During the Aug. 24 NCSD (Niobrara County School District) school board meeting a brief discussion was held about last week’s teachers’ in-service training that was held.

In preparation of the 2009-10 school year, teachers attended an intense training that involved learning new teaching techniques and how to positively hold each accountable. NCHS teachers had a training session on ‘My Access’ computer program. The program is designed to navigate easier and use a variety of instructions. It provides online assessment and automated essay scoring tools. This will help to enhance high school student writing.

The most praised in-service by both NHCS principal Stuart Larson and LEMS principal Mike Estes was the ‘Quantum Learning’ training. LEMS teacher Lisa Pischel and Estes were instrumental in bringing these five sessions training to the district. Teachers completed the first two of the five sessions and according to Estes the teachers were enthusiastic about completing the other three sessions.

According to the Quantum Learning education website, Quantum Learning is a powerful and engaging teaching and learning methodology that integrates best educational practices into a unified whole. “This well be my 22nd year in Niobrara County, first as the high school principal and later as the superintendent and I don’t believe I’ve ever seen better days of work in-service training,” Superintendent Rick Luchsinger said. “The things that the teachers learned were phenomenal. I thought it was excellent, everyone enjoyed and I think it’s going to show great things for us.”

The PAWS (Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students is an assessment system developed by the Wyoming Department of Education. This primarily to give information on student growth and performance including reading, writing, math and science. Estes and Luchsinger reported that third and fifth grade students and sixth through eighth grade students results were below average. After a brief discussion both Estes and Luchsinger assured the school board that the by next years PAWS testing student writing will be up.

Participation of home school children in school activities was discussed. The board had some concern about the eligibility of home schoolers participating in school activities such as sports and other extracurricular activities. In order to keep the same standards for all students they will be requiring that all home schooled children complete an annual final achievement test each spring to ensure that the home school children grades are high enough to be able to participate in school activities.

All students are required to have a passing grade point average in order to participate in school activities. This includes home schooled children as well. The board will be discussing this matter further with implementing a new policy.

Luchsinger gave an update about the virtual school academy there are over 200 students that have been enrolled with two students from Niobrara county that are enrolled. There will be three more teachers that will be hired for the online academy.

The next school board meeting will be held Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. at the school district office.



For the complete article see the 08-26-2009 issue.

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