Weekly Update from the Office of the Superintendent
Volume 1, Issue 33 (March 5, 2021)
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Virtual & Hybrid Learning
Last week, an important message was sent to all of our Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) families. We are asking these families to decide to commit to virtual learning through the end of June 2021 or to return to in-person instruction. This decision must be made on or before Monday (March 8). Families that do not request a return to in-person instruction will remain fully virtual for the remainder of the school year.
I know this is a difficult decision for our families, but it is necessary to have this information if we are able to continue to develop plans for increasing in-person instruction. As discussed in previous editions of the Ken-Ton Weekly Connection, one of the biggest factors is the number of students who will be in attendance each day. We are in the process of examining all physical classroom spaces to determine whether all in-person students can be accommodated at the same time while meeting the NYSED-required 6 feet of social distancing. Remember, social distancing is required regardless of the use of masks or partitions.
Regardless of social distancing requirements, any changes to our model will present challenges. These include reconfiguring bus routing, reconfiguring schedules, adjusting staffing, and planning for greater numbers of students at various times during the school day including arrival, dismissal, class transitions, and lunch. We are exploring each of these challenges. We know changes will not be able to happen overnight since our current operational framework is based on our hybrid instructional model. Our students need more face-to-face instruction and our mission is to achieve this.
This situation remains fluid. I alongside other school superintendents from the Erie-Niagara School Superintendents Association recently signed a letter to Dr. Betty Rosa, NYS Education Commissioner, outlining many different considerations. We articulated our hope that superintendents across the state will be included in discussions regarding any potential changes which may facilitate opportunities for increased in-person attendance. We will be prepared to phase in additional in-person instruction as soon as future modifications to the guidance allows us to do so.
In the meantime, I am extremely proud of all of our students, staff, and families who are remaining vigilant in doing such an outstanding job following all of the safety precautions. We have seen local positivity rates drop since early January. We have seen the number of student and staff infections steadily decline. We know that schools are a safe place and our work together will be the most important factor that will enable us to increase opportunities for in-person instruction. Keep it up!
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CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH |
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In recognition of March, which is Women’s History Month, we wish to recognize the contributions of those who have been instrumental in the women’s rights movement. Today, we focus on Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was one of the earliest and most important leaders of the women's suffrage movement.
Elizabeth Cady was born to a wealthy family in the City of Johnstown, NY (northwest of Albany) in 1815. As a young woman, she often visited her cousin who was an abolitionist and one of the “Secret Committee of Six” that financed John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859, a precursor to the Civil War. Through this cousin, she met and married Henry Brewster Stanton, a prominent lawyer, politician, and abolitionist. She shared his views on abolishing slavery, though many in her family did not. While attending the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London in 1840 during their honeymoon, Mrs. Stanton was appalled when the convention's male delegates prevented women from participating, even those who had been sent as delegates. She befriended one of the female delegates, Lucretia Mott, who had been barred from participating at the convention. Mrs. Stanton then watched her preach at a London chapel, which was the first time Mrs. Stanton had ever seen a woman give a sermon or even speak in public.
This was a turning point in her life. She became increasingly passionate about confronting the legal barriers to gender equality and earning women the right to vote, while also eradicating slavery. In the late 1840s, she was part of the small group that organized the Seneca Falls Convention, and was the primary author of the convention's Declaration of Rights and Sentiments. This was the beginning of the national women’s suffrage movement. Mrs. Stanton was one of the most important leaders of this movement, working alongside her close friend, Susan B. Anthony, for decades. Following the Civil War, they were overjoyed to see an end to slavery, but they opposed the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment because it only gave the vote to African-American men, and not all men and women. They founded the National Woman Suffrage Association, which Mrs. Stanton presided over as president, and she worked for 40 years to earn women the right to vote. She died in 1902, 18 years before the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, which finally granted women the right to vote.
Although Mrs. Stanton did not live to see the attainment of all she worked for, she will always be remembered for the critical role she played in American history as one of the most important leaders of the women’s suffrage movement.
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Today, we recognize Amy Klose, a math teacher at Kenmore West High School, who together with Kathleen Reiser have helped many Ken-Ton teachers earn their National Board Certification. Board-Certified Teachers are now required to earn recertification after five years, and Ms. Klose has become the third Ken-Ton teacher to earn her recertification. The timing of the recertification coincided with the pandemic. Despite the significant challenges of completing the recertification process during this unprecedented time in education, Ms. Klose persevered and learned last weekend that she had successfully earned her recertification.
A total of 24 current or recently retired Ken-Ton educators have earned their National Board Certification, which is considered the gold standard in teaching. It is a performance-based peer-review process similar to board certification in medicine. Ken-Ton is among the districts in New York State with the highest number of National Board-Certified teachers, and has one of the highest percentages – if not the highest percentage – of its teaching staff who have earned this distinction in the western region of New York State. Ms. Klose and and Ms. Reiser are trained in candidate support and work in partnership with the Staff Development Center and New York State United Teachers to help teachers navigate the certification process. Earning National Board Certification is a rigorous process which includes written entries, exams, and video submissions, and can take one or two years. There are four components of certification: an assessment of the candidate’s subject area knowledge, evidence of differentiation in instruction, video recordings of classroom instruction, and evidence of being an effective and reflective practitioner of teaching practices.
Congratulations to Ms. Klose on this professional achievement and for all her work helping other teachers earn their National Board Certification!
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Thank you for reviewing this information. As always, we remain Ken-Ton Proud, Ken-Ton Strong, and Ken-Ton Moving Forward!
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