A Day in the Life of a Superintendent

Sometimes visiting schools happens faster than I can post to the blog. To give you an idea of what my day is like, and to share about some of our valued partners inside and outside of Highline Public Schools, I present: A day in the life of a superintendent. *Disclaimer: It's not all school and community visits every day - I wish!. I attend a lot of meetings, too, but those aren't nearly as interesting. ;-)

Highline Community College

For me, Wednesday, October 26th started out at Highline Community College at one of their community breakfast gatherings. This one was special, as HCC is celebrating its 50th Anniversary! Congratulations HCC!

They HCC staff included some trivia to mark the special occasion. Do you know where HCC started? On the campus of Glacier H.S. Which languages were first offered at HCC? French, German, and...Russian. (Never would have guessed that.) There are many more tidbits at a special website for HCC's 50th Anniversary.

It was great getting to learn about the programs at HCC today. Highline is the most diverse community college in the state of Washington and even in these tough times is working to meet the needs of the student body and the community. I sat next to an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher who is helping adults of all ages broaden their opportunities. Presentations highlighted the MESA (Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement) program, which serves underrepresented populations in these fields, and Gateway to College, which is run in partnership with the school district and allows credit deficient 16 to 21 year old students to earn a high school diploma at the college.

Recently, I also attended a math transition summit with HCC president, Dr. Jack Birmingham. The goal is to enable more students to enter college level math courses in their first year. Students taking pre-college level courses end up paying for credits that don't count toward their AA degree. I look forward to working with HCC more on this and other projects in the future!

Highline Community College, enhanced by art and foliage

Dr. Jeff Wagnitz addresses community leaders celebrating HCC's 50th Anniversary

With Dr. Jack Birmingham, President of Highline Community College

New Start High School

My next stop was the New Start Brag Day assembly. New Start is a valuable high school option that combines high school content, case management, and credit recovery options. Originally formed in partnership with King County, New Start is a well regarded opportunity for many students who for whatever reason didn't connect with a previous high school. Budget cuts at the county level have affected the New Start program over the years, but the need New Start addresses continues to make it an attractive program. Enrollment is now in the neighborhood of 120 students, double the enrollment several years ago, and yet there continues to be a waiting list for New Start.

I was invited to attend the monthly "Brag Day" assembly. It was so cool! As a small school, all students fit intimately in the Salmon Creek site cafeteria for the 30 minute barrage of recognition and awards. Students were commended for high grade point averages, perfect attendance, and a variety of other accomplishments. I've visited some national models of small, alternative high schools, and I'm proud to report that New Start's emphasis on celebration and esprit de corps would rival any of them.



New Start has made the former Salmon Creek Elementary home



Counselor Andrea Love addresses the school to open the Brag Day assembly



Mr. Taylor hands certificates of achievement to students


Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence

While back in the office, I squeezed in a meeting with Ashley Fosberg from the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence, Bernie Dorsey from the Highline School Board, and communications director Catherine Carbone Rogers to advise the Foundation on their first Symposium.

Let me give a quick plug! The Foundation is starting a series of symposiums to promote discussion of issues affecting children. The first one will be the presentation of a movie titled Race to Nowhere, which highlights the over scheduling of many students in this day in age. The short movie will be followed by a discussion moderated by parenting educator Jan Faull. Whether you are a parent or staff member, I recommend that you attend!

Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence Presents: Race to Nowhere
Thursday, November 17th, 7:00 P.M.
Mount Rainier H.S.
More information about Race to Nowhere and tickets are available on-line here 


New Futures

Have you heard of New Futures? If not, let me tell you a little bit about them. New Futures was founded in 1993 by teachers at Hazel Valley Elementary School to provide after-school tutoring to students in apartment complexes. Today, New Futures operates four sites at Arbor Heights in White Center, The Heights at Burien, Windsor Heights in SeaTac, and Woodridge Park in Boulevard Park.

I visited the site at The Heights and was struck by a familiar feeling, as my family lived in a large apartment complex from when I was six until after I had graduated college. The Heights is huge and I wandered the campus for a few minutes before Jenn Ramirez Robson met me. Jenn is the interim executive director of New Futures and the organization is very fortunate to have had her on the board ready to take over when the executive director position became open.

The Heights provides New Futures with an entire fourplex of apartments from which to operate. Each has a familiar apartment feel of a kitchen, living room, and bedrooms, and yet is transformed into a combination school, computer lab, cafeteria, and study hall. One apartment serves as the program office and the other three are dedicated to young children, elementary aged children, and secondary aged children.

I was impressed by many things on my short visit. Among them were the quality of the tutors, including a college aged student who is able to work with high school students on subjects such as biology, and the computer lab, which allows students to access the same adaptive math software that students work on during the day at Seahurst Elementary. In fact, Seahurst Principal Chris Larsen and Sylvester Principal Vicki Fisher have both worked closely with New Futures over the years to coordinate learning experiences.

New Futures is mostly privately funded, and if you're so inclined, I recommend you visit their website to get involved!



New Futures serves students at The Heights and three other apartment complexes



With New Futures leader Jenn Ramirez Robson (left), site staffer Anna Raksany, and New Futures high school students

  

A garden for New Futures students was recently donated by a generous community member


School Board Meeting at Cedarhurst Elementary

Our board values its schools and the community, so board meetings are held at schools on the fourth Wednesday of the month. In October, we went to Cedarhurst Elementary, a gorgeous school in North Burien. You may recall that I taught at Cedarhurst in the mid-90s in my first day of school post.

The best part of the night was before the board meeting even started, as the Cedarhurst choir was performing in the main hall. As a former music teacher, I had to interrupt in between songs to commend the choir on their performance. They were singing difficult music for such and early point in the school year, and I told them, "You sing in tune, which makes me happy." Truly, music teachers Bianca Smith and Stefan Nelson are doing a wonderful job.

The board meeting itself was relatively uneventful, save the school presentation. Principal Bobbi Giammona make a fantastic presentation about the academics of the school and student speakers stole the show. The main action by the board was to approve the refinancing of $38 million of school construction bonds from 2004. Think of it like refinancing your home to save some money on your mortgage - if you lived in Bill Gates' neighborhood!

The Cedarhurst Elementary choir, directed by Ms. Bianca Smith

Principal Bobbi Giammona addresses the Highline School Board

Thanks to our five School Board members: President Sili Savusa, Vice President Angelica Alvarez, Bernie Dorsey, Sue Goding, and Michael Spear. The board is a volunteer position and our board spends a tremendous amount of time attending meetings, researching education topics, and meeting with staff and community members. All of our board members work a "day job" in addition to their service on the board, making for some long days. Their dedication on behalf of our students and community is commendable.

Back to My Roots: The First Day of School at Hazel Valley, Cedarhurst, Hilltop, Valley View, and Midway

The first day of school is one of my favorite days. Yesterday, I stopped for gas on my way to work and couldn't help but notice the kids walking to Highline High School. They had a little more purpose in their posture. They wore clothes that seemed intentionally chosen for annual first impressions. There was palpable energy, even if mixed with a little bit of nerves. That's what the first day of school is all about. For me, it's one of the best days of the year.

For the first day of school, which also was my first official day as interim superintendent, I decided to visit the five schools I taught at in Highline as a young instrumental music teacher.

Hazel Valley Elementary

I planned my day as a big loop from one school to the next, not unlike in the mid-90s, when I packed my trombone and box of music supplies in the trunk of my 1991 Ford Taurus with a rebuilt transmission. First up was Hazel Valley.



Hazel Valley custodian Amin Shibly keeps the school looking better than new



Let me just say, Hazel Valley is a drop dead gorgeous school. It looks as good as when it opened, maybe better. When I taught there, it was the old brick schoolhouse. While I miss the wood covered floors and classic look of the old school, I don't miss walking across the dirt and gravel parking lot to our cramped music portable classroom.



Left to Right: Isuzu Niizuma, Jenny Chilson, and Johnathan Letcher



But a school is about people, not the bricks and mortar. At Hazel Valley, I met many folks. One joy was meeting Jenny Chilson and Isuzu Niizuma in the community room. Jenny is with the PTA and Isuzu is a former parent now working for the school, employing her bilingual skills to assist families. 





With the always dapper Principal Johnathan Letcher



Principal Johnathan Letcher took me on a tour of several classrooms. This was during the first hour of the new school year. We got to see little ones in Kristy Stuard and Chris Soetha's classes learning to wash hands efficiently and effectively and we visited Megan Parnell and Betty Minckler's Integrated Learning Center classes (ILCs). The ILCs hit the ground running with teaching on day one, and several student engaged in instructional computer programs. 

Thanks to Principal Letcher and the staff and students of Hazel Valley for letting me join them at the very beginning of their new school year.

Cedarhurst Elementary

Left to right: Janis Dingwall, Harmony Keane, and Jeana Ragghianti 

Next, I headed east on 128th across to Cedarhurst Elementary. While this, too, is a new school, I was greeted by familiar faces in the office, including Janis Dingwall, whose son Eric played drums in my band. She proudly informed me that Eric is now a graduate of WSU. Soon after, I saw Patti Shane, and her son is getting married. Not to make me feel old or anything. :-)



With Principal Bobbi Giammona (right) and AP Casey Jeannot (left)



Principal Bobbi Giammona led me on a tour of the school. One thing I learned is that the school is trying "recess before lunch."  There is research that suggests not only is it better to exercise before eating, but we don't want kids rushing through their lunch in anticipation of recess. There are some challenges to this new routine, too, but it's worth trying a new practice if it helps kids be healthy.

I loved getting into classrooms and meeting the students of Cedarhurst. One 3rd grade student instantly recognized new assistant principal Casey Jeannot, as they both were at Hilltop last year. It was a good reminder of the importance of connections with students, especially for students at a new school.

With a student explaining his reader's notebook

Just a couple of hours into the new school year, I saw lots of learning going on. Students were journaling about their reading, gathered in the library to read, and just plain reading. Eight years ago, we actually had to track which schools started reading on the first day of school. Now, the first day is academic from day one, a tribute to the hard work and focus of staff.

What was striking at Cedarhurst was campus spirit. Principal Giammona handed "Paw Pride" to classes who were walking the halls with, well, pride.



With Jackie Faundez, one of our bilingual tutors when I was at Beverly Park



Thanks to Cedarhurst for letting me back in to enjoy the first day of school.

Hilltop Elementary

Back on 128th, I drove past the old Boulevard Park site. It was a decaying old school building when I was teaching. Now, it's a beautiful SeaTac park. While I'm glad I know the history of the Boulevard Park school, it's a good reminder to look to the future, and not the past.



Hilltop students heading out in their new uniforms



What's new at Hilltop this year? School uniforms. Parents voted to have uniforms by a margin of 85% in favor. The school joins Madrona and Midway with uniforms. McMicken Heights also added uniforms this year. Hilltop's uniforms are dark blue, light blue, or white shirts with khaki or blue pants.

Teacher Martha Gibson was one of many to share with me how proud students are of the new look. Principal Rick Wisen told me this has been one of the smoothest starts to the school year ever.



In Joleen Cross' classroom with Principal Rick Wisen



Instructionally, classes were already dialed in. We visted several classrooms, including those of Carolyn Koziol, Lynette Noyes, and Greg Martin, and the teaching and learning never stopped.  It's a good sign when the students don't even notice me - as hard as that might seem to believe!



I also met Linnell Pitt, a student teacher from UW who is learning from Hilltop teacher Joleen Cross. These kinds of relationships are mutually beneficial, and every year we are able to hire many bright young teachers who have interned in our classrooms.



UW student teacher Linelle Pitt works with a student



With its new blue and white look, Hilltop is off to a great start!

Valley View Early Learning Center

I didn't spend much time at Valley View. Why? They don't have any students yet. Their four year olds in the ECEAP program start September 19th and their Special Education program for 3 and 4 year olds starts the 12th. In the meantime, staff is getting ready and some are in kindergarten classrooms finishing the transition of their former students. I promised Valley View's administrator Annah Petersen-Benitez that I'll be back when students are there.

Of course, Valley View was once an elemenary school. It was a spirited place that I remember fondly. I remember the old principal, Jan Tietz, and some of the staff, including Michael Thorson, Carlyn Roedell, and Ginnie Brossard (among too many to name).



In my old Valley View classroom with Candy Grant (left) and Kelsey Sikma



Of the five schools I taught in, Valley View is the only one where my actual classroom still exists. I used to share it with Colleen Thomas, who now teaches music at North Hill Elementary. When I dropped in, I found that it is now a special education classroom and much to my surprise, one of the staff members who uses it is Candy Grant, parent of former music students of mine at Hazel Valley! What a small world, and a delightful surprise.

Midway Elementary

Last but not least, my first day tour took me to Midway. I have so many pleasant memories of teaching at Midway, which was an intermediate school when I taught there from 1994 to 1997. Intermediate schools had only grades 4-6, which provided lots of students to join the band program, and supportive teachers like Theresa Duhamel and Keitha Bryson encouraged students to try an instrument. Unbelieveably, we had more than 100 students in the band program at that time.



With Midway 6th grade students



The Midway of today is a different place, both in terms of the community composition and the academic focus of the school. In the recently released test state test scores, Midway made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on their significant improvement. Staff celebrated with a flash mob dance and I'm sorry I missed it!



With second year Midway Principal Rebekah Kim



I met Principal Rebekah Kim in the lunchroom at the end of 6th grade lunch and we visited a few classrooms. One class I specifically asked to visit was Franli Newman's 6th grade class. Franli is the daugther of Z.Z. Newman, who works in the Family Center at the district office. Sixth graders beware...Ms. Newman was giving a spelling test on the first day of school! Summer's over, kids. :-)



Franli Newman administers a spelling test to her 6th grade class



As I had seen all day, students were engaged in learning. There was a time when the first day of school was all about orientation and relationship building, but no more. Those things happen, but we hit the ground running.

Before leaving, Principal Kim showed me a mobile cart that carries netbook computers. We purchased hundreds of netbooks over the summer to support our new adaptive math program. They are cost effective ways to get computers into the hands of more students, and kids love them. More importantly, our computer adaptive math program pilots are showing results, as our district growth in math exceeded growth statewide in every MSP grade level!



Thanks again to Rebekah and all of my accommodating hosts on the first day of school!