2011-2012 Annual Report by South East Education Cooperative

Working to ENHANCE STUDENT LEARNINGâ&#x20AC;Ś by building RELATIONSHIPS that make all members stronger.

2011-2012 Annual Report

To read up on the details of A Year in Numbers, & More…

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2,032 attendees at SEEC sponsored events

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2,900 students impacted by SEEC student services

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15 hours spent by principals working at PAC meetings

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58 workshops offered this year

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33,096 approximate miles driven by SEEC staff

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3 overnighters by SEEC staff for grant writing

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We are one of eight regional education associations (REAs) in the state and serve nearly 1/3 of the students and teachers in North Dakota.

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We have offices in Fargo, Jamestown, Edgeley and Valley City

Programs, Workshops & What they’re saying .. 7

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We were established in July 2005

Beginning Teacher Network ................. 7

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Professional development is our major focus

Standards Based Strategies .................. 8

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We manage several grants including 21st Century Community Learning Centers , RTI/RTI-B, ELL, AmeriCorps SEECing Student Progress (SSP), Coordinated School Health, SEEC Beginning Teacher Network Grant

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We have six full-time staff

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SEEC e-Newsletter arrives every 3 weeks, and can also be found on our home page www.ndseec.com – check it out!

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SEEC Resource Library – instructional materials available for check-out. Some major topics include assessment, RTI, differentiated instruction, PLCs, using data, behavior

Table of Contents A Year in Numbers ............................................. 1

Quick Facts......................................................... 1

Letter from the Executive Director .................... 2

Who Makes up the SEEC.................................... 3

Financials & Grants Received ............................ 5

SEEC News ......................................................... 6

Response to Intervention ..................... 9 SEECing Student Progress ................... 10 21st CCLC ............................................ 10 NWEA MAP Matters ........................... 11 Coordinated School Health................. 11

Strategic Plan Highlights ................................. 12

2011-12 Workshops & Attendance ................. 13

Working to ENHANCE STUDENT LEARNING by building RELATIONSHIPS that make all members STRONGER

Dear Friends of the SEEC, I’m excited to send you an annual report and inform you of the various ways the SEEC continues to be a leader in supporting your schools through professional development, direct services, educational research and grant writing. I’m delighted to report that the SEEC has made great strides in our key strategic areas: 1) Professional Development; 2) Organizational Management; and 3) Student Services. Over the next few pages we will provide highlights from throughout the year in each of these key areas. As in previous years, we continue to see strong revenue growth through new partnerships, grants, direct services and adding member schools. The willingness of our staff to take on additional workload was a key factor in reducing our percentage of administration costs and staying within our budget guidelines despite the demand for more services. As we move into the next year, we will add staff to support the Common Core roll-out, Response-to-Intervention grant and the use of data in schools. I believe I can speak for our staff and myself in saying “thank you” for your trust and support in the SEEC. We look forward to working with you for many years to come. Sincerely yours,

Kyle Davison Executive Director

Staff Kyle Davison, Executive Director Amy Walters, Director of Student Services Jennifer Glasheen, Director of Teaching, Learning and Assessment Sandy Zahn, Director of Instructional Technology Deb Herman, Office Manager

www.ndseec.com/contactinformation

Jamie Peltier, Youth Development and Communication Coordinator

L-R: Deb, Amy, Jen, Kyle, Sandy, Jamie

2011-2012 Governing Board Jim Johnson*, Fargo —Region 1—Vice-Chairman Patti Stedman, West Fargo—Region 2 Larry Luick*, Fairmount —Region 3—Vice-Chairman Tim Herman*, Montpelier —Region 4—Chairman Dan Billing, Enderlin—Region 5 Ann Ueland, Central Cass – Region 6 Heidi Heim-Larson, Jamestown—Region 7 Meridee Erickson-Stowman, Maple Valley—Region 8 * Also serve on the Executive Committee

Other Executive Committee members Allen Burgad, Northern Cass—Region 6 Bob Toso, Jamestown—Region 7—Lead Administrator

2012-2013 Committee Updates Lead Administrator: Allen Burgad, Superintendent, Northern Cass Executive Committee Member: Mitch Carlson, Superintendent, LaMoure Region 3 Governing Board Member: Art Nelson, Wahpeton 3

Cooperating Members Member School Highlights 

Edgeley Public Schools, Myla Buckeye—National Awardee of the “Innovator in Education Challenge”

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Montpelier Public Schools—Top 5 Adventure to Fitness School in North Dakota

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Jamestown Public Schools, Cheryl McIntyre—selected for North Dakota’s National Federation of High School’s Outstanding Music Educator Award

North Dakota State University Valley City State University North Dakota State College of Science Valley City Area Teacher Center Sheyenne Valley Area CTE Center Southeast Region CTE Center South Valley Special Education Unit

Have exciting news at your school? Let us know!

New Schools 2011-2012 

Carrington Public Schools—Region 7

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Gackle-Streeter Public Schools—Region 7

New Schools 2012-2013 

Blessed John Paul II Catholic Schools Network— non-voting

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Oak Grove Lutheran Schools –non-voting

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Circle of Nations—non-voting

Member districts are shaded green. Districts may become members after approval of the Governing Board and payment of an annual fee. The value of membership typically exceeds the fee through the use of SEEC services.

Barnes County North Carrington Central Cass Edgeley Ellendale Enderlin Fairmount Fargo Fessenden-Bowdon Fort Ransom Gackle-Streeter Griggs County Central Hankinson Hope-Page Jamestown Kindred Kulm LaMoure Lidgerwood Lisbon Litchville-Marion Maple Valley Mapleton Medina Midkota Milnor Montpelier North Sargent Northern Cass Oakes Pingree-Buchanan Richland 44 Sargent Central Valley City Wahpeton West Fargo Wyndmere

Succeed 2020 The global energy company, Hess Corps, allocated more than 25 million dollars to the state of North Dakota to get our youth “ready”. The idea is to have all youth ready by the year 2020… hence the name of the initiative: Succeed 2020. Our grant writing team, composed of regional educators, masters of education, programming specialists and community partners, mapped out ways to prepare North Dakota youth for what comes after their secondary education. The SEEC proposal was chosen and funding began July 1, of our new fiscal year. The SEEC will coordinate activities of their local partners, focusing on three core strategies that are central to achieving the goal of Succeed 2020;

Financials & Grants Received Several grants related to emerging needs of our cooperative were pursued and received this year. (Strategic Goal 3A) Including: 

Succeed 2020 (see sidebar)

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Bullying Prevention Grant

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Teacher Support Grant (Beginning Teacher Network)

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Response to Intervention (renewed)

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AmeriCorps (renewed)

1. Ongoing college and career counseling and planning. Middle school students will understand and apply their interests to academics, while examining the connection between school and a happy and satisfying life. 2. Access to and success in rigorous academic and Career Technology Education programs. These transitions will focus on middle grades, high schools and transitions between levels of schooling, to help students become wellprepared for lifelong learning. Preparing for major academic transitions will prepare students for the hardest transition from high school to college or career. This kind of selfawareness will help students to realize their personal, economic, and civic futures. 3. Targeted and coordinated supports to help students, families, and communities succeed, even when faced with challenges. Regional Leadership Team Stacy Duffield, Jody Brekker, Bob Grosz, Louise Dardis, Randy Cale, Mitch Carlson, Rick Jacobson, Bob Toso, Anna Sell, Scott Strenge, Cory Steiner, John Porter, Lisa Stewart , Wayne Ulven, Kari Whipple, Melody Staebner, Carol Beaton, Tom Gravel, Allen Burgad, Jeff Bopp, Amy Walters, Kyle Davison, Jennifer Glasheen, Sandy Zahn, Jamie Peltier, Tim Herman, Rusty Papachek, Jayne Gust, Brad Bushaw 5

What aren’t we involved in? Not much. Here’s a list of other programs and projects we support through collaboration.

We have had a few big changes this year... 1. We moved!

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Marketplace for Kids

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Health, Tech, & Trades Career Expo

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Camp Invention

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BUSH Grant (Network for Excellence in Teaching (NExT)-Valley Partnership

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Cass Clay Healthy People Initiative

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ESTEEM Center

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Dolly Parton Imagination Library

We are now located at 1305 9th Ave. S , Fargo. 2. We’ve grown! 2011-2012 Carol Beaton. Carol comes to us as a retired chemistry teacher from South Fargo High, and coordinates the Beginning Teacher Network. Shelley Mansavage, is the 21CCLC Resource Coordinator. Shelley manages staff training and organizes the annual 21st Century training conference. Wayne Ulven retired from his post as Richland #44 superintendent last year and now works for SEEC as a consultant. Toni Haglund, started as the Teacher Center Assistant in fall 2011. 2012-2013 Michelyn Butler is the new SSP Literacy Coordinator & RTI Grant Coordinator. Michelyn received her doctorate in Child Psychology at Minnesota State University Moorhead in May 2012. Connie Molony, is the new English Language Arts (ELA) specialist. She will support schools in their implementation of the new common core standards in ELA. Erika Bartunek started as administrative assistant in August 2012. LoCasta Potter, a math teacher, was hired to support schools in their use of data and assessment. 6

As seen in A Year in Numbers, SEEC hosted 58 workshops in 2011-2012. Our staff manages more than ten grants, and works on many other projects. Here is a peak into some of what goes on within the South East Education Cooperative.

Beginning Teacher Network The Beginning Teacher Network provided new teachers with an opportunity for professional growth, collegial dialogue, support and guidance. 17 teachers from 9 districts with three years or less of experience, attended three full-day sessions with focused on three specific topics: 1. Classroom managements issues, working with parents as partners in the educational process; and active learning strategies 2. Quality assessment as part of the instructional process; pre-assessment and its importance; writing quality assessments; matching assessments to learning; and embedding formative assessment into instruction 3. Analyzing data from student work to drive instruction, and designing lessons to meet the needs of all learners while matching activities to learning standards Funded by a grant through the North Dakota Teacher Support System in conjunction with SEEC, these workshops provided opportunity for face-to-face collaboration among new teachers, the development of professional relationships, and time and resources to enhance implementation of effective instructional practices.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The beginning teacher network program was very beneficial to me in my first year of teaching. The sessions were very laid back and informal which made it easy to communicate and network. They helped me express ideas, try new methods of differentiation, and made me feel at ease because I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t alone. I also learned a lot about creating quality assessments and digging deeper into student scores.â&#x20AC;? 7

Standards-Based Instruction (SBI) Project: A Focus on the Common Core State Standards A multi-year plan has been developed by the SEEC Common Core Committee which includes activities that will increase capacity for leading change at the district, school and classroom level. Measures include:  increase school level implementation of standards-based instruction  develop an SEEC curriculum template for English Language Arts (ELA) and Math  develop an assessment item bank linked to Common Core State Standards (CCSS)  increase teacher knowledge and skill in effective instructional practices  increase student achievement in ELA and Math Leadership Development Workshops focused on Clarifying Expectations of the Common Core (Align, Assess, Achieve) and Leading Change (ND Lead) for school leaders. The first workshop was held on March 29, 2012 and over 100 school leaders from 38 of 40 SEEC districts, including 14 superintendents, 49 principals, 10 Directors/ Coordinators and 29 teachers attended. A Common Core “Toolkit” is being developed by the SBI Implementation Team to assist school leaders with communication and awareness-building. Common Core Training & Curriculum Writing Summer Institutes will occur during July and include up to three teacher leaders per district in both ELA and Math. The two-day common core training will strengthen teachers’ awareness and understanding of the CCSS in ELA and Math. This will be followed by a half-day of assessment training and a day and a half of collaborative assessment item writing and review. Development of curricular units and pacing guides may follow in the fall. The curricular units and assessment items will be stored electronically and shared with all SEEC schools. Access to this work will save teachers time, reflect the collective work of SEEC teachers, establish regional learning communities, and could facilitate the development and use of common assessments. This collaborative process will also use student data to inform teaching and learning. Teacher leaders that participate in the summer institutes will introduce the CCSS and the curriculum alignment process to their local district teachers for review and feedback. Additional training at the local level will include investigations and deeper study materials (CESA 7) through learning communities, professional development days and faculty meeting time throughout Year One. Year Two will focus on instructional strategies to ensure teachers have the tools and skills they need to meet diverse learning needs of all students. Year Three will focus on data team training. The process embedded in the SBI Project will be adjusted based on feedback and information from the teachers, teacher leaders and schools so that it can be continuously improved and replicated with other content areas (i.e., CCSS in Science, CCSS in Social Studies, art, music, CTE, etc.). While adoption will have to take place at the local level, it will be shared throughout our region and could be replicated statewide.

Response to Intervention Grant The goal of this project is to build capacity for effective implementation of evidence-based practices through training, coaching, and/or technical assistance. Over the course of this year, the SEEC has been working at the district, region and state levels investigating evidence-based interventions and implementation strategies to effectively impact student learning. We know that in order for all students to benefit, we must support both WHAT interventions have been selected and the implementation strategies that ensure HOW to do it. Students cannot benefit from innovations they do not experience.

Positioned as a conduit between the state and local districts, the SEEC provides leadership, advisement, and training at the state and district level, and assist schools in their implementation efforts. In collaboration with the state transformation team, state management team, second grantee/REA, districts, and individual school teams, the SEEC continues to participate in the development of the infrastructure or model needed for a cohesive, well communicated system of implementation that can be applied for any education innovation. To accomplish this, the SEEC will work to identify schools/districts that demonstrate readiness to scale-up a multi-tier system of supports (RTI) for academics and behavior. Team Training & Professional Development highlights:  RTI-Behavior Training Year 1 (4 days each) – West Fargo/Fargo cohort – 9 new schools, 89 participants Grand Forks cohort – 4 new schools, 32 participants 

2nd Annual ND RTI Conference – June 18-20, 2012 – over 360 participants from across North Dakota and into Minnesota. Nationally recognized experts Dr. Randy Sprick, Dr. Kevin Feldman and Dr. Anita Archer inspired and challenged. Regional and local practitioners shared lessons learned for effective implementation of structures, processes, interventions and instruction that meets the needs of all students.

“I was pleased to see presenters use school examples. They explained what the data was telling us and how to use it.” - RTI conference attendee

SEECing Student Progress Twenty AmeriCorps volunteers worked directly with students to impact their learning through two different models. AmeriCorps volunteers worked in 11 schools and 3 districts in the SEEC, and in four afterschool programs. Literacy Model Sixteen of the volunteers worked one-on-one with more than 300 students in kindergarten through fifth grade to improve their reading using data driven literacy interventions. The interventions focus on different aspects of reading such as comprehension, fluency, word blending and more. Approximately 89% reached their target reading goal and were successfully exited from the program. Homework Model Four volunteers worked in afterschool programs in Jamestown, assisting on homework completion either in small groups of children, or one-on-one. More than 100 children were impacted by AmeriCorps members. It was reported by their classroom teachers that 83% of these students had improved conduct and homework scores.

21st Century Community Learning Centers Afterschool Program Summer and Afterschool program focused on program goals identified in 2010-2011. Character development curriculum was increased, with a specific discussions on bullying called “Bully Busters”. At over half of the sites, regular attendance increased, as did math and reading scores. Several family night events were hosted throughout the region including Lights On Afterschool, Holiday celebrations and summer time Theater events. In January several sights rented Ipads from Mayville State to enhance their daily lessons.

21st Century Conference Nearly 100 21st Century staff attended the two-day Summer Conference held in Bismarck last August. Presenters included national speakers Mike and Chelsea Ashcraft from Children’s Choice and Jennifer Kobrin from Foundations, Inc. They presented on topics including: Involving Families, Sneaking in Science, Linking to the School Day and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

MAP Matters—NWEA Held September 20, 2011 at the Ramada Plaza Suites in Fargo, the 5th Annual Map Matters reached 22 of the SEEC school districts and had record attendance with 119 educators from across the region. The day was broken up into a morning session and an afternoon session. All breakouts were hands-on, creative and involved. The sessions were lead by NWEA representatives Les Perry, Patrick Dugan and Theresa Hawkins. Topics covered at MAP Matters include:      

Evaluating Growth Patterns Differentiated Instruction MAP Basics/Primary Basics Goal Setting and Communication Instructional Ladders Viewpoint

Coordinated School Health Coordinated School Health is a systematic approach that links families, communities and schools with a health focused lifestyle. Eight interactive components work together to promote lifelong positive health of youth, to limit social risk behaviors, and to increase and maintain academic success and healthy habits. These eight critical components are; health education, physical education, health services, nutrition services, counseling, psychological, and social services, healthy school environment, health promotion for staff, and family and community involvement. The Coordinated School Health (CSH) program began the school year off with a BANG by hosting Dr. JoAnne OwensNausler at the School Wellness Summit for Administrators. Over 85 attendees spent the day learning about the importance of incorporating physical activity into the school day and offering healthy food choices to students. A follow up Summit was held in April for school wellness committees to develop action plans to increase student physical activity and healthy food choices. CSH also facilitated a group of 25 health education instructors through the process of curriculum development and assessment writing. This group, with representatives from many school districts, utilized the Synthesis Tool to capture the work completed over the course of the school year and will now have access to the Health Curriculum by simply logging on to the internet. Throughout the summer we have been busy working with school food service staff to meet the new guidelines for school meals. If your district is interested in learning more about the CSH program contact Amy Walters.

Thoughts from a new district It has been a pleasure to be a “new member” of the SEEC. As a rural school district the support has been invaluable. With new initiatives like Common Core State Standards there is definitely a benefit to being a part of a larger entity. The tasks for training, and aligning curriculum and practices, becomes a more manageable undertaking when professionals with much in common come together in the development stages. The membership provides opportunities to collaborate rather than reinventing the wheel and expending valuable resources doing so. We look forward to continuing this cooperative and the things to come. Juanita Short Elementary Principal Carrington Elementary School

Organizational Management     

Increased the number of hits to our SEEC website from 44,589 in 2010-2011, to 62,631 in 2011-2012. Increased the percentage of people opening our newsletter from 23% in 2010-2011 to over 40% in 2011-2012. Held out first regional meeting in Wahpeton, Lisbon, Valley City and Fargo. Moved into our new SEEC offices in February 2012. Received over 700,000 in new grant awards for 2011-2012 school year.

Professional Development     

Developed and began implementing a SEEC Regional plan for introducing the common core standards to all SEEC schools. Formed three new partnerships with United Way, ESTEEM and Edgeley Public Schools. Increased the number of school utilizing the synthesis tool. Created implementation teams to roll out new professional development. Increased viewpoint users.

Student Services   

Increased number of online students taking dual credit classes Developed preliminary plans for Regional Career and Technology Education (CTE) Virtual Center Continued support for 21st Century Community Learning Center’s afterschool programs, Camp Invention, and the Health, Teach and Trades Career Expo. 12

Month/Year

Name

Attendees

7/2011

PLC Institute

8/2011

21st Century Community Learning Centers Conference

8/2011

AIMSweb Workshops

8/2011

Basic Viewpoint Training

109

9/2011

RTI B Training Day 2—Grand Forks & Fargo/West Fargo

9/2011

MAP Matters

118

9/2011

SEEC Beginning Teacher Network Session 1

10/2011

Viewpoint

10/2011

Health Education Curriculum Development Session 1

10/2011

PAC Meeting

10/2011

Wellness Policy Implementation for Principals

10/2011

We’ve Been Framed! Advertising Secrets that Build

10/2011

NWEA Training

11/2011

Beginning Teacher Network Session 2

11/2011

PIPEline Workshop K-12 PE Assessment Strategies

11/2011

Administrator’s Meeting

11/2011

Leadership for Learning Series

11/2011

RTI B Team Training Day 3–Grand Forks & Fargo/West Fargo

11/2011

Health Education Curriculum Development Session 2

11/2011

PAC Meeting Collaboration Day

12/2011

Viewpoint System Trainings

1/2012

PAC Meeting

1/2012

Administrators Meeting

1/2012

Bullying Grant Meeting

1/2012

Viewpoint Training

1/2012

Beginning Teacher Network

2/2012

Health Education Curriculum Development Session 3

2/2012

User-Viewpoint Conference

Month/Year

Name

Attendees

3/2012

PAC Meeting

3/2012

On-Site Viewpoint Training

3/2012

Administrator Meeting

3/2012

Clarifying the Common Core State Standards

4/2012

School Wellness Summit

4/2012

RTI B Training Day 4â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Grand Forks & Fargo/West Fargo

4/2012

Health Education Curriculum Development Workshop Session 4 16

4/2012

Beginning Teacher Network Session 3

4/2012

Leading Change: Strategy Implementation

5/2012

Health Education Curriculum Development Session 5

5/2012

Administrator Meeting

6/2012

Be Fit 2 Learn

6/2012

RTI Conference

387

6/2012

Create a Great Plate: New Meal Pattern Menu Writing

Want more information on Professional Development through SEEC and our partners? Visit www.ndseec.com/pd

Agassiz 1305 9th Ave. S Fargo ND.

Go to www.NDSEEC.com for links