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The 411

September 6, 2013

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From the Superintendent

We’re off to another great start! I know you might find

this hard to believe and even saying it seems a little re-

dundant, but we have lots of new students this year.

About 700 as of the first Friday. We typically continue to

grow through October 1.

Am I the only one having déjà vu right now? The good

news is that this year we actually have one of our three

new schools under construction, and by 2015 we will

have four new schools (counting Delta High School) in Pasco! The better news is that every school is

packed full of dedicated staff ready to lead eager young learners to success. And, I can say this with

certainty because I went to every Pasco school the first week.

On Tuesday morning our teachers arrived to find Teachers Matter bracelets in their mailboxes. As I

traveled throughout the District I saw some people wearing them and also gathered some comments

and questions.

Don’t classified and administrative staff matter? Of course! Didn’t you hear my Rally speech? I made

it clear that we all have our role in making our core work successful. That core work is student learn-

ing. Teachers play the key role in that work. Teachers are the ones under attack. It is disappointing to

me that all staff can’t celebrate others. Recognizing one group in no way diminishes the others. Join

the effort to thank the great teachers in your life and in your buildings. And, nominate your col-

leagues now for a Staff Achievement or North Star award.

Why gray? It’s unisex. It won’t get dirty like white. It isn’t highly associated with a regional or na-

tional cause or campaign. It’s neutral. According to Harper's Baazar, New York fall fashion week

2013 featured gray as the "new neutral,” and since they didn’t offer a clear “blurple” we thought gray

might work. Most importantly it represents the fact that WE GROW GRAY MATTER in Pasco, so

we hope you will wear them proudly.

We also knew that launching this Teachers Matter campaign might leave everyone else asking “What

about me?” I cannot overstate the obvious: EVERYONE MATTERS. I would ask you, if test scores

don’t go up at your school this year—your school where English is not the primary language, your

school with a poverty rate over 90 percent—will politicians and pundits be saying you should be

fired? I would also point out that none of us, me included, would have jobs without teachers.

Our teachers and the teaching profession are unfairly under attack. The national discourse on educa-

tion is a blame game with teachers and public school systems at the center of the attack. Teacher

bashing has become a national sport. Author Rebecca Mead gets at the heart of the problem in The

New Yorker when she states, “Blaming teachers for the failure of schools is like blaming doctors for

the diseases they are seeking to treat.” The education of our children is the solution, not the problem.

We are no longer willing to accept this blame game in Pasco and I am asking all of you to join in our

revolution of truth telling. Be proud and speak proudly of the work you do and of all your col-

leagues—classified and administrative staff and teachers— and their contributions to our communi-

ty’s children. Warmly,

On Teachers Matter...

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411 Highlights

T he District welcomed new and returning employees at the annual All Staff Rally and Expo on Aug. 26 at

Pasco High School with some special words of wisdom to inspire the school year ahead.

The event provided a chance for employees to learn more about the services of benefits providers and PEAK! partners and to recognize the District’s eight newest Staff Achievement Award winners as well as the top 2012-13 PEAK! partners.

Outstanding PSD team members Heidi Nelson (choir teacher, Ochoa Middle School), Marsha Dunstan (counselor, McLoughlin Middle School), Tatyana Polyukh (second grade Russian bilingual teacher, Frost Elementary), Vida Zuljevic (librarian, Robinson Elementary), Carmen Garcia (custodian, Robinson Elementary), Gracie Valle-Chimal (Community Relations Manager), Manuel Torres (paraeducator, Robinson), and Vickie Hanson (Student Services Secretary) were honored with the 2013 Staff Achievement Awards.

These eight dedicated employees were nominated and chosen by their peers to receive $1,000 and up to five days release time to use for profession-al development.

Also recognized at the Rally were the top 2012-13 PEAK!, or Partners in Educating All Kids, partners. Partners who went above and beyond the requirements to make a positive difference for Pasco students this past year were McGee Elementary PEAK! partner Advanced Pediatric Dentistry (Unique PEAK! Award), Livingston Elementary partner Lourdes Health Network (District Choice Award), and Stevens Middle School partner Parr Lumber (PEAK! of the Year Award).

Rally Showcases WORDS OF WISDOM; Staff and PEAK! Awards Announced

Clockwise from top: Stevens Middle School Principal Charlotte

Troxel, center, and staff showcase their words of wisdom; Staff

Achievement Award winner Heidi Nelson is congratulated by

Ochoa Middle School Principal Jackie Ramirez and her col-

leagues; pictured from left to right are Staff Achievement Award

winners Tatyana Polyukh, Marsha Dunstan, Carmen Garcia, Vick-

ie Hanson, Vida Zuljevic, Manuel Torres, Heidi Nelson, and Gracie

Valle-Chimal; pictured from left to right are Valle-Chimal, Carlos

Chavez (PARR Lumber), Troxel, Grover Kerr (PARR Lumber),

Melanie Johnston (Lourdes Health Network), Livingston Principal

Susan Sparks, Lisa Garza and Lili Gutierrez (Advanced Pediatrics

Dentistry and Orthodontics), and McGee Principal Robin Hay.

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P asco School District is proud of the work of our employees. Those who go above and be-yond in their everyday work continue to be recognized by colleagues, students, and par-ents with the North Star Award.

District irrigation maintenance employees Tom Smith and Gary Schubert were honored with North Star Awards in front of their colleagues at Building 210 on July 25.

Smith and Schubert were nominated by Director of Support Services Randy Nunamaker, who writes, “First impressions are key to instilling Pasco Pride at every fa-cility and event. The maintenance irrigation staff of Tom Smith and Gary Schubert have provided outstanding service to the Dis-trict and the community by keeping our grounds green and lush, ready for play, games and events. They work tirelessly to provide the best in irrigation efficiency and effectiveness. Thank you for making us look good and keeping the Pride in all Pasco Schools.”

Teachers Matter

North Star Awards: Pasco Employees Shine Brightly

North Star Award recipients Tom Smith, left, and Gary Schubert

are pictured with Director of Support Services Randy Nunamaker

on July 25.

Did you catch a star shining brightly? Nominate a colleague today! CLICK HERE to fill out the form.

Teachers matter. McLoughlin Middle School sixth grade math teacher Kurtis Henry is one great example.

At the end of the 2012-13 school year, then McLoughlin Principal John Wallwork received a letter from Dharmendra Rana, the father of Himanshu Rana, one of Mr. Henry’s students.

“I can’t think of a teacher who could have made this past year any more special than Mr. Henry did,” he wrote. “He stood out because of his extraordinary dedication to students… I loved how he always related the lessons to real life examples that allowed the material to make more logical sense to students. Mr. Henry, thank you for always going the extra mile as a teacher. I appreciate it more than you will ever know.”

Henry was presented with a North Star Award at the All Staff Rally on Aug. 26 at Pasco High School. Himanshu Rana and his mother, Mira-ben Rana, joined him on stage.

Congratulations, Mr. Henry, and thank you!

Kurtis Henry Makes a Difference

Kurtis Henry is pictured with McLoughlin student Himanshu Rana and his

mother Miraben Rana after receiving the North Star Award at the All Staff

Rally on Aug. 26 at Pasco High School.

All year, we will be celebrating educators who have made a difference. If you have a story to share about a current or past teacher, or know someone who deserves to be recognized, please email publicaffairs@psd1.org or call Annie at x6774.

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411 Highlights

For the seventh time in nine years a Pasco teacher has been named the Education Service District 123 Regional Teacher of the Year. Former Angelou Elementary Two-Way Dual Language kindergarten teacher Bernice “Bernie” Hanan, who currently teaches at Chiawana High School, will compete for the Washington State 2014 Teacher of the Year title in late September.

“You don’t get here by yourself,” says Hanan of the hon-or. “It is due to the help and guidance of those who have been here before and have mentored and shared with me.”

After spending the last twelve years teaching five-year-olds, Hanan started this school year at Chiawana High School, where she is a Spanish teacher. Teaching has been her life, says Hanan. “I never grow tired of seeing the world through the eyes of children and watching the wonderment as they are exposed to new ideas and con-cepts,” she states. “Seeing that light bulb come on is al-ways a thrill. My job is never dull. For me teaching is not just a vocation, it is the driving force in my life.”

Over the last thirty years of her career Hanan has taught Kindergarten through 4th grade and Spanish at the sec-ondary and college levels at public and Christian schools. She has been a guest lecturer at the University of Eastern Africa in Kenya and has established, coordinated, and guided student mission trips to Africa and Latin America to build schools and churches.

The daughter of farm workers with little formal educa-tion, Hanan credits several of her own teachers with hav-ing meaningful influence on her and giving her direction in life. Her fourth grade teacher saw her potential, always encouraged her, and inspired her to be a teacher. A pro-fessor at Walla Walla University was another teacher who genuinely cared about her and never gave up on her, even when she had to quit school a few credits short to work and save money to finish college.

Hanan’s greatest accomplishments in teaching are the successes of her students, she says. She strives for her stu-dents to build connections to each other and the world. As a Two Way Dual Language teacher, for example, she paired kindergarteners into two-student teams of English and Spanish speakers. Through this process they learned to value their partner and, by extension the culture of their partner. Hanan believes the power of education is learning that everyone has value and the power to im-prove the world.

Hanan is very active in the District, her church, and her community. She teaches at the annual Spanish Camp for District employees and has worked with her school’s PEAK! partner Kadlec Clinic to provide health awareness

presentations to kindergartners. At Angelou Elementary, she held regular parent meetings and provided mini les-sons to parents on how to best help their students as they learn in a new language. Through her church, Hanan is involved in Pathfinders, a character and skill-building organization for young people. She runs in and volunteers for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and helped establish the Tri-Cities Diaper Bank, which began as a small resource for low-income families who could not access daycare without supplying their own diapers and has grown to a large organization with its own board of directors and a host of funders. She has also volunteered as a translator at Grace Clinic helping to bridge commu-nication for low income, uninsured Tri-Citians. She has been able to involve local doctors and dentists in pro bo-no work with local families and students through this relationship.

By expanding her life experiences through travel and ser-vice, Hanan is able to share her knowledge with her stu-dents while, she hopes, whetting their appetites for want-ing to do the same. In or outside the classroom, Hanan provides her students with the skills to be caring citizens of the world.

Hanan joins fellow Pasco School District Regional Teach-er of the Year winners Jaime Silva (2012), John Kerr (2011), Aimee Simington-Pearce (2010), Toni Cuello (2009), Laura Jones (2008), and Teri Perez (2006). Jones was also named Washington state teacher of the year for 2008.

Bernie Hanan Named 2014 ESD 123 Regional Teacher of the Year

Bernie Hanan is pictured giving a lesson to her beginning Spanish class

at Chiawana High School on Sept. 3.

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411 Highlights

6

Around the District

In 2010 an energy program proposal was approved to conserve energy and ex-penditures. As in past years each staff member will be asked to assist the District with this task.

All personally owned appli-ances, such as heaters, fans, microwaves, coffee/hot wa-ter pots and refrigerators are not to be brought into dis-trict facilities and must be removed from your work area. The District has made provisions for refrigerators and other appliances in em-ployee lounges, work rooms

and similar facilities. As needed, the District will make provisions for refriger-ation of medicines and tem-porary heating devices when the building systems cannot achieve heat within District standards.

Exceptions will be made for medical con-ditions that require a specific appli-ance. Personal appli-ance request forms are available through your

building office.

Please contact the mainte-nance office at ext. 2691 for more information.

Reminder: Energy Conservation Top Priority

A message from Director of Support Services Randy Nunamaker

Flynn Honored For Twenty-Five Years of Service to Migrant Families Pasco School District Assistant Superin-tendent Liz Flynn was honored at the Washington State Migrant Education Program (WSMEP) Annual Conference Aug. 15 in Yakima for her twenty-five years of directly serving the migrant students and families of Pasco.

Flynn has served mi-grant families in a variety of capacities throughout her career beginning with her work as a bilingual paraeducator and migrant summer school teacher to di-rector of Special Programs, executive director of Student Achievement, and now assistant superintendent. She has seen many changes along the way. For example, the District used to see an

influx of thou-sands of mi-grant students right after spring break every year, she says. Now, there are just hundreds. Stricter child labor laws and changes in lo-cal agriculture greatly account for the change in numbers, she says.

She recalls see-ing migrant students fall asleep in class because they had been up since before dawn working in the fields. They would shower, come to school, and then return to the fields after class. Many still do.

However, as the legal age for children

to work increased to 16, fewer young students are working in the fields, but more are being left home unsupervised. It’s a complicated tradeoff, says Flynn.

According to WSMEP, migrant stu-dents face more obstacles in the pur-suit of education than any other identi-fiable population, and their dropout rate is higher than that of the average population. More out-of-state workers come to Washington than to any other state with the exception of California.

Throughout her career, Flynn has di-rectly contributed to the academic success of migrant students here in Pasco.

“Liz is a well-known advocate for mi-grant students and families not only in Pasco, but across the State,” says Su-perintendent Saundra Hill. “I was honored to be able to be there when Liz accepted the award and wasn’t surprised when the whole arena erupt-ed in applause for her. Liz is one of Pasco’s best assets.”

Assistant Superintendent Liz Flynn, center, is

pictured with State Superintendent of Public

Instruction Randy Dorn and Helen Malagon,

director of the OSPI Migrant and Bilingual

Education program, on Aug. 15 at the State

Migrant Education Conference in Yakima.

State Representative Susan Fagan visited Elementary #13

with several PSD board members and administrators on

Aug. 23. Construction is going strong at the school which

will open for the 2014-2015 school year. Pictured from left

to right are Board Member Rubén Peralta, Board Presi-

dent Sherry Lancon, Assistant Superintendent John Mor-

gan, Rep. Susan Fagan, and Superintendent Saundra Hill.

Rep. Fagan Visits New School Site

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More than 80 Pasco patrons gathered at the Booth Building on Aug. 22 to participate in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Summit to establish the vi-sion and guiding principles for Pasco’s three new STEM elementary schools.

Working with Greg and Judy Reault the group participated in compression exercises to arrive at the vision and guiding principles. “It’s not often that you get to be on the ground floor of creating something like this,” Greg Reault said to the participants. “Pasco has had a tremendous amount of growth and it is exciting and appropriate that we begin planning now.”

The group included parents, teachers, stu-dents, business owners, community mem-bers, STEM professionals, and District ad-ministrators. Student participants included several recent Delta High School graduates, who were on the ground floor of innovation just a few years ago. Delta graduate Erik Ruehl said, “I thought the process was really good. We pretty much cov-ered everything.”

Interim Executive Director of Washington State STEM Education Foundation Susy Merz was also impressed by the opportunity for community input. “The process was great,” she said. “There was such a wide and impressive range of community support. The evening was very innova-tive and collaborative and a great experience.”

The vision statement the group settled on is:

“We will ignite in our students and staff a passion for learning and a commitment to innovative thinking and a desire to transform the global community.”

Pasco High School music Teacher Matthew Polk was also in attendance. “It was good to go through this brainstorm-ing exercise to explore new ways to grow STEM programs

to make the best schools we can,” he said. “It was interest-ing to hear the different visions. I feel like people walked away with a more similar interpretation of how this might be possible and what it might look like.”

The recommendation of the group will now be sent on to the board for approval.

Construction of Elementary #13 is currently underway on Road 52, just off Powerline Road, and will open in 2014. Construction on Elementary Schools #14 and #15 will begin next year with those schools opening in 2015.

The next steps in planning include forming a team of certif-icated staff in grade K-8 to build curriculum based on the work at the STEM Summit. If you are interested in making a 4-8 month commitment to be on this curriculum team, contact Planning Principal Deidre Holmberg at dholmberg@psd1.org or extension 6772.

Around the District District Hosts STEM Summit

Save the Date September 11: Benefits Q&A 2:30-7 p.m. in the Board Room, Booth Building

Which medical plan is right for me? How much life insurance do I need? If you have questions like these about your employee benefits, Employee Services is offering another benefits information event. This is your chance to ask specific questions regarding your medical, dental, and vision benefits. Representatives from Group Health, Premera, Lincoln, Assurant, Guardian and Washington Retirement will be on hand to answer your questions.

Director of Employee Services Tim Sullivan, left, and Kevin Simmons join in a

roundtable discussion during the STEM Summit Aug. 22 at the Booth Building.

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Around the District

September 15-October 15 is

Hispanic Heritage Month

September 8: Grandparents Day

September 10: Board of Directors Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Booth

September 11: Patriot Day

September 12: Welcome Back Night, 6 p.m. at NHHS

September 14: Fiery Foods Festival, noon-8 p.m. in downtown Pasco

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

Board Notes 08-27-13

A study session was held to discuss the 2014 levy. The flag salute was presented by Student Representatives Ms. Neydeen Martinez and Mr. Ovidio Castillo.

Ms. Glenda Cloud presented a report on

School Start Up.

The consent agenda was approved with the following: Personnel; Warrant Report; License Agreement between Pasco School District and the Pasco Downtown Develop0ment Association for the Commercial Foods Academy; Consultant

Agreement for Mary Kay Britton; Highly Capable Students Program iGrant Application Form Package 217; 2013-15 Contract with Pasco Association of Educators; and 2013-15 Contract with Pasco Coaches Association.

Congratulations to Ochoa Middle School teacher Greg Olson for correctly answering the following question: The Payroll and Human Resources departments have combined to form the new Employee Services department, located on the first floor of the Booth Building. Greg won a Tri-City Americans VIP Hockey Package courtesy of All Star Motors.

Be sure to check your email for the next prize question for a chance to win a $50 gift card to Olive Garden courtesy of School Employees Credit Union of Washington.

The 411 Prize Giveaway

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