NNER Setting Annual Report
2014
Please return to Ann Foster at
by January 19, 2015
Setting Name Wyoming School-University Partnership
Setting Contacts—please include names, e-mail addresses, institution affiliation,and roles for each
Setting NNER partnership Contact
Audrey Kleinsasser, Director
Wyoming School-University Partnership
1000 East University Avenue, Department 3374
Laramie, WY 82071
307.766.6358 (office)
307.766.3792 (fax)
Michael Day, Interim Dean
College of Education, University of Wyoming
1000 East University Avenue, Department 3374
Laramie, WY 82071
307.766.3145 (office)
307.766.6668 (fax)
Setting Governing Council Representative if different from above
Diana Clapp, Partnership Chair and Superintendent
Fremont County School District #6
223 North Cherry Street
P.O. Box 10
Pavillion, WY 82523-0010
307.856.7970 x1 (office)
307.856.3385 (fax)
Setting Tripartite Council Arts and Science Representative
Audrey Shalinsky, Professor of Anthropology, and
Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Avenue, Department 3254
Laramie, WY 82071
307.766.4106 (office)
307.766.2697 (fax)
Setting Tripartite Council Education Representative
Leslie Rush, Associate Dean/Professor, Office of Teacher Education
University of Wyoming
1000 East University Avenue, Department 3374
Laramie, WY 82071
307.766.2163 (office)
307.766.2018 (fax)
Setting Tripartite Council P-12 Representative
Diana Clapp, Partnership Chair and Superintendent
Fremont County School District #6
223 North Cherry Street
P.O. Box 10
Pavillion, WY 82523-0010
307.856.7970 x1 (office)
307.856.3385 (fax)
2014 has been a year of loss for the NNER with the passing of our respected leader whosevision for school-university partnerships renewed schooling and teacher preparation. To keep us grounded in his work and to remind us that we must forward this work in new contexts for new generations we are asking that each setting’s report include an addendum with reflections on John Goodlad and your setting. Recollections of his insightful observations, examples of how he motivated change and renewal, and moments that were definitively John would be appreciated. The addendum may be added after the 3-5 page annual report as described in the template below.
Thisannual report template includes three points of emphasis to enter the information from your setting. The report should be approximately 3 to 5 single-spaced pages that address the setting’s current work to advance the NNER mission.
Emphasis Area 1: DESCRIBE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES INCLUDING PROJECTS, INITIATIVES, AND ACTIONS THAT ADVANCE SIMULTANEOUS RENEWAL ACROSS INSTITUTIONS, DEPARTMENTS, OR OTHER GROUPS. Collaborative grants, reciprocal professional development, partner school and/or community partnerships, and collaborative policy workthat advance the mission serve as examples. Provide detailed information that will help colleagues learn from your successes and include descriptions of challenges.
Successes:
Will co-host 2015 NNER Summer Symposium and Wyoming site renewal
In the fall of 2014, the Wyoming School-University Partnership submitted a request to be a co-host for the 2015 NNER Summer Symposium. The Partnership also requested a pre-symposium day for Wyoming site renewal and as a recruitment tool for the NNER. The summer symposium will be June 26-29, 2015, in Laramie. The pre-symposium will be on June 25. Updates will be available on the Partnership website,
Reaching Wyoming Educators
Over 850 educators, administrators, and students from K-12, Wyoming Community Colleges, and the University of Wyoming participated in Partnership coordinated and co-sponsored events.
Lost in Transition: High School to Higher Education Initiative
This initiative is approaching its ten year anniversary. Lost in Transition continues to provide an avenue of respectful sharing among colleagues at the high school, community college, and university level. These convenings remain a robust example of simultaneous educational renewal and democratic practice.
The infographic provided below gives an idea of how this initiative continues to grow and impact the state of Wyoming.
Co-sponsored events
The Partnership co-sponsored the 6th Annual University of Wyoming’s College of Education Fall Literacy Conference by providing marketing, a website for the conference, and online registration. Approximately140 educators participated in the conference that took place at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, September 26-27.
The Partnership also co-sponsored the 6thUniversity of Wyoming’s e-Volution Technology Forum, the Mathematical Association of America Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, the 17th Shepard Symposium on Social Justice, and the University of Wyoming’s World Language’s Day. For these meetings, the Partnership provided support in the form of marketing, creating nametags, and some financial support.
2014 NNER Summer Symposium
The Partnership covered the full registration ($600) for four Wyoming attendees. The participants were: Michael Day, Interim Dean, University of Wyoming College of Education; Angela Jaime, Educational Studies, University of Wyoming College of Education; John Kambutu, Department Head, Educational Studies, University of Wyoming College of Education; and Dee Ludwig, Vice President of Student Learning, Eastern Wyoming College. Dee and John reported out on their experience in the Partnership’s September newsletter. To see their thoughts and insights about the 2014 NNER Summer Symposium, visit the following website.
League of Democratic Schools
The Partnership paid the full school membership fee for four schools participating in this program of the NNER for 2014-2015 ($250 per school for a total of $1,000). The schools are Woods Learning Center and Star Lane Center, Casper (Natrona #1), UW Prep School, Laramie (Albany #1), and Guernsey-Sunrise High School, Guernsey (Platte #2).
Wyoming School-University Partnership Memberships
Currently, 23 of 48 school districts belong to the Partnership and pay annual dues. While the number of school districts was down five from last year’s membership, the Partnership did gain another member in the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board. Dues are used for the general operation of the Partnership office, including the salary and benefits of the office associate, and to fund the Partnership’s initiatives.
Governing Board Development
Each governing board meeting features a specific theme (accompanied by a short advance reading) for discussion. Session evaluations reveal the importance of the conversations to many governing board members. Audrey Kleinsasser presented on this idea at the 2014 Annual NNER conference in Cincinnati.
Board members have expressed that Partnership governing board meetings are a place to bring personal and professional concerns about education to a group of others who can provide wise counsel. And governing board meetings are often the only place board members have opportunities to discuss important educational issues that revolve around more than testing and accountability. This is just one more way that we practice Agenda for Education in a Democracy principles. Feedback from governing board meetings confirms that board members appreciate this atmosphere and find themselves being renewed at the governing board annual meetings.
Website Presence and Marketing Materials
With total credit to the talents of several exceptional office associates, the Partnership fields an excellent website which also enables effective and dependable online registration for events. We’ve been very successful distributing an impact map that shows where the Partnership is in Wyoming and what it does. Far and away, the document elicits the most comments and questions when we share our materials. Find the map on the following page, or download a copy online.
Partnership Newsletters
In 2014, the Partnership published four newsletters. The newsletters are available to download on the website and are also sent electronically to a list of over 1,400 people who receive email updates from the Partnership. We also regularly distribute over 100 hard copies of each newsletter.
Challenges:
Funding
The Partnership experienced a loss of funding from Partnership members this year with losing five school districts. However, the Partnership was able to compensate by receiving some funds from the former Wyoming P-16 Council. Continuing to look for grants and other ways to fund the Partnership initiatives is important. But, there are other possibilities, such as inviting other state stake-holding entities, such as the State School Board and the Facilities Commission, to become Partnership members as well.
Expansion
The Partnership has a goal of recruiting at least one school district from each of Wyoming’s counties in the next five years. The Partnership is hoping to uncover the reasons that several school districts did not rejoin this year. Some of it may be connected to changes in leadership.
Leadership Changes
Thirteen school districts in Wyoming have new superintendents this year. In addition, the University of Wyoming is in the process of finding a new dean for the College of Education. Leadership changes present a challenge to any organization. While the Partnership is hopeful that these new leaders will be supportive of Partnership work, only time will tell.
Marketing
The Partnership continues to try to find ways to get the word out about initiatives. While the web presence, the newsletter, and word of mouth continue to expand, the Partnership is thinking about new ways to reach the educators in the state of Wyoming.
Emphasis Area 2: DESCRIBE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES that are EQUITY-RELATED so that we can continue to learn from one another as settings continue to do innovative and effective collaboration. For context, please consider reviewing the following equity documents and the minutes of our fall 2014 Governing Council meeting:
Successes:
Promotion of Heal Up and Hair Over: A Wyoming Civility Reader
Without a willingness to listen to multiple points of view, equity cannot be achieved. Learning to have civil discussions about heated topics is crucial, especially within education. When the Partnership learned of the Wyoming Humanities Council reader on civil discourse, we were excited. The Partnership has helped to promote the book throughout the state and throughout the NNER.
Co-sponsoring the 18th Annual Shepard Symposium for Social Justice/League of Democratic Schools Teacher Tea
In conjunction with the 18th Annual Shepard Symposium for Social Justice, April 2-5, 2014, the Partnership helped sponsor the annual teacher tea.
Challenges:
Large geographic area
Wyoming is a large state with some unique challenges. Travel from Laramie, the base of the Wyoming School-University Partnership, can be a substantial undertaking. Trying to promote equity and diversity in a geographically large state with a wide variety in student population (Wyoming’s smallest school district has 94 total students, while the largest has 13,635) can be a challenge.
Difficult political atmosphere in state leadership
Political turmoil at the Wyoming Department of Education has created extra challenges for Wyoming school districts. The Partnership is hopeful that the state will see some steady leadership in future years.
Emphasis Area 3: DESCRIBE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGESRELATED TOany/all OF THE FOLLOWING NNER PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN A FOCUS FOR THE SETTING AND ARE NOT INLCUDED ABOVE.
- Community Engagement
- Promoting the democratic purposes of schooling in the current political environment
- Stewardship of the profession and quality teacher preparation
- Research related to NNER mission and its implementation,
Successes:
Lost in Transition planners co-wrote and published and essay in the NNER Journal
Both the Partnership director and office associate were pleased to be part of a writing group that produced The Missing Middle: Describing a Professional Development Model Convening Secondary and Postsecondary Faculty to Examine Student Writing (by Audrey Kleinsasser, Elizabeth Wiley, Rick Fisher, April Heaney,and
Leslie Rush). The Missing Middle was published in the October 2014 edition of Education in a Democracy: A Journal of the NNER.
Involvement in the Wyoming P-16 Education Council and Other Wyoming Education Organizations
Audrey Kleinsasser continues to be a supportive part of the Wyoming P-16 Council. The council continues to discuss disbanding, but is hoping that new leadership at the Wyoming Department of Education might glean some support. Kleinsasser continues to offer the Partnership’s assistance in ways to help this organization find a successful format for operation.
Kleinsasser also remains involved with other education organizations in Wyoming, such as the Wyoming Foreign Language Teachers’ Association, the Wyoming Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships, and the Advisory Board for Wyoming’s National Board Certification of Teachers, and consulting with state legislative and educational accountability advisory committees looking at teacher and administrator accountability systems in the state. Kleinsasser seeks to foster relationships to encourage these educational organizations to work with the Partnership in keeping democracy a vital part of education. We also encourage Wyoming education organizations to help the Partnership see where we could be useful in stewardship of the profession within the state.
Challenges:
Funding: School Community Engagement Initiative
In 2012, the Partnership received outside funding to pilot a school-community engagement initiative. This seed money was spent with good results; however, there are several Partnership member school districts that are interested in starting similar projects. The Partnership is looking for ways to continue providing some funding for the initiative to encourage those interested to find ways to involve their students in projects for the schools and the communities.
Other Setting Information:
(Provide any additional information including celebrations, acknowledgements, awards, accomplishments,challenges at the setting, changes in personnel, etc. that provide additional background.)
A goal of changing the office associate position to a full-time programmer position
The Partnership was able to financially support the office associate position as a full-time position beginning in October of 2013. Depending on available funding, the Partnership staff would like to work with the College of Education and the University of Wyoming’s Human ResourcesOffice to officially change the title of the office associate to include programming. This would also involve changing the official job description to better reflect the duties of the position.
Addendum
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