federally funded, state-administered program. The program reimburses providers who serve free healthy meals to children and teens during the summer months when school is not in session. This video from the Department of Agriculture does a good job of explaining the program. In addition to serving food, summer food sites often include activities for students to do during the summer including crafts and games.

If you are interested in being a serving site, contact Amanda Anderson at the WDE at 307-777-7168 or amanda.anderson@wyo.gov.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or
3. email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

-END-

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education seeks public comment on the proposed Chapter 10 Rules, which include the proposed 2021 Science Performance Standards and the proposed 2021 Math Performance Standards. Performance standards are a subset of the content standards that all students are expected to learn and be assessed on, and specify the degree of understanding for that particular standard. Performance standards were first identified for Computer Science in 2021 and are now being identified in the other content areas by the State Board of Education.

Public comment may be submitted online, or via mail, by 11:59 p.m. on February 28, 2022. The public can attend a virtual Public Comment meeting and provide verbal input. The first 15 minutes will be an informational presentation, and the remainder of the time will be to collect comments. Attendees may enter and exit the Zoom meeting at any time during the block.

Join the Zoom meeting here, or call 346-248-7799 Meeting ID: 942 4096 9257. Passcode: 460994

• 4:30-6 p.m. MST on Monday, February 7, 2022.
• 6:30-8 p.m. MST on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.
• 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MST on Thursday, February 10, 2022.

The standards documents and proposed Chapter 10 Rules can be found on the WDE Chapter 10 Rules on Standards and at the links below:

• Proposed Chapter 10 Rules.
• Proposed 2021 Science Performance Standards.
• Proposed 2021 Math Performance Standards.

Send written comments to:
Wyoming Department of Education
Attn: Barb Marquer
122 W. 25th Street, Suite E200
Cheyenne, WY 82002

All public comment will be recorded verbatim, including the submitter’s name and city of residence, on the Secretary of State website as part of the rules promulgation process.

– END –

Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming State Board of Education (SBE) is promulgating Chapter 47 Rules on the Wyoming Accountability System and seeks public comment on the proposed rules.

The 2019 Session Law, Chapter 109, Section 3, directs the SBE as required by W.S.21-2-304(a)(vi), to promulgate rules to implement the statewide accountability system.

Information on the proposed rules on the accountability system is available in the Statement of Reasons and strike and underline versions of the rules are also available for Chapter 47.

Comments can be submitted through January 27, 2022 using the Chapter 47 online Comment Form. 

All public comments will be recorded verbatim, including the submitter’s name and city of residence. When commenting, specify which section of the rule the comment is concerning. All comments will be recorded and filed with the Secretary of State’s office.

– END –

Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education has announced the participating Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) organizations in Wyoming. The program reimburses participating organizations for nutritious meals and snacks served to children in child care centers and family day care homes. The program teaches good eating habits and assures that well-balanced, nourishing meals are served in these participating centers.

Organizations are reimbursed for meals provided to children who are up to 12 years of age. The same meals must be made available to all enrolled children at no separate charge regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age. There is no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

Centers are reimbursed for meals that are served at their center.  Completing the income application helps the center receive meal reimbursement for the meals they serve.. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), foster children, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and eligibility based on household income qualify for the meal claim reimbursements to the center as defined by the USDA Eligibility Guidelines.

For more information, contact Judy DiRienzo, Wyoming Department of Education Nutrition Section, at 307-777-6262 or judith.dirienzo@wyo.gov.

LIST OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BY COUNTY:

Albany  

• U.W. Early Care & Education Center.
• Developmental Preschool and Day Care.
• Laramie Education Afterschool Facility.
• Laramie Child Development/Laramie Head Start.
• Kiddie Cottage Daycare.
• Basic Beginnings South/Aaron’s Place Inc.

Big Horn

• Absaroka Head Start/Basin Head Start.
• Absaroka Head Start/Lovell Head Start.
• Shooting Star Academy.

Campbell

• Boys and Girls Club of Campbell County.
• WY Child and Family Development/Campbell County Head Start.
• Scotty’s Toy Box.
• Children’s Development Services.
• Wildwood Child and Adult Care Food Program/Tot Spot.

Carbon

• Carbon County Child Development/Rawlins Head Start.
• Carbon County Child Development/ Saratoga Head Start.

Converse

• WY Child and Family Development/Douglas Child & Family Development.
• WY Child and Family Development/Glenrock Early Childhood Center.
• Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming/Glenrock Boys and Girls Club.

Fremont

• Child Development Services of Fremont County/Lander Child Development Services.
• Child Development Services of Fremont County/Riverton Child Development Services.
• Eastern Shoshone & Northern Arapaho Birth to Five Head Start/ Ethete Head Start/Early Head Start.
• Eastern Shoshone & Northern Arapaho Birth to Five Head Start/Ft. Washakie Head Start/Early Head Start.
• Eastern Shoshone & Northern Arapaho Birth to Five Head Start/Great Plains Head Start/Early Head Start.
• Smart-Start Quality Care.
• World Cares Inc./Small World Children’s Center.
• Fremont CSD #14/Wyoming Indian School Learning Lab
• Fremont CSD #25/Rendezvous Elementary
• Absaroka Head Start/Lander Head Start.
• Absaroka Head Start/Riverton Head Start.
• Red Wolf Child Care Center

Goshen                               

• Lil’ Bits ‘n Spurs Child Care.
• WY Child and Family Development/Torrington Learning Center.
• Stacey Houk Family Enrichment Center.

Hot Springs

•  Absaroka Head Start/Thermopolis Head Start.

Johnson

• Absaroka Head Start/Buffalo Head Start.
• Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming/ Buffalo Boys and Girls Club.
• Buffalo Children’s Center.

Laramie

• F.E. Warren AFB Child Development Center.
• F.E. Warren Youth Center.
• Wyoming Child and Family Development/Cheyenne Head Start.
• Foundations Learning Academy.
• SLBeard, Inc./Promise Patch Preschool and Daycare.
• World of Wonder.
• Triumph Early Learning Center.
• Alphabet Academy I.
• Alphabet Academy II.
• Alphabet Academy III.
• Laramie County School District/South High School-Supper.
• Laramie County School District/Afflerbach Elementary-Supper.
• Laramie County School District/Arp Elementary-Supper.
• Laramie County School District/Alta Vista Elementary-Supper.
• Laramie County School District/Sunrise Elementary-Supper.
• Laramie County School District/Rossman Elementary-Supper.
• Laramie County School District/Cole Elementary-Supper.
• Laramie County School District/Henderson Elementary-Supper.
• Laramie County School District/Johnson Junior High School-Supper.
• Kiddie Kollege.
• Silly Bear.
• Cheyenne Family YMCA.
• Boys and Girls Club of Cheyenne.

Lincoln

• Playroom LearningCenter, LLC
• Lincoln Uinta Child Development Association (LUCDA)/Kemmerer Child Development Center.
• Lincoln Uinta Child Development Association (LUCDA)/Afton Child Development Center.
• Lincoln Uinta Child Development Association (LUCDA)/Thayne Child Development Center.
• Lincoln Uinta Child Development Association (LUCDA)/Alpine Child Development Center.

Natrona

• Natrona County School District #1, Bar Nunn, Cottonwood, Evansville , Journey Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Midwest Elementary, Midwest, Pathways Innovation Center, Sagewood Elementary.
• Casper College, Inga Thorson Early Childhood Learning Center.
• Mountain Ridge Akidemy.
• Sunshine Corner Day Care.
• Learning Junction Children’s Center.
• WY Child and Family Development/Mills.
• WY Child and Family Development/Casper Early Childhood Center.
• WY Child and Family Development/Lincoln Infant and Toddler Center.
• WY Child and Family Development/Natrona County Head Start/Home Start.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming/Mills Branch/Lincoln Branch//Paradise Valley. branch/Veda James branch/Greater Casper Boys and Girls Club.
• Busy Bumble Bees Child Care Center.
• Neighborhood Child Caring Center.
• Neighborhood Child Learning Center.
• Kids Campus, Casper Housing Authority.
• Wildwood Child and Adult Care Food Program (Sponsor of home daycares throughout the state).

Niobrara

• WY Child and Family Development/Lusk Early Childhood Center.

Park

• Northwest College Child Care Center.
• The Learning Garden.
• Winsor Castle Daycare & Preschool.
• Absaroka Head Start/ Powell Head Start.
• Absaroka Head Start/Cody Head Start.
• A Little Paradise.
• The Crane Academy.
• True North Academy.

Platte

• Platte County Day Care/Kid’s Kastle.
• Wyoming Child and Family Development/Wheatland Early Childhood Center.
• Wyoming Child and Family Development/Guernsey Early Childhood Center.

Sheridan

• Tongue River Child’s Place.
• Children’s Center.
• Absaroka Head Start/ Sheridan Head Start.
• Harmony Child Care Center.

Sublette

• Children’s Discovery Center.
• The REAL Center/The Redstone Early Active Learning Center.

Sweetwater

• Sweetwater County Head Start/Green River Head Start.
• Sweetwater County Head Start/Rock Springs Head Start.

Teton

• Children’s Learning Center/Early Head Start/Head Start.

• The Children’s Learning Center/Mercill Site.
• The Children’s Learning Center/Rafter J Site.

Uinta

• Lincoln Unita Child Development Association/Bridger Valley Child Development Center, Mountain View.
• Lincoln Unita Child Development Association/Evanston Child Development Center.
• Evanston Child Development Association/Evanston Child Development Center.
• Evanston Child Development Association/Children’s Learning Foundation.
• Lil’ Rascals Academy.

Washakie

• Abasorka Head Start/Worland Head Start.
• Wildwood Child and Adult Care Food Program/Busy Bee Preschool

Weston

• Weston County Child Development Center/Newcastle Child Development Center/Upton Child Development Center.
• Little One’s Family Child Care.

– END –

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights1400 Independence Avenue, SWWashington, D.C. 20250-9410;(2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or(3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education seeks public comment on an amendment to its state plan for federal accountability. Public comment will be collected through December 24, 2021.

The proposed amendment would incorporate several changes to Wyoming’s federal accountability plan, including:

• Changes to the methods for identifying schools for Targeted Support and Improvement and Additional Targeted Support.
• Alignment of the career readiness measure to the federal Career and Technical Education law, Perkins V.
• Updates to the process for identifying students as English Learners.
• Changes to the use of state set-aside funds for 21st Century Community Learning Centers through a new needs assessment.

The proposed amendment can be viewed here in a strike and underline format. Public comment can be submitted through an online form or during public hearings at noon and 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2021. Anyone wishing to participate can register online here for the noon session and here for the 4 p.m. session.

Comments can be mailed to:
Wyoming Department of Education
Attn: Linda Finnerty
122 West 25th Street, Suite E200
Cheyenne, WY 82002

All states are required to submit plans for implementation of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act. Wyoming’s plan was approved by the U.S. Department of Education in 2018. Wyoming was granted waivers from federal accountability requirements for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. More information on federal accountability is available on the WDE website.

– END –

Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) is promulgating changes to Chapter 39 for Driver Education Program Approval. These changes are now open to public comment through December 24, 2021.

Chapter 39 Rules were last updated on March 31, 2007. Updates are necessary to address changes in program requirements and modern infrastructure development in Wyoming, such as roundabouts. The proposed changes would authorize Driver Education Program Certificates of Completion signatures to be provided in an electronic format. These accommodations will provide additional flexibility and allow for more effective driver education programs throughout the state.

Members of the School Finance Data Advisory Committee have reviewed these changes.

Comments can be submitted here or mailed to:
Wyoming Department of Education
Attn: Leslie Zimmerschied
122 West 25th Street, Suite E200
Cheyenne, WY 82002

All public comments will be recorded verbatim, including the submitter’s name and city of residence. When commenting, specify which section of the rule the comment is concerning. All comments will be recorded and filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.

– END –

Media Contact:
Linda Finnerty, Communications Director
307-777-2053
linda.finnerty@wyo.gov