CHEYENNE – Today I, alongside many in Wyoming, grieve the loss of Senator Hank Coe. He was my friend, a mentor, and a colleague. To my family and I, Hank is remembered as a friend and a supporter – always generous, always kind. Professionally, Hank was a mentor to me – infusing wisdom, history, and thoughtfulness into all of our work together.

Among Hank’s many legacies, he was key in developing and overseeing Wyoming’s equitable funding model. This work transformed Wyoming education. Hank led the Senate Education Committee with a keen sense of the business that would keep Wyoming schools moving in the right direction. My heart goes out to Hank’s family today, and in the days to come.

Dear Superintendents,

Attached to this week’s memo, 2021-003, is the flyer pictured below. The flyer is printable – please consider sharing and displaying the flyer to promote completion of the survey by Wyoming families.

Wyoming Legislative Session

The 2021 legislative session kicked off this week for a one-day session. Here is Governor Gordon’s message. The session will reconvene January 27.

Memos to be released on Tuesday, January 19 (The WDE will observe Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 18):

Dear Superintendents,

There are several important updates from the federal level and two memos from our department. Welcome to 2021!

U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION

As you likely know U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, resigned. In her resignation letter, Secretary DeVos clearly expressed the reasons for resigning and outlined several successes during her tenure.

Looking forward, President-Elect Biden has nominated Dr. Miguel Cardona as his pick for U.S. Secretary of Education. Dr. Cardona is the current State Superintendent in Connecticut.

CARES II FUNDING FOR STATES

SCHOOL NUTRITION

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted nationwide waivers, through June 30, 2021, to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to COVID-19. These waivers relate to the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Seamless Summer Option, and the Summer Food Service Program.

I spent time with family over the holidays and took this photo of my great nieces and nephew at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens.

Memos to be released today:

• 2021-001-2021-District-Teachers-of-the-Year-PDF:
• 2021-002-Public-Comment-on-ESSA-Changes-PDF:

Dear Superintendents,

THERE WILL NOT BE AN UPDATE THIS WEEK. Enjoy the holidays.

U.S. DEPT OF EDUCATION TRANSITION

Earlier this week I, along with colleagues from other states, met virtually with the Biden transition team. During the meeting, convened by the Council for State School Officers (CCSSO), we discussed our top federal priorities for the coming year, including equity, assessment and accountability, broadband Internet access, school nutrition programs, and flexible federal funding to meet the needs of all students. 

COVID RELIEF

Relief package negotiations are moving swiftly in Congress. As of writing this update Congressional leadership continues to work on details for a bipartisan COVID relief package. Language of the bill has not been released yet and work will likely continue into the weekend and next week. It is probable that a new relief package for states will include funding for education.

NOTABLE READS

UW, Ellbogen Foundation Create Endowed Deanship in the College of Education

ISTE 2020: Expanding Computer Science…

Why More Families Need Afterschool Programs…

Wyoming students compete in the state We The People contest

Memos to be released today:

• 2020-186:   2021-22 & 2022-23 Alternative Schedule Requests
• 2020-187:   2020 PAEMST State Finalists
• 2020-188:   Release of 2019 Census Data for FY21 Title I, Part A Allocations

Dear Superintendents,

For several months I’ve been reading a blog authored by Mark Schneider, Director of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). He recently launched a project called Operation Reverse the Loss and his thoughts about how to address pandemic-related learning loss are compelling. Here is his latest blog post. In it, he noted that the OECD estimates that the United States will lose $30 trillion in net present value GDP if COVID-19-related learning losses are not overcome. Our efforts in Wyoming have never mattered more.

Holiday Tidbits

As in the past, WDE asked a Wyoming school to submit one student-created ornament to be displayed as part of the America Celebrates display at the United States White House. This year, an ornament made by a student at Wheatland’s West Elementary was selected. Here is a link to the lighting ceremony, ornaments from across the nation, and the 98 year history of the display.

Also, the United States Census Bureau published  Holiday Season Fun Facts which has a teacher’s guide and activities for every grade.

Lilah Knight’s ornament was selected and is displayed now at the White House

Ornaments made by other students at West Elementary in Wheatland

Computer Science Education Week Wrap-up

On Thursday, Governor Gordon proclaimed December 7-13 Computer Science Education Week.

Computer Science Education proclamation signing by Governor Gordon

Other News

• President Trump and Vice President Pence held the Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Summit. Here is a fact sheet about the impending vaccine against COVID-19. Wyoming Representative Landon Brown, who sits on the House Education Committee, attended the summit.
• The CDC issued an updated COVID-19 Toolkit for K-12 Schools this week.
• Congressional education leaders hope to reach a deal soon to simplify applying for student aid, a major priority for Lamar Alexander, the chairman of the Senate education committee, who is retiring shortly after the new year. Here is a related article Inside Higher Ed.

Memos to be released today:

• 2020-184:   Alternative Schedules – Chapter 21 Emergency Rules
• 2020-185:   DRIVE: Developing Rewarding Integrated Vocational Experiences

• 2020-183:   COVID-19 Update

Dear Superintendents,

Congratulations to Wyoming’s 2020 ESEA Distinguished Schools:

• Stagecoach Elementary School in Sweetwater #1 closed the achievement gap between 3rd and 4th grade students in reading and mathematics from spring 2018 to spring 2019.
• Shoshoni Elementary School in Fremont #24 demonstrated exceptional student performance and academic growth in reading from the 2016-2017 school year to the 2018-2019 school year.

Albany County Superintendent Jubal Yennie welcomes guests to break ground for the Slade Elementary rebuild

Memos to be released:

• 2020-176:   Hour of Code During Computer Science Education Week
• 2020-177:   Chapter 36 Requested Rules Changes – Public Comment
• 2020-178:   Computer Science Implementation Progress Survey
• 2020-179:   2019-20 Student-Level Graduation Data Verification Process
• 2020-180:   WDE 21stCCLC Waiver Approved
• 2020-181:   TeachUNITED Winter Virtual PD
• 2020-182:   2020 National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program

November 23, 2020

Dear Superintendents,

THERE ARE NO MEMOS THIS WEEK.

Governor Gordon signs a proclamation for National Adoption Month via Zoom this week.

Dear Superintendents,

November is National Native American Heritage Month. Native Americans enrich the history, diversity, culture, and future of our country, and of Wyoming.

In 2017 House Bill 76, Indian Education for All, passed the Wyoming Legislature and was signed into law. Soon after, work was underway to develop educational standards so that every student in Wyoming would have the opportunity to learn about the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes that have deep and ongoing roots in Wyoming. The standards are now complete and will be fully implemented across Wyoming next school year. In addition to standards Indian Education for All allows the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) to collaborate directly with tribal elders, leaders, educators, and others to develop a repository of instructional materials and resources. Education standards and the resource repository can be found here.  

Even before a law was enacted, many Wyoming educators were teaching their students about Native American history, culture, politics, and more. There are many ways to teach and learn during National Native American Heritage Month (or any month. Here are a few:

Basketball or Nothing (Netflix)

What Was Ours (Amazon Prime)

Miss Navajo (PBS documentary)

Native American Heritage Month – teacher resources

Direct Link to WDE Repository

In March 2017, then-Governor Matt Mead signed House Bill 76, Indian Education for All, into law.

On Veterans Day, November 11, we honored the men and women who served in the United States armed services. I recommend reading this inspiring story about Kendrick Lusk. He retired from the U.S. Army and began teaching high school. If you know a veteran or active service man or woman who might like to be a teacher, there are resources in Wyoming:

Troops to Teachers – Former Wyoming educator Bill Hardesty works directly with schools, higher ed, and veterans who want to become teachers.

University of Wyoming Veterans Services Center – Army veteran Marti Martinez works closely with veterans as they transition to campus and college life.

Slade Elementary Principal Heather Moro leads the Blue Ribbon Award assembly on Friday afternoon.

Slade Elementary and PODER Academy received awards for being National Blue Ribbon Schools. I had the opportunity to celebrate virtually with students and staff at Slade.

“[National] Blue Ribbon Schools show what’s possible when you focus on students and their achievement. Many of you show what’s possible when you’re forced to pivot and navigate uncharted circumstances — like during this COVID crisis — to keep learning going for all your students. We know that every child is unique. Different students in different places have different needs. We recognize different kinds of schools precisely because of this reality.”

— Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos

Memos to be released:

• 2020-172:   Educator Input for Mathematics Performance Standards

Today Charter Spectrum and Wyoming Ag In The Classroom celebrated their partnership. Charter Spectrum presented a $2,000 check to the organization, as well as Samsung tablets for teachers who implement the Wyoming Ag In the The Classroom curriculum.

The Wyoming Ag In the Classroom curriculum (for grades 2-5) was developed by Wyoming teachers. It is free and fully aligned to Wyoming science standards, and focuses on agriculture, energy, natural resources, and outdoor recreation. During the pandemic, the organization has built out the Wyoming Stewardship Project and developed a Family Learning Series.

Charter Spectrum has partnered with communities and entities in Wyoming and other states for several years to ensure students who receive free and reduced lunch have access to adequate internet access and devices.

Memos to be released: