Teacher Weekly
May 5, 2021
Teacher Appreciation Week: Thank You!
Dear Educators,

Just as interim superintendent Dwight Jones shared, this year more than ever our teachers deserve an enormous THANK YOU. The commitment of our educators is clear, as you have devoted your time and energy into ensuring that our kids are being fully supported both in remote and in-person learning. You have continued to reach out and reassure families during a time of constant change and uncertainty with tremendous empathy and grace. We hope that this week, and every week, you know just how deeply appreciated you are by all your DPS teammates, students and families.

As we continue to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, be sure to check your email for Teacher Appreciation Daily with words of thanks from students, videos, giveaways and more! Catch up at teacherappreciation.dpsk12.org. Plus, share how you’ve been celebrated on social media using #DPSlovesteachers.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, and THANK YOU for all you do!

Many thanks, 
Tamara and Mike
This Week's Top 5 Things to Know
Updates on 2021-22 Teal Days and Cohorts
With the approval of the 2021-22 school year calendar last month, there have been some questions about the changes to the Teal Day structure for 2021-22. Please see this one pager for high-level information about this change, as well as links to an FAQ and a form to submit additional questions.
New PDU Resource Library Available
The Professional Learning Team is excited to announce the launch of the PDU Resource Library. In accordance with PDU Guidelines, this library will provide exemplar PDU samples in addition to instructional resources and recommendations to assist potential facilitators in designing and implementing their own PDU. The library will serve as a continuously updated archive and resource bank, and will be expanded over subsequent PDU cycles. If you have any feedback to share, please feel free to do so using the feedback form embedded on the library welcome page, or visit the PDU page on The Commons for more information.
New CDE Online Licensing System Available
The new CDE licensing system -- Colorado Online Licensing (COOL) -- has been designed to streamline processes for educators applying for and renewing their Colorado educator credentials, reduce processing time and include more automated notifications for users. The system also has added features such as an educator profile, credential print options and a two-way communication tool for users to connect with Educator Licensing directly within the system. Additional information, including checklists and video tutorials, are available on the CDE Licensing webpage.
Student and Family Satisfaction Surveys Now Open: Encourage Students and Families to Participate
End-of-year Student and Family Satisfaction Surveys were sent out earlier this week. We appreciate you encouraging your students and families to participate, as the reflections they share will help us plan for next school year. Click here for additional information about how to access survey links and a communication toolkit for your school to use (translations coming soon.) Questions? Please contact surveys@dpsk12.org.
DPS Superintendent Search: Finalist Stage
We are excited to announce that the last stage of the superintendent search process is about to begin! Looking ahead to the next few weeks, there will be several opportunities for you to get to know the final candidates, ask questions and share your feedback. Your participation and participation of your students is critical as we work to select the next DPS superintendent. Visit the Superintendent Search website for links to forms, interview dates, and finalist information (available May 7).
Additional Resources and Opportunities
Click here to learn more about these resources and opportunities: 

  • PDU Opportunities for the 2021-22 School Year

  • 2021-22 LEAP Observation Revision Pilot

  • Job Opportunity for Students: Rise Above Colorado’s Denver Teen Action Council

  • Curriculum Updates for K-2: Heggerty Phonological Awareness and Phonemic Awareness Curriculum

  • Third-grade ELA-S Teachers Needed for Spanish Glossary Project

  • Additional Fourth-grade ELA-S Glossary Resources Now Available
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