November 2018

The weather is turning colder and second quarter has started. First quarter is completed and special education staff have focused on building relationship, routines and rituals. These are the foundations on which intensive interventions are layered, securing their implementation. We appreciate the positive feedback around the professional development for our Setting III and IV programs. The Functional Communication and Social Emotional Learning series continue to be refined and enhanced as we continue to offer them on professional development days and plan for the 2019-20 professional development series.

Our special education department team has been busy redesigning and strengthening the intervention tools in the Professional Instruction Center (PIC). Watch for new resources in Social Emotional Learning, functional communication and literacy coming before Winter Break.

It has been a difficult start to the school year with the shortage of special education assistants, who play a critical role on our special education teams. The special education department continues to support Human Resources with hiring fairs and recruitment strategies. We appreciate the expertise of our SEA Cadre team who have been able to support teams with critical needs. We still have positions open, so please refer potential candidates to the HR website. Candidates lacking college credits have the opportunity to take the ParaPro test to qualify for a position.

Finally, I would like to share recognition that two of our teammates have received this path month. Cathy Dalnes was named the Minnesota Social Worker of the Year. Cathy has been a School Social Worker for the Minneapolis School District for 27 years. She has served as a School Social Worker for Kenwood Elementary School, as the District Program Facilitator, and, for the last 10 years the Manager of Social Work Services for the district. Visible and Valuable - that is how Cathy advocates for her social workers to be in their schools. In her advocacy for the profession of school social work Cathy keeps one thing in the forefront - the needs of the children and families of not only Minneapolis Public Schools, but schools across the state. She has a strong commitment to equity and social emotional learning for students and staff. Her belief is that school social workers are vital in bridging the gaps in student success. She encourages her staff to advocate beyond the walls of their schools encouraging participation at Day at the Hill and talking to legislators. Her leadership is appreciated and highlighted by this award.

Ann Lumbar Bendson was named Minnesota School Nurse of the Year. Ann just began her 20th year as an employee of the Minneapolis Public Schools as a Licensed School Nurse. Currently she provides direct care to approximately 1500 students at an elementary school and one high school, also being in charge of health programming for the home school program. Her nominator describes Ann as a quiet hero who consistently demonstrates leadership and impacts the well-being of all children. Within the district, Ann has lead the way as a member of the task force to develop the MPS Professional Practice Model and mission statement. In 2005, she was honored to be a Johnson and Johnson School Nurse Fellow. Her leadership has led to the formation of partnerships within the community. Within the community, Ann is a co-leader for the Grief Recovery program in the Twin Cities and is active within the Speakers Bureau. Students and families are able to receive influenza vaccination during the school festival due to a grant secured from the Kohl’s Care Program. Ann has been instrumental in partnering with the Phillips Eye Institute in providing vision screening and glasses.

Cathy and Ann are two examples of MPS Strong and the important work our related services provide to help our scholars achieve!

Rochelle Cox