THIS Is What We're Talking About

On Wednesday the state DPI (Department of Public Instruction) issued a news release that,

Wisconsin School of Recognition awards go to 154 schools

22 schools have received award five or more consecutive years

http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/eis/pdf/dpinr2010_108.pdf

Oh, we're sorry...did you think we were suggesting that Sun Prairie is one of the 154?
Ummmmmm..NO.


So...about 20% (80) of the state's school districts were recognized for one or more schools.
How did Districts of similar size to ours fare, you ask?
8 out of the 20 districts most similar in size to Sun Prairie have schools that are being recognized:

Beloit (3 schools), Fond du Lac (1), La Crosse (3), Stevens Point (1), Superior (1), Wausau (2), West Allis (3), and Wisconsin Rapids(1).

Schools throughout Wisconsin will be starting the 2010-11 academic year receiving honors for their success in educating students from low-income families, said State Superintendent Tony Evers as he announced 154 Wisconsin School of Recognition awards.

“These schools are committed to forging partnerships among teachers, parents, administrators, other school staff members, and the community to create an educational environment that supports children’s learning,” Evers said. “This award honors success and sets a tone for the 2010-11 school year: to start strong and accomplish even more progress in educating our students.”

Yeah?  So what.  We have a brand spanking new Taj Mah HighSchool.  It's not about how you perform...it's about how you look.  And we've got the look, yo.
Didn't someone once say that it's not about the brick and mortar?

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to Sun Prairie High School senior Jennifer Anderson for being named a 2009 Wisconsin All-State Scholar and recipient of a Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship.

Sun Prairie has had a rather lengthy drought from having a student achieve this honor. Certainly we haven't had a winner in at least the past 3 years. The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) offers this information about the All-State Scholars Program:

Wisconsin All-State Scholars Program
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Wisconsin State Journal, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, and the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators' Foundation for Educational Administration annually sponsor the Wisconsin All-State Scholars/Robert C. Byrd Scholarship Program. This recognition program was begun in 1986 (the Robert C. Byrd scholarship was added in 1987) and has been an outstanding success each year. Each year over 500 high school senior students are nominated by their principals to be named All-State Scholars. Every nominee receives a beautiful certificate and statewide publicity in a special Sunday supplement in the Wisconsin State Journal. Over one hundred students traditionally receive scholarships.

Wisconsin All-State Scholars/Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship recipients are chosen by a committee of school administrators with equal representation from each congressional district. Recipients are chosen based on their overall grade point averages and ACT/SAT test score. Pending full funding at the federal level, Byrd scholarships may provide a scholarship of $1,500 per year for up to four years. The student may use this scholarship at any post-secondary educational institution in the United States.

2009 all-state scholars

Not only is Ms. Anderson a fine scholar, but a little birdie tells us that she is also an accomplished martial artist, holding a 2nd degree black belt. Congratulations Jennifer and SPHS!

THIS is what it's all about...

In the end, folks, this is what it's all about:

Patrick Marsh Middle School reading specialist Sandra Kowalczyk has been named Wisconsin’s Middle School Teacher of the Year. Only 100 Wisconsin teachers received the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Fellowship Award for 2008. But only ONE of those 100, Ms. Kowalczyk ,was named Wisconsin’s Middle School Teacher of the Year. She is indeed the best of the best.

...and she did it by teaching.
Congratulations to Ms. Kowalczyk for just doing it.

Some of the highlights of her work:

• Her inclusion of international experiences in the curriculum has excited and engaged students in reading as well as in global literacy.
• Her “Wear in the World,” program , combining art, reading, writing, and geography, received a Bridge to Understanding Award from the United States Board on Books for Young People.
• Her “Breakfast with Books” program, supported by the Sun Prairie Education Foundation focused on reading achievement of at-risk students and students of color by involving them in book talks and other literature-related activities while enjoying nutritious breakfasts.

How Does This Affect Student Achievement?

...is on the back of each school board member's nameplate at each school board meeting. They like to think that it is THEIR actions that affect student outcomes. But they're wrong. Quietly, without fanfare, Ms. Kowalczyk delivered. She didn't pontificate. She did it without a soapbox. She used her own creativity to inspire kids to read and learn. We are correct to focus on reading, because reading opens so many doors to learning. But talking about it and doing it are quite different things. While others "talked the talk", Sandra Kowalczyk has been walking the walk.

Our hats are off to Ms. Kowalczyk. Many schools and schools districts produce educational "buds", but Ms. Kowalczyk nurtured her "buds" until they blossomed brilliantly. And for that she has earned this most distinctive honor. Her efforts are a shining bright light on Sun Prairie, and serve as a model for what can be achieved.

School board members....get your pens and pencils out and take note. THIS is how you affect student achievement. In the trenches. Working directly with the students. In a classroom, not a board room. Using innovation, creativity, and thinking outside the box. You could learn a lesson here.

Its not about constructing palatial buildings, or arranging administrative meetings over lunch so you can buy pizza on the taxpayer's dime. It's not about boondoggle retreats. It's not about boneheaded boundary decisions. It's not about $400 steak dinners (although Dr. Culver should use some of his $425/month "miscellaneous income" and buy Ms. Kowalczyk a $50 steak dinner--this one is worth it).

It's about good teachers. And this one is a gem.

Sun Prairie Today.com article

On the Sun Prairie Area School District website