West teacher wins national award and $25,000

West Salem High School’s auditorium was packed at a school-wide assembly on Tuesday morning, but most staff and students didn’t know why they were all being called together. Drew Moneke, a social studies teacher at West, was selected for the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award that comes with a $25,000 cash prize.

“I was in complete shock,” said Moneke. “ I had no idea that this was going to happen.”

The assembly started off with former NFL player Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier giving a motivational speech to students. Superintendent Sandy Husk and Oregon State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo listed off pride points for the school and the district. The students were excited and cheerful.

But the crowd went wild when Lowell Milken, Chairman and Co-founder of the Milken Family Foundation, announced Moneke as the recipient of the national award.

“Highly effective educators are the human capital that will equip America’s youth in this increasingly competitive global economy,” said Milken. “By shining a national spotlight on exceptional people like Drew Moneke, the Milken Educator Awards send a powerful message of the critical role that talented teachers play in preparing young people for a bright future.”

Moneke was recognized for creating a dynamic classroom to keep students active, aware, and engaged with all the participatory strategies that he uses.

“Great educators are the lifeblood of our schools – without them the whole system would fail,” said Castillo. “I offer my congratulations to all of those involved in creating this success.”

The event took a while to sink in for Moneke. “I am certainly humbled by the experience,” he said. “I appreciate the wonderful staff at West and the commitment they show to all students. This is an honor that should be shared by all!”

View more photos in the gallery.

Thanks to our Education Support Professionals

Today is Education Support Professionals Day! Thank you for your dedication that benefits students, parents, staff, and our whole community. Here are just a few quotes from our district leaders.

Sandy Husk, Superintendent:
"You create, maintain and improve the environment for our students, teachers and administrators to do their best. Because you are always there, creating a positive environment for learning, this organization is able to help kids accomplish great things every day."

Mary Paulson, Chief of Staff
"Our support professionals are essential to the education of our students. Through their commitment to the quality of their work, they help build the pathway to success for every child, every day."

Jim Jenney, Manager of Custodial Services:
"Thank you for your efforts that make our students successful. We cannot do this without you.

Michael Shields, Director of Transportation Services:
"Our support professionals are developing the next generation with strength of character. I think Daniel Webster said it best:

'Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its powers, build up its institutions,
promote all its great interests, and see whether we also in our day and generation
may not perform something worthy to be remembered.'

"The ESPs are performing in a manner worthy to be remembered as evidenced through our students. Thank you for being the glue that holds us together."

Jay Remy, Director of Community Relations and Communications:
"Thank you ESPs. You work tirelessly to serve our children and communities with care and professionalism to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for students."

Kristen Duus, Director of Technology and Information Services:
"Thank you to all of the wonderful people in this district who support instruction indirectly - from making sure the buildings are open, operational and clean; to getting students safely to-and-from school; to making sure technology is appropriate and operational; to running the offices, issuing paychecks, doing purchasing, facilitating hiring, and coordinating benefits ... The list goes on and on! This district would not be able to run without you! Thanks for all you do."

Ruth Gelbrich, Director of Student Services
"We are delighted to recognize the amazing contributions by our many educational support professionals throughout the district! By taking a moment to honor these employees we will be celebrating the hard work, dedication and invaluable services these professionals provide. These are unsung heroes who drive our students to school, provide instructional and non-instructional support, serve on the front line of public relations with our community, take care of our schools, and provide many technical and operational services to other staff and students. Congratulations and thank you!"

Stephen Cox, Library Media Program Specialist
Our education support professionals are the glue that holds things together. Without the hard work and dedication of our support professionals, many of our best efforts would simply come apart.
 

What is PACE?

Our district is committed to being proactive when it comes to problem solving and making the district’s future better. Every month, a group of 20 district leaders meet to communicate about issues and concerns in the school district. This group is called PACE.

PACE is the Professional Action Committee for Education of the Salem-Keizer School District. Membership is comprised of five representatives from each of the following groups: Salem Keizer Association of Classified Employees, Salem Keizer Education Association, Salem Association of School Administrators, and central office administration.

“PACE members meet once a month for a full day – that’s a major commitment for all four groups,” Superintendent Sandy Husk said. “It’s really important to us to do the work we’re doing and to be open in communications.”

Video footage courtesy of Bruce Scherer with Oregon Education Association

The purpose of PACE is to have continuing conversations about issues that are of importance to each and every student and employee of the district. PACE collaborates to find solutions to issues that may have an impact on our mission of increased student achievement along with a safe and productive work and learning environment for our students and staff.

Crystal Apple award winners and gallery

Salem-Keizer's annual gala celebration of educational excellence saw twelve local educators honored with Crystal Apple Awards on November 12, 2009.

The honorees – including teachers, support staff, a pass room supervisor, and the district's chief of staff – were chosen from a list of 55 nominees. Mary Paulson, Chief of Staff of Salem-Keizer Public Schools, was surprised by the prestigious award as her nomination had been kept secret until the moment of the announcement.

The recipients were honored before a packed house during the 13th annual Crystal Apple Awards ceremony at Salem's historic Elsinore Theater.

The annual event recognizes local educators who provide students with educational options, go beyond their regular job duties to benefit students, and demonstrate best practices. Nominations come from community members, students and parents.

"We can all be proud of the caliber of educators we have in this community," said Chuck Swank, President of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation. "These honorees go above and beyond the call every day to provide the very best education for students in the district."

The Crystal Apples were handed out by Swank, Salem-Keizer Schools Superintendent, Sandy Husk, John Zielinski President of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, and Dennis Koho, President of the Keizer Chamber of Commerce.

The event also showcased two scholarship awards: the Guido Caldarazzo Memorial Scholarship and the Western Oregon University Crystal Apple Award Scholarship.

Heather Mischke, a 2009 South Salem High School graduate, was given the WOU scholarship. Funded by College of Education donors, the scholarship awards $1,200 to a qualified Salem-Keizer graduate preparing to enter the teaching profession.

Tom Hewitt, Judson Middle School drama teacher and local actor and comedian, again served as emcee for the event. Arriving nominees were treated to a red carpet walk broadcast live inside the theater.

13th Annual Crystal Apple Awards Recipients:

• Stacie Creighton, Teacher, North Salem High School
• Brian Eriksen, Teacher, South Salem High School
• Adria Farina-Miller, Teacher, Richmond Elementary School
• Melinda Freshour, Instructional Assistant, Yoshikai Elementary School
• Brenda Hauswirth, Teacher, West Salem High School
• Lee Horton, Instructional Assistant, Houck Middle School
• Mary Kruger, Teacher, Kennedy Elementary School
• Scott May, Teacher, Crossler Middle School
• Julie Nordlien, Instructional Assistant, Parrish Middle School
• Janice Olinger, Teacher, Brush College Elementary School
• Christina Tracy, Teacher, Howard Street Charter School
• Mary Paulson, Chief of Staff, Salem-Keizer Public Schools

View the gallery

About the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation

The Salem-Keizer Education Foundation is a catalyst for enhancing the education of Salem-Keizer Public School students by providing resources for creative and innovative programs and materials, educating and
mobilizing the community, and sustaining collaborative partnerships that support its goals.

The Awesome 3000 all-youth fun run is the organization's signature event. The annual event is recognized as one of the largest children's runs in the nation. Awesome proceeds and foundation sponsorships go toward some $50,000 in grants each year for original and motivational school programs. More than 800 grants totaling over $750,000 have been awarded to educators since 1982.

For more information about the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, visit the website:

www.skeducationfoundation.org

QAM success story

Our district’s Quality Assurance Model embraces continuous improvement through engagement with employees. Here’s an example of the difference that employees can make through use of the corrective action procedure.

Issue: Families that were not eligible for bus services were being mailed the transportation bus route brochure even though they didn’t need the brochure.

Action: Gail Coulson, school office specialist at Lamb Elementary School, received the mailing even though her children were not eligible for bus service. So she submitted a corrective action.

Solution: Mailing addresses for the bus route mailer are now filtered through SASI to eliminate the families who don’t qualify for bus service. This eliminates about 14,000 pieces of mail, saving the district about $2,700. Way to go!

You have the ability to use the corrective action process in order to bring attention to a process that does not work or hinders you from doing a great job. You can learn more about the corrective action process and download forms here.

Digital StoreFront offline through January

Digital StoreFront will be offline November 28 through January 3. During that time, a DSF version upgrade will be installed to ensure long-term functionality and serviceability of the online print ordering system. Customers need to use a Request for Copy Services NCR form to order print until upgrade is complete. Reprographics apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause.

If you have any questions, please contact Reprographics and Mail Services at 503-399-3110.

TIS Tech Tips: How to lock your computer

Technology and Information Services has compiled a collection of useful technology-related tips for staff. Tech Tips will be posted right here in Inside24j once a month.

TIS Tech Tip #2: Locking your computer
 

Caption This!

 

I hereby swear that I did not receive any help spelling that last word, sir.
Melissa Garner, Technology Development Coordinator @ Technology and Information Services

Can I just say, you SCARE me!
Jackie Ogan, Position Control @ Human Resources

How much higher do I need to raise my hand for him to see it?
Marey Ellen Pontnak, Mailing Services Specialist @ Reprographics

Do you solemnly swear to not to divulge any of my ridiculous jokes I told in class this year?
Carol Lewis, LRC Assistant @ Yoshikai Elementary

Oh, that Ashley! She is such a teacher's pet!
Kathy Doan, Free and Reduced Coordinator @ Food Services

Next time on Caption This!

Submit a caption

Going the Distance

Christine Labombarbe
Tech Clerical Specialist
Student Services Center

I would like to nominate Christine Labombarbe for the Going the Distance award. Christine answers the Student Services Center Tech Support line to troubleshoot problems with the IEP system, ENCORE. Christine does this thankless job with grace and is just amazing. Christine takes calls from frustrated staff members with a cheerful and helpful demeanor. She offers support quickly. She is very knowledgeable and effective at what she does. IEP case managers feeling the pressure of legal requirements for accuracy and timeliness of IEP paperwork are surely a demanding bunch, but Christine never loses her cool. I am so grateful for her calm, pleasant manner and very efficient work. Christine deserves a very big THANK YOU.

Submitted by: Carolyn Gaskins

Nominate a co-worker

 

Golden Broom Award

Mike Kelley
Custodian 2
Miller Elementary School

Mike Kelley, Day Custodian 2 at Miller Elementary School, was recognized Monday at his school as our Golden Broom Award winner for November 2009. Staff nominated him for his excellent work ethic, customer service and willingness to do whatever it takes to make Miller a great place for students. In particular, they were grateful for his work there last summer in dealing with summer school and special activities and still having the school ready when regular classes started.