Echoes from Cañon
Examples of Excellence
The entire Lincoln School of Science and Technology staff congratulated Tammy DeWolfe for becoming a finalist for 2017 Colorado Elementary Principal of the Year!
CCHS cadet Kylie Henninger competes in the western regional rifle target shooting competition in Las Vegas.
It has been a challenging past several weeks, to say the least, but as always there are many examples of excellence shining through our district.
First off, we were recently notified that the National School Boards Association has invited our Cañon City High School Encore team to perform at their 2017 national convention being held in Denver during the later part of March. We did not even submit an application to do this. The amazing talent of our students is being recognized as a result of their December 2015 performance at the Colorado Association of School Boards convention. Mr. Albrecht has been working out the details of this event, and I have no doubt will put on an amazing performance. I would like to take a moment to congratulate his students for this recognition.
Our K-5 staff members recently received high praise from our partners at Lindamood-Bell. A few weeks ago, while troubleshooting problems we’ve had with the implementation of our teacher coaching robots, a Lindamood-Bell employee came to Cañon City to offer on-site support. Upon completion of his duties he told us our first year implementation of reading interventions is among the best he has seen in 20 years with the organization. This is high praise from folks that know what it takes to improve the achievement of our most challenged readers. It is evidence of how hard our talented teachers and instructional paraprofessionals are working. The result of this work, along with our careful implementation of new reading resources, has led to our achieving all three Early Literacy Grant implementation goals we established for 2016-17, by mid-year!
On Friday the Fremont Regional Wellness Committee held a training for teachers and administrators in best practices for PE instruction. This is a great example of how Fremont county school districts are working together to leverage resources for the benefit of children.
Later that afternoon we also had the pleasure of letting the Lincoln School of Science and Technology know their long serving principal, Tammy DeWolfe, had recently been one of four finalists for Colorado Elementary Principal of the Year. Tammy was nominated because of the great results the Lincoln staff has accomplished related to improving student behavior, positively changing school culture, transitioning to a school of science and technology, and driving student performance upward despite an increase in at-risk population. Tammy was not given the award, but we all wanted her to know just how much of a difference maker she has been for her school community.
Over the weekend Cañon City High School JROTC cadet Kylie Henninger was in las Vegas, Nevada competing in the regional championship target shooting competition. Kylie earned this trip back in December, and despite not taking the title, shot her personal best round! Around the same time legendary Cañon City High School wrestling coach Duff Seaney guided his team to yet another high placing, taking second place in regionals and qualifying quite a few young men to compete in this week’s Colorado High School Wrestling Championship Tournament.
First off, we were recently notified that the National School Boards Association has invited our Cañon City High School Encore team to perform at their 2017 national convention being held in Denver during the later part of March. We did not even submit an application to do this. The amazing talent of our students is being recognized as a result of their December 2015 performance at the Colorado Association of School Boards convention. Mr. Albrecht has been working out the details of this event, and I have no doubt will put on an amazing performance. I would like to take a moment to congratulate his students for this recognition.
Our K-5 staff members recently received high praise from our partners at Lindamood-Bell. A few weeks ago, while troubleshooting problems we’ve had with the implementation of our teacher coaching robots, a Lindamood-Bell employee came to Cañon City to offer on-site support. Upon completion of his duties he told us our first year implementation of reading interventions is among the best he has seen in 20 years with the organization. This is high praise from folks that know what it takes to improve the achievement of our most challenged readers. It is evidence of how hard our talented teachers and instructional paraprofessionals are working. The result of this work, along with our careful implementation of new reading resources, has led to our achieving all three Early Literacy Grant implementation goals we established for 2016-17, by mid-year!
On Friday the Fremont Regional Wellness Committee held a training for teachers and administrators in best practices for PE instruction. This is a great example of how Fremont county school districts are working together to leverage resources for the benefit of children.
Later that afternoon we also had the pleasure of letting the Lincoln School of Science and Technology know their long serving principal, Tammy DeWolfe, had recently been one of four finalists for Colorado Elementary Principal of the Year. Tammy was nominated because of the great results the Lincoln staff has accomplished related to improving student behavior, positively changing school culture, transitioning to a school of science and technology, and driving student performance upward despite an increase in at-risk population. Tammy was not given the award, but we all wanted her to know just how much of a difference maker she has been for her school community.
Over the weekend Cañon City High School JROTC cadet Kylie Henninger was in las Vegas, Nevada competing in the regional championship target shooting competition. Kylie earned this trip back in December, and despite not taking the title, shot her personal best round! Around the same time legendary Cañon City High School wrestling coach Duff Seaney guided his team to yet another high placing, taking second place in regionals and qualifying quite a few young men to compete in this week’s Colorado High School Wrestling Championship Tournament.
The Focus of Our Work
The CCHS grapplers took 2nd in the regional wrestling tournament.
Good news on the grant application front came in once again last week, as we learned McKinley Elementary School has just been awarded a $182,000 Colorado Health Foundation playground grant. This award is similar to the one we were given last fall to support Cañon Exploratory School. This is exciting for both campuses, and their surrounding neighborhoods, as the equipment installed at each will also benefit the children of their communities when school is not in session. We are very thankful for our partnership with the Colorado Health Foundation for support like this, and toward other efforts related to other health education opportunities for our students.
Two weeks ago Cañon City High School principal Bill Summers, internship and apprenticeship coordinator Lisa Tedesko, and I had the opportunity to visit with community partners who have created a technology business incubation center on Main Street called Tech Start. This effort is exciting for our region, as it will hopefully create technology industry jobs in the community. Just as important, the endeavor promises to offer opportunities for high school students to gain real world work experience in technology fields before they graduate.
The focus of my work has been on completing BEST grant application drafts, preparing for the annual superintendent evaluation process, and preparing to conduct mid-year building review processes.
On February 6th I submitted a draft of our BEST grant for new school buildings on the Washington and CCMS campuses. I hope to receive feedback on it in time to make some adjustments and submit the final by end of day February 24th. In the mean time I also continue to work on a smaller grant to address health, safety, and technology access issues at the Lincoln, McKinley, Harrison, and CCHS campuses.
This Monday the board of education will be looking over staff and community perception survey results related to my annual performance evaluation. Based on these results, and self-reflection, I have already completed a self-evaluation the board will be able to work from as it completes this process and informs my work.
In the next three weeks we will also be conducting coordinated visits to the Washington, McKinley, Harrison, CCMS, CCHS, and CES campuses to conduct mid-year academic performance reviews based on rubrics specifically designed for each building. This is an extensive process, but the outcome offers each building leadership team clear guidance as to what to focus on for improvement in the coming year.
Two weeks ago Cañon City High School principal Bill Summers, internship and apprenticeship coordinator Lisa Tedesko, and I had the opportunity to visit with community partners who have created a technology business incubation center on Main Street called Tech Start. This effort is exciting for our region, as it will hopefully create technology industry jobs in the community. Just as important, the endeavor promises to offer opportunities for high school students to gain real world work experience in technology fields before they graduate.
The focus of my work has been on completing BEST grant application drafts, preparing for the annual superintendent evaluation process, and preparing to conduct mid-year building review processes.
On February 6th I submitted a draft of our BEST grant for new school buildings on the Washington and CCMS campuses. I hope to receive feedback on it in time to make some adjustments and submit the final by end of day February 24th. In the mean time I also continue to work on a smaller grant to address health, safety, and technology access issues at the Lincoln, McKinley, Harrison, and CCHS campuses.
This Monday the board of education will be looking over staff and community perception survey results related to my annual performance evaluation. Based on these results, and self-reflection, I have already completed a self-evaluation the board will be able to work from as it completes this process and informs my work.
In the next three weeks we will also be conducting coordinated visits to the Washington, McKinley, Harrison, CCMS, CCHS, and CES campuses to conduct mid-year academic performance reviews based on rubrics specifically designed for each building. This is an extensive process, but the outcome offers each building leadership team clear guidance as to what to focus on for improvement in the coming year.
The Past Several Weeks
During the past several weeks I have continued to work on our BEST grant applications, attended a day-long special education mediation session, attended a Cañon 2020 committee meeting, met with a number of parents about student academic and behavior matters, continued making connections with classified staff and association leaders, engaged community economic leaders about changes coming to CCHS and the district, conducted a District Accountability Committee meeting, and connected with regional superintendent leaders about statewide current events.
Fremont RE-1, 2, and 3 teachers learn how to more actively engage PE students.
This Week
Big areas of focus in the coming weeks include preparing for upcoming school visits to Washington, McKinley, Harrison, CES, CCHS, and CCMS, participating in a board work session and meeting, conducting a district leadership team meeting, touching base with CCEA leaders, attending another Cañon 2020 meeting, attending a PCC advisory board meeting, attending an Early Childhood Leadership Commission meeting, conducting an instructional leaders PLC, meeting with UCCS staff members about rural teacher recruitment programs, and submitting our final drafts of our BEST grants.
The Way I See It
CCHS instrumental music director Josh Race participates in Star Wars night while directing the pep band.
As can be imagined, the week of February 6th through 10th was a tough one for the entire Cañon City School District community. In my twenty year career as a superintendent of schools I had only experienced an accusation that a staff member may have had an inappropriate relationship with a student once before. Of course, that was one time too many.
Thought a lot of information has become public about the issues of concern we are dealing with, I would encourage everyone to step back and let our justice system run its course. It works best when decisions are made based on facts.
However, I have also been desperately seeking healing words to offer our community, and our staff, while we wait.
I found these words on Friday afternoon, and they do not belong to me. Mr. Josh Race, director of instrumental music at Cañon City High School, shared this observation last week.
"What is going on in that school!?" "What is going on in this town!?" "This is getting out-of-hand!"
I'll tell you what I see going on in this school.
I see Mr. Albrecht spending hours (and hours) at the school - sometimes until 11p.m., and many times on weekends, to provide a music program unlike any other for his kids.
I see Mr. Summers emailing the staff late at night and early - really early - in the morning to help guide us in new directions to improve the school learning environment, and opportunity for kids in well-thought and well-structured plans. (Not to mention the weekends I drive by and see his car in the parking lot.)
I see students spending their lunch time in their teachers' rooms because they love being around their teachers. I hear administrators announce at the end of the day that students need to clear the building - not because they're in trouble - but because many kids love being at school and try to stay as long as possible.
I see school board members working concession stands at basketball games, baking brownies and cookies for the band, and always doing it with a smile.
I see a district administration crunching numbers and trying to figure out the best ways to stretch every penny, and trying hard to educate a community about the struggles we face financially. Even so, kids are always served and have many programs and activities throughout their educational careers.
I see custodians working hard to keep the building nice, and get asked - pretty much every day - if my room looks good... because they care, just like the rest of us.
I see Mr. Manchester supporting every single activity that goes on in the school. Driving to Colorado Springs to listen to the band perform at Large Group, and always making them feel appreciated.
I see Mrs. Bliss's car in the parking lot pretty much all the time. (Actually, for a while, I thought it was Mr. Summers' car.) She's always working.
Not as a bash on our community, because I love Canon City, but I don't think people realize just how much our school district cares about its students and teachers.
My feeling, as someone who's been in other districts and towns, is that sometimes people take what the district does for granted, and they fail to see all the great things that are going on. Teachers are pouring hours, and hours, into the new Pathways at the high school. Teachers (and admin) all over the district - elementary through 12th grade - give so much, and expect so little in return.
Anyway, that's what's going on in "that school," but I'm just the band director, so what do I know?
Mr. Race, all I can say is you know far more about what is going on in our schools than our average community member. Thanks for pointing this out.
George S. Welsh
Thought a lot of information has become public about the issues of concern we are dealing with, I would encourage everyone to step back and let our justice system run its course. It works best when decisions are made based on facts.
However, I have also been desperately seeking healing words to offer our community, and our staff, while we wait.
I found these words on Friday afternoon, and they do not belong to me. Mr. Josh Race, director of instrumental music at Cañon City High School, shared this observation last week.
"What is going on in that school!?" "What is going on in this town!?" "This is getting out-of-hand!"
I'll tell you what I see going on in this school.
I see Mr. Albrecht spending hours (and hours) at the school - sometimes until 11p.m., and many times on weekends, to provide a music program unlike any other for his kids.
I see Mr. Summers emailing the staff late at night and early - really early - in the morning to help guide us in new directions to improve the school learning environment, and opportunity for kids in well-thought and well-structured plans. (Not to mention the weekends I drive by and see his car in the parking lot.)
I see students spending their lunch time in their teachers' rooms because they love being around their teachers. I hear administrators announce at the end of the day that students need to clear the building - not because they're in trouble - but because many kids love being at school and try to stay as long as possible.
I see school board members working concession stands at basketball games, baking brownies and cookies for the band, and always doing it with a smile.
I see a district administration crunching numbers and trying to figure out the best ways to stretch every penny, and trying hard to educate a community about the struggles we face financially. Even so, kids are always served and have many programs and activities throughout their educational careers.
I see custodians working hard to keep the building nice, and get asked - pretty much every day - if my room looks good... because they care, just like the rest of us.
I see Mr. Manchester supporting every single activity that goes on in the school. Driving to Colorado Springs to listen to the band perform at Large Group, and always making them feel appreciated.
I see Mrs. Bliss's car in the parking lot pretty much all the time. (Actually, for a while, I thought it was Mr. Summers' car.) She's always working.
Not as a bash on our community, because I love Canon City, but I don't think people realize just how much our school district cares about its students and teachers.
My feeling, as someone who's been in other districts and towns, is that sometimes people take what the district does for granted, and they fail to see all the great things that are going on. Teachers are pouring hours, and hours, into the new Pathways at the high school. Teachers (and admin) all over the district - elementary through 12th grade - give so much, and expect so little in return.
Anyway, that's what's going on in "that school," but I'm just the band director, so what do I know?
Mr. Race, all I can say is you know far more about what is going on in our schools than our average community member. Thanks for pointing this out.
George S. Welsh