Teacher Weekly
Students from Stedman Elementary celebrated the season during their recent Winter Showcase.
Dec. 18, 2019
Grow Your Career in DPS as a Senior Team Lead or Team Lead
Dear Educators,

We hope you are all excited and feeling ready for the well-deserved winter break that's just a few days away. As we look ahead to a new year, we wanted to share an opportunity for you to grow within your role at DPS -- to lead without leaving the classroom.

This spring, schools across the district will seek exceptional educators to magnify their impact as Senior/Team Leads (S/TLs) next year. As members of the Instructional Leadership Team, S/TLs play critical roles in helping schools reach their student goals. 
 
Want to become an S/TL? Apply to the Senior/Team Lead Pool to enter a pool of interested candidates who principals across the district will access as they search for strong fits for their openings:
  1. Review the STL and TL role descriptions.
  2. Confirm your eligibility for the S/TL role.
  3. Self-assess your readiness for role using the Teacher Leader Scope & Sequence.
  4. Apply to the Senior/Team Lead Pool.
 
Want to learn more? Set up a time to chat with a TLC member or email carrie_seawright@dpsk12.org . 

Thank you for all you've done this first semester, and we look forward to seeing you in 2020!

Many thanks,
Tamara and Mike
This Week's Top Things to Know
CollaboRATE is Coming Soon
DPS' all-employee engagement survey, CollaboRATE, will be open Jan. 6-17 . This confidential survey is one of the most important tools that you can use to help shape the future of your team and DPS. As a teacher, you will be able to share feedback for your principal, assistant principal, deans and, if applicable, Teacher Leadership and Collaboration team leads.
 
We have worked with our LGBTQ+ Belong group and team members throughout the district to create a more inclusive and effective survey. This includes, for the second year, the addition of voluntary and confidential self-identification questions. 
 
More information will be shared in the newsletters soon. For a general overview of the survey, and FAQs, please visit thecommons.dpsk12.org/collaborate .
Register for the Feb. 14 Teal Day Sessions
Professional learning on Teal Days supports the success of every student by building educators’ capacity to deepen their understanding of content and best practices with a focus on the district cornerstones of Equity, Instructional Excellence and Collaborative Teamwork. Secure your spot for the Feb. 14 Teal Day Sessions. Find session descriptions, outcomes, registration links and more on the Teal Day webpage . Session locations will be finalized in January. Please work with your school leader to identify the sessions that are best for you. If you have questions, please contact professional_learning@dpsk12.org .
Reminder: Complete the Fall Impact Survey
Last Monday, you should have received an invitation from the Deputy Superintendent of Academics to take the Fall Impact Survey, and you will receive a reminder today if you have not yet responded. This brief survey (under 10 minutes) helps us understand whether current DPS strategies are achieving impact and will also help prioritize future strategies.
Reminder: Final Deadline for PDU Applications is Jan. 10
Applications for spring 2020 PDUs are due Jan. 10 . Applications should adhere to the PDU guidelines and be submitted to PDU_Team@dpsk12.org . This will be the final application cycle for the 2019-20 school year. Detailed information on the review cycle timelines can be found in the  PDU Calendar.
Share Your Voice on SAT Standard Setting Committee
The Assessment Division of the Colorado Department of Education is seeking Colorado educators who are interested in providing input on critical processes and decisions regarding the SAT school day assessment program. These standard setting committees will meet Jan. 14-15 in the Denver metro area. To be eligible, you must be a current public school/district employee, show demonstrated experience and expertise in high school English Language Arts or Mathematics instruction aligned to Colorado Academic Standards, and/or experience working with special populations of students (i.e. students with disabilities or English learners) and must be able to attend both days of committee meetings as scheduled. Click here to learn more, and share your interest using this form . Contact Jared Anthony if you have questions about participating. 
Middle School STEM NGSS Teacher Professional Learning Opportunity
DPS and CU Boulder have teamed up to help teachers increase student engagement in middle school science and STEM classrooms through the use of scientific phenomena and programmable MicroBit Sensors to conduct student-driven investigations. This professional learning experience will give teachers the tools, skills and knowledge to give all students equitable access to rich, relevant STEM experiences. If you’re interested in participating, please fill out this interest form .
Literacy and Math Teachers: Capstone Updates
As we welcome in the New Year, we have the following important capstone information to share:
 
We want to support your team. Please email Martin Lessman capstone support.  
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