District

Dialogue

For employees of the Laveen Elementary School District April 11, 2014

The District Dialogue is issued on the second and fourth Friday of the month.

Rogers Ranch Instructional Coach named Rodel Aspiring Principal

Cory Woodard, Instructional Coach at Rogers Ranch, has

been selected as a Rodel Aspiring Principal.

He will now go through a two-year

course of training, shadowing, and mentor-

ship with a Rodel Exemplary Principal.

The Rodel Aspiring Principal program

provides participants with practical strate-

gies they can apply at their own schools

when they become principals. Participants

attend professional development seminars on the four Rodel

traits: Collaborative School Environment, Family and Commu-

nity Involvement, Professional Learning, and High Expecta-

tions.

Woodard was selected for this honor by Rodel for, among

other things, his commitment to effective leadership in a high

-needs school.

Woodard will be joining Laveen Elementary School next

year as their Assistant Principal.

Laveen receives grant to provide back-to-school clothing for students in need

The Laveen Elementary School District is the recipient of a

$15,000 grant by Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust to provide

back-to-school clothing for students at all seven schools.

The grant provides school uniforms, underwear and shoes

to students with the greatest need.

“Laveen shares in Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust’s belief

that essential clothing helps prepare chil-

dren for a successful school year,” said

Laveen’s superintendent, Dr. Bill John-

son. “This grant will provide some of

our neediest students with clean,

properly-fitted clothes and shoes and

help them get their school year off on

the right start.”

Laveen joins 40 other school districts across Maricopa

County in receiving the back-to-school clothing grant. We

were selected because we have a significant population of

students in need.

Rogers Ranch custodian named AZ National Guard’s Instructor of the Year Rogers Ranch School’s Lead Custodian, Joshua Snow, has been named Instructor of the Year by the Arizona Army National

Guard.

In addition to his custodial duties, Snow serves as a Sergeant First Class in the Guard and is one of 20 instruc-

tors at the Guard’s Regional Training Institute located at 52nd Street and McDowell in east Phoenix. He teaches

classroom courses such as Military Police and Officer Candidate School to Army soldiers.

Each year, the Regional Training Institute conducts a selection process for the Instructor of the Year award.

Each instructor teaches a class to a panel of senior leaders. Instructors are judged based on their ability to deliv-

er a block of instruction. Points are deducted for using crutch words like “um,” lacking smooth transitions, or not

relating the material to students in a way they understand. The judges look for the instructor to be engaging and

make what could be a dry and boring class interesting.

Snow will now be evaluated for the Instructor of the Year award for the entire U.S. Army. He gave another class which was

recorded and sent to Washington D. C. for judging. He will find out in a few months how he placed at the national level.

Snow has been at Rogers Ranch School in the Laveen Elementary School District for two years and served as a behavior

monitor prior to moving into the lead custodian role. His military experience has benefitted the school in both roles. “Mr.

Snow's attention to detail and expectations for himself and his work has helped improve the campus to be more comfortable,

clean and safe,” noted school Principal Tim Thomas.

Woodard

Snow

PAGE 2 April 11, 2014

Meadows holds first carnival

Desert Meadows held their first school carnival last

weekend. The event was organized by the school’s PTSA.

There were bounce-houses, game booths, and treats

for families to enjoy.

Woodard, Jones are March’s Employees of the Month

Employees of the month for March are Cory Woodard, Instructional Coach at Rogers Ranch, and Yadira

Jones, District Office Receptionist.

Woodard was nominated for always striving to increase the achievement and overall educational experience

for every student and teacher on campus. He builds strong relationships with staff and students alike. He serves

as a role model to the students and is a positive influence on them. He has helped students make better choices

resulting in their ability to be more successful in class. Additionally, Woodard is organized, professional, dedicat-

ed and always willing to take on new challenges.

Jones has done a tremendous job of creating an atmosphere of friendliness at the Laveen Education Center.

She is always willing to help, no matter what the circumstance might be. If she is asked to perform a task she has

never done before, not only will she find a way to do it, but she will do it exceptionally well. Jones is always cour-

teous to the district’s customers and helps parents, prospective employees, and community members feel wel-

comed.

Woodard

Jones

Szabo is April’s TEC award recipient

Andrea Szabo of Vista del Sur is this month’s Technology Excel-

lence in the Classroom Award winner.

Szabo's students use technology across the content areas. In

science and social studies, they conduct online research and cre-

ate presentations to demonstrate their learning. Students engage

in digital conversations with peers and the teacher as they share

and refine their work. In math, Szabo has used the flipped class-

room model, having students watch a video of her teaching a con-

cept prior to completing the lesson in class. And for writing, they

are creating Google Documents to allow for real-time feedback

and an enhanced revision process.

Szabo’s students are quickly be-

coming technology experts as they

routinely use Chromebooks and

iPads to research, create, and learn.

Szabo (middle) with technology director Jordy Fuentes (left) and principal Kristi Pashley.

Cardinals visit Rogers Ranch

The Arizona Cardinals brought 60 minutes of phys-

ical activity to Rogers Ranch School through the

team’s Play 60 program.

Students participated in a variety of stations to

practice their running, catching, and jumping tech-

niques. Cardinals player Justin Bethel was also on

hand to help motivate the students.

At the end of the event, Bethel handed out signed

Gatorade water bottles to all participants.

Attend a benefit presentation or listen to the recorded benefit overview (the recorded webinar will be sent via email to all employees the week of April 14th) to learn what is changing and what will remain the same for your 7/1/14-6/30/15 insurance programs (dates, times, and location are listed below).

REMINDER – This is your once a year opportunity to make changes to your current insurance elections, you are only allowed to make a change in the middle of the year if you have an approved qualifying event such as marriage, divorce, birth of child, spouse loses or gains coverage under another plan, etc. If you have a qualifying event you MUST notify Human Resources within 30 days of the event otherwise you are not authorized to make a change until the next open enrollment.

Your current benefit elections will automatically roll over for the 7/1/14 plan year unless you complete and submit a change form. However, if you are enrolled in any of the coverages below you will be required to submit a new enrollment form: o Flexible Spending Account (FSA) - if you wish to participate in the FSA (or continue participation) you must

submit a FSA enrollment form. You will NOT automatically be re-enrolled in the FSA…. You must re-elect each year.

Enrollment/Change Forms are due by May 16th at 4pm to HR

Employee Benefit Annual Open Enrollment

LAVEEN ELEMENTARY

SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICE

Thursday, April 24th

Tuesday, April 22nd

11:00am-11:30am

3:30pm-4:00pm

Carpool or use another alternate mode of transportation?

Sign up with your school secretary to be entered into quarterly drawings for great prizes.

Incentives for new users and high pollution advisory

day carpooling