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Educators and students at Lowry Elementary in Southeast Denver.
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Key Steps to Ensure Guest Teacher Coverage When You Are Out
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Dear Teachers,
We know how much you care about ensuring that your classes' needs are met when you are out and that your students do not lose ground. Below, we discuss key steps we ask that you take to ensure guest teacher coverage of classes in the case of teacher absences.
As of March 1, we have seen 39,000 requests for guest teachers
so far this year
and have filled 90% of those requests. Our ability to fill jobs decreases by 25% when they are same-day requests. If the request is put into the system with at least two days' notice, we can fill 94% of those requests. Timing is essential!
Here are some tips to help secure guest teacher coverage when you are absent:
- It is very important to take immediate action. If you feel ill the night before a school day, it's better to get the absence in the system right away and cancel the job in the morning if something changes.
- Be mindful of when you request time off. Requests with less than two days' notice, Mondays and Fridays are our hardest-to-fill jobs.
- School leaders will work with the Guest Teacher team to compile a list of preferred guest teachers. You can help secure coverage by calling people on this list when you plan to be out.
- Enter your absences for professional development as soon as you sign up. Then, monitor the absence. If it gets close to the date and nobody has picked up the job, reach out to guest teachers on your school's preferred list to see if they can cover for you.
- The Guest Teacher team hires for guest teachers throughout the year. If you are retiring and are interested in staying on as a guest teacher or know someone who is interested, email [email protected].
If you need additional support securing coverage, please work with your principal.
Warm regards,
Susana
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Superintendent Boasberg Urges Legislature to Increase School Funding and Better Meet Student Needs
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This week, the Colorado House Education Committee heard testimony on
House Bill 18-1232
, a bill that would fundamentally overhaul how the state funds our schools. It would create a formula for
more school funding and more equitable funding, including more support for full-day kindergarten, gifted and talented students, English language learners, students with special needs and students in poverty.
Superintendent Tom Boasberg testified in support of the bill on Monday -- and there's still time for you to make your voices heard, too.
"
In Colorado, we fund our students at an average of $2,500 per student less than the national average. That is short-sighted and wrong," said Boasberg, who worked with superintendents throughout the state to drive House Bill 18-1232 forward. "Our state needs to dramatically increase our investment in education and to better target our funds toward our kids with higher needs. This bill both increases total funding and changes the funding formula to better meet the needs of our students with disabilities, our English language learners and our students in poverty."
If the bill passes, a November statewide ballot measure to raise income taxes on high-wage earners and increase school funding would follow.
The House Education Committee is expected to vote on House Bill 18-1232 next week. It is important that you all make your voices heard on the legislation.
Need contact information? Find it
here
.
"It's critical for us to come together to advocate for fair, equitable funding for our schools," Boasberg said. "We do good work when we collaborate, and we have an opportunity - together - to create real change for our schools, our teachers and our kids."
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This Week's Top 5 Things to Know
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Apply to Teach at Summer Academy
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Fully qualified ELA-E, ELA-S and special education teachers are needed to teach at Summer Academy, working with students entering first through fourth grades who are on READ plans and all English Language Acquisition students entering first through eighth grades. Half-day sessions are available June 11-13 or July 19, depending on location (sites are closed July 4-6). If you're interested in applying, complete the interest form below.
Please encourage students in your classes who meet the above criteria to register for Summer Academy as soon as possible. The registration deadline has been extended to April 20 to allow as many students as possible to take advantage of this great learning opportunity. More information is available on the Summer Academy website.
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Vacation Planning? Give Input on the 2019-20 DPS Calendar
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We want your input on the 2019-20 school year calendar. Complete this survey to share your preferences on school-year start and end dates, and fall, Thanksgiving and winter break times. In addition to state requirements, contractual obligations and community needs, your feedback will inform the Calendar Advisory Committee's recommendations on the 2019-20 calendar. The survey is open through Friday, April 13.
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Paid PD Opportunity: Attend the DPS Tech Summit
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Are you interested in engaging your students by integrating technology into your classroom? Attend the DPS Tech Summit from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. April 28 at North High School. At the summit you will learn about Google tools, Schoology, game-based learning, screencasting, project-based learning, math with Chromebooks and much more. Certified teachers and specialized service providers will be paid for attending, and lunch is provided. Check out the schedule and register here. If you have questions, email [email protected].
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Join the Discovery Link Team for Summer Camp
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Keep our kids excited and engaged this summer through Discovery Link Summer Camp and Summer Academy. Apply now for an open position to serve more than 1,600 students at 17 locations. Applicants do not need to be certified teachers but must have experience working with kids, so share this opportunity with paraprofessionals, too.
Perks include paid professional development and free Summer Camp enrollment for your children at the site where you work while you are employed with the department.
The eight-week curriculum is also provided and designed to create fun, collaborative learning environments. Log in to
Infor HR
, click on Opportunities and search 26307 in the job ID field. If you have questions, contact
Briana Evans
.
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Check Out the New PSAT/SAT Schoology Group
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Teachers can now access PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10 and SAT curriculum materials, practice tests and assessment information in Schoology by using access code 8MPN2-NQQ62. Log in to Schoology and click on Resources to get started.
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Bonus: Encourage African-American Girls to Attend the First African-American Young Ladies Summit
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Encourage African-American girls in ninth through 11th grades to attend the first African-American Young Ladies Summit on April 27. African-American women from across Denver will join students to discuss the issues and challenges they face and to celebrate who they are. This exciting event will give young African-American women the opportunity to meet and connect with successful women in careers that they are interested in pursuing. The summit will be held from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. April 27 at George Washington High School, 655 S. Monaco Parkway. Students interested in attending should contact their school counselors to sign up.
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