Value and Importance of Human Connection

I would like to invite you to attend a "20 Minute Topic" where we will begin to discuss and create a Comprehensive Behavioral Health Model.

While you were busy connecting with parents during PTC's, I was hosting a meeting with parents discussing the importance of developing a CBHM.  The parents offered a tremendous amount of input in what their expectations are of the behavior of students, parents, and educators in the classrooms and shared spaces.

During this meeting, we were very specific in describing the expectations that we want to see and hear when our students are in the community, school, or at home.   With this, we have started the process of developing common language and positive actions that will be part of the CBHM.

Please put it on your calendar to attend one of the meetings where we will discuss and develop the CBHM for the Mobridge-Pollock School District.

                                       "20 Minute Topic"                          "20 Minute Topic"                        
                                            Meeting #1                                    Meeting #2                                    
                                     HS Conference Rm.                        HS Conference Rm.                      
                                      October 12, 2016                             October 19, 2016        
                                              7:30am                                           7:30am  


Sincerely,


Tim Frederick
Superintendent
Mobridge-Pollock School District

American Education Week

 

Educators,

As we go about this week celebrating American Education Week, I want to personally thank all of you for your contribution in educating all of the students in our school system.  Individually, each and every one of you have a specific task that needs to be done well for our organization to be successful.  With your willingness to do whatever is necessary, we have developed a school system that meets all standards in education.  With your determination to improve upon your discipline, we are beginning to exceed standards in education. 

 

I want to challenge each of you to recognize the greatness of all the fine people that make up this great pool of people that help in building our great school system.  Teachers, board members, parents, support staff, administrators, community members and most certainly, the student, all play a crucial role in developing an educational system that is successful.  As we all know, higher levels of success can only be attained and sustained as we move forward, together, in showing appreciation and understanding for all stakeholders who strive to meet common goals.    

 

Again, I want to thank each of you for fulfilling your important role in the education of our students. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Tim L. Frederick

Superintendent

Mobridge-Pollock School District

Adjusting Lessons on "Basis of Assessment"

During our "20 Minute Topic" discussion earlier this week, we focused the conversation on what we want students to learn.  Throughout this discussion, I had the opportunity to listen to educators share their opinions on specifics that must be met in their classrooms. As they tried to determine what should be taught in the classrooms, I realized that the conversation had shifted to how we can get students engaged in learning.  They quickly agreed that one must be able to connect first and build relationships in order for students to feel comfortable with learning. 

 As I listened to their conversation, I started to think about what happens in a classroom when we lose students that we have developed relationships with.  What causes the student to become totally disengaged in the learning process?  Whatever it is, is this why students plateau and even begin to fall to the bottom after 15-25 minutes into the lesson? 

 During our next "20 Minute Topic" discussion, we will take time to discuss the importance of delving into how we assess learning in our classrooms.  Is our practice of assessment in the classroom the culprit in losing students?  Are we observing students showing more concern about finishing an assignment versus showing an understanding of learning? 

Please join our team of teachers on November 10th in the high school conference room or November 11th at Freeman Davis in the library area to discuss this important topic. The discussion will run from 7:30-7:50.

 
Tim Frederick
Superintendent
Mobridge-Pollock School District

Answering 3 Crucial Questions

We will kick off the 2015-2016 "20 Minute Topics" conversations on November 2nd at 7:30 a.m., in the HS Conference Rm.    I am very excited about our first conversation piece.  The focus of the conversation will be on collaboration and how we can grow our Professional Learning Community by answering 3 crucial questions that will help us in developing conversations with other educators on topics that are meaningful. 


To wet your appetite a little, I would like you to think about the following questions:


1. What do we want each student to learn?


2. How will we know when each student has learned it?


3.  How will we respond when a student experiences success and difficulty in learning? 


As we go about answering the questions above, we will talk about how we can work together in developing opportunities that will allow all of us to increase our capacity to learn. 


Sincerely,


Tim Frederick
Superintendent

Lifting the Lid to Knowledge (LLK)

In trying to reach out to all staff members and members of our community, I will be scheduling topics to discuss throughout the year that relate to education.  If you have a topic that you would like me to consider hosting a discussion on, please feel free to contact me and I most certainly will consider scheduling a meeting. 

The meetings will last a total of twenty minutes.  The meetings will take place in the morning from 7:30-7:50.  If we get to the end of the twenty minutes and we need more time, we will simply schedule another twenty minutes at a later date.

"20 Minute Topics"

November 6, 2014         Supts Office        PP-Instruction-Communicating with Students (Part 1)     (MP Staff Members)

November 11, 2014       Supts Office        Customized Teaching & Learning (Part 1)                          (MP Staff Members)

November 13, 2014       Supts Office        PP-Instruction-Communicating with Students (Part 2)     (MP Staff Members)

November 14, 2014       Supts Office        Is it time for a change? Comparing ACT Scores with GPA  (MP Staff Member)
December 9, 2014         Supts Office        High School Teacher Technology Usage Survey Results  ( MP HS Staff)
January 7, 2015             Supts Office        Shared Leadership-Understanding our Responsibilities     ( MP Staff )
February 24, 2015         Supts. Office       First Year Teacher Discussion (Improving the Mentor/Mentee Program)
March 3, 2015               Supts. Office       Special Education Overview                                                     (MP Staff)