Diversity

1. Ensure that each student is treated fairly, respectfully, and with an understanding of each student’s culture and context;

2. Recognize, respect, and employ each student’s strengths, diversity, and culture as assets for teaching and learning;

3. Ensure that each student has equitable access to effective teachers, learning opportunities, academic and social support, and other resources necessary for success;

4. Ensure policies and practices are in place that prevent problem behavior, encourage positive behavior, and respond to student behavior not aligned with expectations in a positive, fair, and unbiased manner;

5. Recognize, identify, and address individual and institutional biases;

6. Promote the preparation of students to live productively in and contribute to a diverse and global society;

7. Address matters of equity and cultural responsiveness in all aspects of leadership, and

8. Ensure policies and practices are in place that address student and staff mental and physical health and trauma.

Artifact 1: ECF Funding Application (Sub-competency 3)

Description:

With an abundance of ECF funding available, I was able to work with our director of innovation and technology to complete an ECF funding application to purchase Chromebooks, hotspots and 5G data service for students without reliable internet access.

Reflection:

Although filling out this type of "paperwork" is repetitive and tedious it is an important part of school funding. Finding resources to help provide students with needed materials opens up other district funding to further assist our students, teachers, and staff with learning.

Activity:

Completed the online ECF funding application. Cannot be attached as an artifact due to sensitive information provided.

Artifact 2: Family Conferences (Sub-competency 1)

Description:

I was able to provide support during Lincoln Elementary family conferences. I helped parents check-in and get to classrooms, talked with teachers and administrators, and worked to connect interpreters to needed families.

Reflection:

I found that setting up and running a family conference night required a great deal of planning. Maintaining a secure facility was still important even though students were not in session. Parents were required to check-in at the front door for at their conference time and were directed to rooms. A large number of families required interpreter services, so connecting those families with the resources was essential. Overall, it is often the only interaction that families have with their student's school, so it is important to make it as seem-less and positive as possible.

Activity:

I checked in parents at the door, coordinated interpretation services, and worked with administrators to ensure building safety and security.

Artifact 3: Graduation Planning and Support (Sub-competency 1)

Description:

Provided support during graduation ceremonies for both Tech and Apollo High schools. This included assisting graduates in the process, taking tickets at the door, and maintaining facility safety and security.

Reflection:

Graduation is an immensely important time in a student and their families lives. However, it is important to ensure that the students and their families have a safe and positive experience. While each student was given 8 tickets to distribute to their friends and family, it was not enough for some, so many tried to get extra people into the building. However, fire code limits the amount of people in the facility, so we had to be very careful to only let those in with tickets. Also, to ensure a good experience, we had to shut the doors into the event at a certain time so people were not coming and going in front of those trying to watch. It was very difficult to turn away people who did not get to the event on time. We did some overflow seating and streamed the event on YouTube Live.

Artifacts:

Tech and Apollo Graduation Ceremonies-Livestream Recordings

Artifact 4: Online School Planning (Sub-competency 4)

Description:

I was able to participate in the planning of our new online school, now named Central Minnesota Virtual Academy. I participated in numerous activities related to the online school including: interviewing other districts with online schools, identifying and collecting standards for online courses, identifying solutions to questions brought by stakeholders, registration practices, staffing, creating a course catalog, as well as, EL and SPED concerns among others.

Reflection:

Offering students and online option to not only increase course offerings, but provide a more flexible system has become an essential part of any large district post COVID. Many students and families have discovered that this style of learning fits them best and in order to keep students in the district and therefore maintain funding for those students, offering both comprehensive and supplemental opportunities is a must.

Artifacts:

CMVA Logo and Planning presentation to School Board

Additional Resources and Artifacts of Learning