Students in the Winslow School District will be heading back to class on Monday, Aug. 8, and administrators and teachers will have some exciting changes waiting for them.
The district is adding 12 new teachers and putting some familiar faces in new places. School Superintendent Doug Watson explained that in order to provide cross-training for staff, the district’s administration will be moving into other positions throughout the district.
“We decided that this would create a greater depth of knowledge for our administrators when staff begins retirement so that all positions can be covered in the interim,” stated Watson.
Administrators changing to new positions include Troy McReynolds, principal and technology/data coach at Bonnie Brennan Elementary School, formerly principal at Jefferson Elementary School; Peggy Elrod, special education teacher, Johnson O’Malley and English Language Learners coordinator, formerly special education coordinator; Bonnie Waldrop, special education coordinator, formerly JOM, ELL and gifted coordinator; Cyndie Mattox, principal of Jefferson Elementary School, formerly director over federal programs; Justin Hartman, part-time assistant principal at Winslow High School and director over federal programs, formerly full-time assistant principal at WHS; and Sal Hernandez, full-time assistant principal at WHS, formerly science teacher.
New teachers this year include Christie Bratt of Winslow, who will teach first grade at Jefferson Elementary School; Michelle Thiede of Scottsdale and Carol Hixon, who will each teach special education at Washington Elementary School; Larissa Richards of Winslow and Cassie Schumacher of Round Valley, who will each teach English at Winslow Junior High School; Todd Schipper of Show Low, who will teach science at WJHS; Cairsten Beanlan of Massachusetts, who will be a counselor at WHS; Brianna Conatser of Winslow, who will teach English at WHS; Shawn Layden of Holbrook, who will facilitate the Safe, Supportive Schools program; Hanna Cassady, who will teach elementary art; and Sherice Watkins, who will be a speech pathologist.
Other changes within the district include the conversion of Bonnie Brennan Elementary to a magnet school for third through sixth grades.
The school was offered as an option for students over traditional elementary school, and will be technology and project based. When the option was offered to parents, 150 students signed up for the school. This new approach for the district allows students to use a Netbook one-on-one in the classroom, but will also include traditional instruction.
“Computers are infinitely patient. If you are learning a subject and you stop, the computer lets you know where you left off. The computer is able to keep track and let you know what areas you need to work on,” stated Watson, adding that this type of focus on needs is difficult for a teacher instructing 25 to 30 students in a classroom.
“The school will also provide what computers cannot, teachers who will encourage students, put their arms around them, and listen to their concerns and needs. We’re stepping out a bit,” admitted Watson.
The school will still house the regular kindergarten classes, but will now also include 175 students from grades third through sixth, with approximately 25 kids per classroom.
In addition, the district will be taking part in Beyond Textbooks, a district-wide instructional program produced by the Vail School District in Tucson. The program now includes 39 other school districts as its methods of providing curriculum development, instructional improvement, student assessment and multi-level intervention has proven to produce an increase in overall test scores.
“Incorporating this program allows teachers to dedicate their time to teaching students and not developing curriculum. Vail schools are excelling schools, so they must have it dialed in for state standards and AIMS,” deduced Watson.
The AIMS (Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards) results recently received by the district showed that in the area of mathematics, students in the Winslow district are struggling. “A look at the results showed that our Native American students were behind other groups, so we’re going to work on increasing the performance of those students. This will not be at a loss to other students, but to bring those students up to their potential,” he said.
Overall, the district has some exciting changes for the coming year. For students and parents wanting to meet the teachers for the coming year, WJHS will hold an open house from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 4; the elementary schools will host meet the teacher events from 12 noon to 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5; and WHS will host an open house from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 8.
