Pullman School District
6 Pullman Community Update
December 2016
Pullman Public Schools 2016 Education Showcase November was “Focus on Education” month in Washington State. In an effort to show off our fantastic facilities, programs, and staff, and highlight the challenges facing public education, we hosted community leaders for an “Education Showcase”. Guests toured several schools, met principals and staff, observed instruction, and heard firsthand about our facility and staffing needs.
Pullman Schools hired a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) specialist teacher at the start of the 2016-2017 school year. All elementary students attend an ageappropriate STEM lesson every other week. Guests observed a class of students hard at work building a city in Ms. Harbour’s STEM class.
Guests watch technology in action in the classroom of LMS teacher Deni Claypool. Students used Chromebooks to participate in a lively online quiz about the correct usage of apostrophes.
Pullman High School Principal Erik Heinz shows off the new shop space at PHS
Guests tour the fantastic new broadcasting space at Pullman High School. Broadcasting and video courses are just some of the diverse CTE (Career and Technical Education) opportunities for students at Pullman High School. Mayor Glenn Johnson, and other guests, heard from Sunnyside Elementary Principal Pam Brantner about the teacher shortage crisis facing our schools, especially in the area of special education.
Sunnyside teacher Alyson Koerner shares her story of transitioning from 3rd grade teacher to special education teacher this year. When the district was unable to recruit a qualified special education teacher for Sunnyside Elementary, Ms. Koerner stepped up to fill the role. With the qualifications and a heart for serving students, she saw a need she could fill, and took on the special education position 3 days into the school year. It is teachers like Ms. Koerner that make Pullman Public Schools great.
Superintendent Bob Maxwell closed the showcase with a presentation of the challenges we face in public education, and how we can advocate for our schools. Our priorities, as a district and as we speak with our legislators, include: Equity, Effective and high-quality professionals in every classroom, and ample funding.
Please contact your local legislators to let them know that public schools are a priority in the State of Washington. If you have questions about how you can support and advocate for your schools, please contact the district office at sfocht@psd267.org or 509-332-3581. How to contact local legislators: Representative Mary Dye: 432 John L. O'Brien Building P.O. Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600 (360) 786-7942 mary.dye@leg.wa.gov
Representative Joe Schmick 426B Legislative Building P.O. Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600 (360) 786-7844 joe.schmick@leg.wa.gov
Special thanks to Brandon Chapman, from the WSU College of Education, for photos.
Senator Mark Schoesler 307 Legislative Building PO Box 40409 Olympia, WA 98504 360.786.7620 mark.schoesler@leg.wa.gov