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“What do you want to be when you grow up?”  This is an oft-asked question that a student hears throughout their school career.  While many have “no idea” what they want to pursue for future employment, for those that do, Weber School District has phenomenal opportunities available.  Over the past nine years, WSD’s Internship program has grown from 40 students to over 140 students per semester. Having an internship has brought a whole new meaning to a young adult’s education as employer/mentors offer experiences as diverse as the workplace itself.  Law enforcement, physical therapy, accounting, multiple health professions, engineering, education, and veterinarians are just some of the occupations that our students are able to experience.  The opportunities encompass the full spectrum of real-world, relevant experience. 

The cooperation and willingness of our business partners is incredible and indicative of the kind of support we receive in Weber School District on behalf of our students. Business Partners are establishing expectations, competencies and benchmarks that they want the interns to reach while out in the workplace.  It’s not enough to just show up anymore, students are expected to develop skills related to their work experiences.  With these higher expectations, the students come away feeling like they have really done something, having been involved in meaningful projects related to advancing the business.  They become, as Dave Harris, engineer from Fresenius, put it, “Value added.”

Mr. Jeff Meyer, our CTE Work-Based Learning Coordinator organizes, initiates and manages Weber District’s Internship program and is a fantastic ambassador for this outstanding opportunity.  With each quarter’s experience students submit a reflection sheet about their experiences to Mr. Meyer.  When asked about some of the things that are related by the students, Mr. Meyer said that the most common phrase he sees is “…this was the best experience of my Senior/Junior Year,” and that feeling is echoed by our employers/mentors.  Even though the internship is not meant to be a paid experience last spring alone more than 20 of our student interns had been hired in one capacity or another at their internship site.  That number is especially high when many of our business partners are limited due to the post-secondary degree and certification requirements of their employees.  

It would be difficult for our schools to replicate the type of learning that students receive through their internships.  Many students realize these are the jobs that they want to pursue for their career and use it as a springboard as they continue on to post-secondary education.  Some find out that the occupation is not for them and are able to pursue other careers.  Regardless of the situation, each one of our students has developed soft skills pertaining to work-place etiquette and protocols that they will be able to utilize in whatever their pursuits may be.  Student Internships….another part of “The Weber Way”!

 

 

 

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Overarching Educational Truths -

As we settle into this new school year, I am once again reminded that working in schools is one of the most exhilarating, rewarding and demanding jobs that exists.  While we interact closely with young people and provide them with a high-quality, broad education there are some overarching truths that can guide our efforts.  By no means is this an exhaustive list.  I know each of you could add something significant based on your experience and insight.  Following are a few principles that have given me direction:

  1. Know Your Students – Certainly, knowing your subject matter is critical!  However, that by itself does not guarantee success.  Influential teachers develop a genuine interest in young people and a corresponding willingness to get to know students on a level that goes beyond a first-name last-name basis.  When we know students well, we know the extent of the demands that we can make upon them.  We know something of their talents and abilities, as well as their likes and dislikes.  This allows us to lead them into learning activities with reasonable hope of success.  We also know the kind of feedback that will inspire and motivate rather than crush and defeat.
  2. Know How Learning Takes Place – The most effective educators understand how learning takes place and then teach in ways that honor best practice.  Through daily actions, they are the living embodiment of the notion that all children can learn.  They understand, paraphrasing John Dewey, that kids don’t learn the basics by memorizing facts about the basics.  Rather, they learn the basics by engaging in meaningful projects that require the effective use of the basics.  I’m always thrilled when I go into one of our schools and see students participating in purposeful activities.  Additionally, those who deeply understand learning recognize the importance of motivation.  Frequently, we rely on extrinsic rewards to create that motivation—operating on the assumption that what is rewarded gets done.  But in school, typically what is rewarding gets done!
  3. Be Careful About the Assumptions You Make – The best teachers never make negative assumptions about the capability of their students.  Some years ago, while serving as assistant superintendent, I co-taught an 11th grade language arts course with one of our outstanding high school teachers.  Several well-intentioned teachers, certainly wanting to ensure that I had a positive experience, strongly suggested that I use my influence to transfer one student from the class.  “She’ll destroy your whole experience,” they warned.  I figured, “I taught junior high school for 10 years—I’m not afraid of anything!”  This same young lady became a powerful and positive contributor because of her background and personal history. 
  4. Understand the Role of Self-Esteem – A student’s self-image depends upon so many things.  It is shaped, in part, on us and how we make our students feel about themselves and their abilities.  It is also dependent on our class environment and the extent to which we carefully shape that culture.  For instance, students are unwilling to risk if they don’t feel a reassuring trust that they won’t be ridiculed or embarrassed when expressing an opinion.  Consequently, we should always adhere to these two imperatives: a) it is inexcusable to diminish a student’s sense of dignity and worth; and, b) it is equally wrong not to work to enhance and build a students’ self-worth.
  5. Be Constantly Engaged in Personal Professional Growth – The best teachers I know are persistent in their pursuit to become better teachers.  They never stand still!  These teachers are seeking to understand how to effectively integrate technology in ways that engage and challenge their students.  They constantly ask themselves questions (“What are the most important learning goals of this unit?  How might I teach it differently so that students really understand?  How do these students learn best?  What are these grades really telling me?  Are there ways to differentiate instruction to better meet the needs of all children?”).  These teachers never accept the status quo and are constantly working to improve for themselves and their students.

I invite each of you to consider these overarching truths as we begin this new school year.  Thank you for making a difference in the lives of so many!  

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Welcome Back to School!

The advertisements for back to school are running. A new energy builds in the air as it draws closer to that time -- time for our kids to load up their backpacks, don their new clothes and head back to school. It can be a hard transition going from the freedom of summer to the structure of being a full-time student. But you know it is worth it. There is nothing like getting a good education, it gives our children a foundation for the rest of their lives. 

Welcome back to all Weber School District students, teachers, support staff and administrators. We hope you have had a rejuvenating, great summer. I know teachers look forward with great anticipation to meeting their new students. Our teachers and administrators have been busy preparing for the 2016-17 school year and are ready to provide an outstanding educational experience for all students. 

Though the halls of our schools have been quiet over the summer, a lot has happened. We appreciate the maintenance staff, custodians and computer techs that have all been busy preparing the buildings and grounds for the return of students. It is that time of year when we are excited to once again hear the sounds of students in the halls and classrooms...the sounds of learning.

As students walk through the school doors in August, you will be able to count on what is known in our district as the Weber Way: a whole child culture with a passionate, talented and dedicated faculty who go above and beyond to bring out the best in children. Welcome to the 2016-17 school year. May this year be filled with hope, anticipation, new learning and great growth.

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Training always makes a difference!

A few weeks ago at Fremont High School, in one of our athletic training classes a student/athlete suddenly experienced a life threatening medical emergency. As the student lay motionless on the gymnasium floor, a group of our great coaches and teachers sprang into action. 911 was called, and CPR was initiated on the student in jeopardy. While doing CPR one of the coaches ran for the AED (automatic external defibrillator) machine installed outside the door of the gym while others ushered the other student/athletes to another room. Under the direction of the AED machine, the student was shocked 3 times amidst vigorous CPR administered by the coaching staff. Plain City Fire and others responded quickly and the student was transported to the hospital for treatment of this serious incident. Fortunately for this student and his family he is well on his way to a full recovery, thanks in large part to the initial care provided by an excellently prepared, caring coaching staff at Fremont High School. When asked about the incident Mr. Cole Price stated that "the training we received from our School Nurse, Mrs. Pam Ballif and Mr. Doug Kapp last year really paid off when it counted."

As Orion Junior closed out the school year, their student failure rate was an incredible 1%! Although we expect and want every student to succeed, for Orion's great staff to pull students through at that rate is a tremendous testament to their dedication and the massive amount of training and preparation they have participated in as a staff over the past several years. Joe Jensen, Principal of Orem Junior High and the 2013-14 Principal of the Year in Utah stated, "Research shows that the most likely people to not graduate are those who build a credit hole in 9th grade." This fact is something we have known as a district and are working hard to eliminate....the staff at Orion, has prepared to tackle this challenge.

The success of our Roy Cone Project has been well documented and recognized to the extent that in the past legislative session Representative Ann Millner ran and passed a bill earmarking funding for schools to duplicate the Roy Cone Model. Every school in the Roy Cone has seen remarkable increases in attendance, student achievement and ultimately graduation rates. This success has come through multiple teacher and staff trainings as well as new and innovative methods adopted by all staff members throughout the cone. They have prepared and trained and the results are that all students are more successful!

Throughout the past 3 years in our Bonneville Cone all of our schools have participated in a training program, Assessment to Achievement, designed to enhance Professional Learning Communities and increase direct intervention with struggling students. The number of students failing and falling through cracks has decreased significantly and they too are seeing increased graduation rates as a result of commitment and dedication to increased learning and training.

Our students get better when we as professionals get better! Attendance, student engagement in school, graduation rates all go up as our dedication, and application of professional training and knowledge goes up. YOU make a difference to the individual as well as to the masses.

As we enter summer break from school, we encourage you to read a book, attend a conference, even just contemplate lesson plans and method of instruction....it all makes us better and in turn saves students' lives....sometimes literally! It's the Weber Way!

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Work Worth Doing - 

With less than one month remaining in the 2015-16 school year, it is surprising to realize just how quickly this year has gone.  I congratulate each of our students, teachers, support professionals and administrators on a successful and productive year.  Thank you for your significant work and effort.  Certainly, it has made a positive difference!

Earlier in the school year, I invited everyone in our district to rise to a challenge I termed, “The Weber Way.”  That challenge entails maintaining a whole child focus, which places an emphasis on providing a rich and comprehensive learning experience for all children, while demonstrating greater awareness of the outside expectations associated with the testing and accountability model that permeates schools throughout our nation.  I asked teachers to develop a renewed focus to teach the Utah Core Standards, allow all students to participate in interim SAGE assessments to familiarize them with testing formats and ease test anxiety, and take advantage of more instructional time by spiraling the curriculum and teaching for deep understanding rather than extensive year-end reviews.  Great efforts have been made to prepare students for SAGE testing WITHOUT sacrificing what we know is right for children.  That is an extraordinary thing!  I know this has required extra work and effort on the part of every employee. 

I have been pleased by the tremendous strides made to do things “The Weber Way.”  Recently, I was presented with a replica road sign that reads, “The Weber Way.”  It hangs in my office.  Someone even suggested that Adams Avenue (in front of the district office) be renamed “Weber Way.”  The “Weber Way” suggests that there is a right way to do things and that’s the way we do it in our district.

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I love to read about Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president of the United States.  Teddy grew up a sickly child in a wealthy family.  Under such circumstances, he could have easily chosen a life of comfort and ease, but he didn’t.  Rather, Teddy became an avid outdoorsman and competitive athlete.  Most recall his leadership with the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill, as well as his successful political career.  While governor of New York, Roosevelt preached what he called the “doctrine of the strenuous life, the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife.”  With great conviction, he once said, “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”  I agree.  The work with which each of us is engaged is definitely “work worth doing.”  On behalf of the Board of Education, I wish to thank every one of you for a great school year.