Thank You Mrs. Leitl

Congratulations to Mrs. Lori Leitl as she retires from teaching at Stormonth Elementary School.  Lori taught at Stormonth for 22 years and served as an educator for  over thirty total years.  She taught 1st, 3rd, 5th and 6th grades before settling in at 2nd, the position she now teaches.  Her passion for teaching and learning is evident on a daily basis.  Her love for her students and the wealth of knowledge she has inspires all around her. We wish her the best as she plans to spend more time with her grandchildren. Thank you Lori, for the many contributions you have made to the students and staff at Stormonth!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

So Honored to be cooking brats and burgers for the excellent staff at Bayside and Stormonth during this Teacher Apreciation Week! 

Thank You Fox Point - Bayside Residents!

On behalf of the Fox Point – Bayside School District, I would like to thank residents for their consideration of the referendum question that was on the April 7 ballot. 

While we are pleased the referendum passed, we are also grateful for the opportunity to engage with community members and hear a variety of different views on how to address the opportunities and challenges we face together.

The board will continue its commitment to finding ways to protect the educational priorities of the district and to make the most of every single dollar invested by residents into their public schools.

With that, we want to thank you again for your consideration of the solution presented during the election. We look forward to continued conversations on the future of the Fox Point – Bayside School District.

 

With Pride and Respect,

Vance 

Dr. Vance Dalzin, Superintendent

 

What Does the Staff Do on a Professional Development Day?

Today was a productive Professional Development Day in the Fox Point – Bayside School District.  Staff members were invited for coffee and bagels at 7:15 this morning.  Next, I presented information about the financial situation of the District and the results of our recent community survey.   The next part of the day involved a presentation called Social Emotional Learning: Supporting Individual and Social Learning Differences Including Autism Spectrum Disorder by Jen Townsend, an Educational Consultant who has been contracted by the District to study our programs.  The afternoon at Bayside Middle School had staff engaged in curriculum development and site council subgroup meetings.  Stormonth Elementary School had a Technology Showcase in which staff members shared various innovative teaching strategies of which include instructional technology.  There was also some team collaboration time and work on Writer and Reader Workshop.  I continue to be amazed at the highly skilled staff we have facilitating learning in our schools and helping all the people around them to grow.  Kudos to the staff for a productive day!

Fox Point - Bayside School District is Rated as Significantly Exceeds Expectations!

For the second consecutive year the Fox Point - Bayside School District has been rated as Significantly Exceeds Expectations by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.  There were only nine of 424 school districts in the state to receive this rating!  Both of our schools are performing at a high level and we have much to be proud of.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

                Thank You  Fox Point - Bayside Teachers!

 

There is no profession that I respect more than that of a teacher.  I am blessed to spend my personal life with my wife Diane, who is an excellent elementary school teacher, and in my professional life with the Fox Point - Bayside School District educators who I see do extraordinary things in their classrooms on a daily basis.  Not only do I see highly skilled educators engaged in their craft, but I also see an incredible amount of care and concern for their students.  Based on multiple measures, our district is performing at a high level.  As I have stated before, more than any other element in a district, the teacher in front of those students has the greatest effect on student learning.  Thank you for molding the hearts and minds of the future.  It is a pleasure to be on the same team as the great educators I work with.  Kudos to all of you! 

Happy Administrative Professionals' Day!

I am often told by parents and community members that the Fox Point - Bayside Schools are warm and welcoming places. Much of this atmosphere  is created by our hard working, dedicated, and student centered Administrative Professionals.  They are indeed an important link to our parents and community and play vital roles to the success of our learning community.  Not only are they skilled, talented and efficient, they are also great role models for our students.  Their work ethic, professionalism and the positive disposition in which they approach their jobs with has served our district well.  Thank you Carla and Debra at Stormonth,   Suzi, Julie, Sue and Patty at Bayside, and  Laurie, Kathleen and Carrie at the District Office. We are fortunate to have each of you on the FPBS Team. Thank You!

Thank You Board Members Alice Lawton and Tim Melchert

School Board members, Alice Lawton and Timothy Melchert, will each finish their terms on March 18^th. Both of them will have served for two three-year terms.  When you are a new superintendent, you hope that your board members will be dedicated, student- centered, and supportive like both of them.  The Fox Point – Bayside School District has been so fortunate to have them advocating for students, staff, and community the past six years.  Being a board member is a complex and demanding responsibility.  The argument could be made that their terms were some of the most difficult, given the national, state, and local educational issues that took place during their tenure.  Their public service should serve as a model to all of us.  Local school boards are rooted in U.S. tradition and the foundation of our democracy.  Local school boards continue to do the most important work of their communities, that of influencing the education of our youth.
 

We often forget the personal sacrifices school board members make by giving up hundreds of hours preparing for and attending meetings.  Each of them is also a spouse, parent, and person with a career. Alice is a playwright, author, and attorney.  Tim is a Professor of Counseling Psychology and author of several books and articles.  I mention that because their choice of public service is pure altruism at its  best.  I know I am a better superintendent as a result of working with each of them the past ten months.  I say, Thank you for your service, Alice and Tim.  May you have some satisfaction knowing you have made great contributions to influencing the learning that is taking place in the Fox Point - Bayside School District
  
 In closing, I would like to provide a quote that captures the importance of their work.

“There is a place in America to take a stand: it is public education.  It is the underpinning of our cultural and political system.  It is the great common ground.  Public education, after all, is the engine that moves us as a society toward a common destiny… It is public education that the American dream begins to shape.”   - Tom Brokaw

Debates, Documentaries, and Science Fair Projects - Learning is Alive at Bayside!

In the last few weeks I have observed students engaged in debates and presenting documentaries  and science fair projects at Bayside Middle school.  Students were assigned to read and analyze the book The Outsiders from different perspectives.  On the day of the debates, the students were dressed as either greasers or socials and they debated from their assigned perspectives.  In another activity,  students had an assignment that required them to research a specific historical event or person and develop a documentary, utilizing  technology to develop the videos.  Students used primary and secondary sources to develop the projects.  Last week students presented their science projects at an event that was held in the gymnasium.  The development of an hypothesis, the use of data and conclusions were very interesting.  In all three of these activities there was a lot of higher level thinking that required students to use the content in an authentic way.  There is a great amount of learning going on at Bayside on a daily basis and these are just some examples. Kudos to the faculty, staff and students on a job well done on these projects.

The Culture of the Fox Point –Bayside Schools : The Traditions, Celebrations, Rituals and Ceremonies

     If I were not a Superintendent of Schools and could have any occupation, I would want to be a Cultural Anthropologist.  I would want to study the values demonstrated in organizations like schools.  That is, what is important to the people in these organizations?  I would observe and study the traditions, celebrations, rituals and ceremonies that take place that tell the story of what the organization values. During the month of January I observed four different events in the Fox Point – Bayside Schools that really illustrate the culture of the organization: Community Night at Stormonth, the 5^th grade Music Concert at Bayside, the Bedtime Stories event at Stormonth, and the Bayside Students at Camp Maclean.

     On January 16^th, Stormonth Elementary School held it’s annual Community Night.  Parents of incoming students for the next year were invited to learn more about the school.  What was impressive about this event was that in addition to parents, many staff and students also attended.  As a matter of fact students, from each grade level made a short presentation and 4^th grade students gave tours of the school.  The pride the students and staff had for their school was so evident.  Over fifty parents attended the event.
 

     On January 22^nd, Bayside held their annual 5^th Grade Music Concert.  The Orchestra, Band and Choir all performed.  It was so nice to see so many young students participating in music.  The gym was filled with parents, brothers, sisters and staff.  It was very apparent that the school, staff, parents and community value music very much.   The performances were impressive.  Students introduced each piece that was to be performed.  Students were dressed up, well behaved and seemed to be enjoying the event.  Several parents were taking pictures and recording the performances.  It was a cold night, but there was a lot of warmth in the gym.

     On January 29^th Stormonth held the traditional Bedtime Stories event for first graders.  All of the first grade teachers and several other staff members volunteered to wear pajamas and read to the students, who were also wearing pajamas. Each reader selected an age appropriate book to read to the students.  After the students were in three different classrooms with three different readers, they went to the cafeteria for a snack.  It was evident that staff and parents value reading and care a great deal for the students.
 

     On January 29, 30 and 31^st the Bayside 7^th graders participated in an overnight camp experience at Camp Mclean in Burlington.  I visited the camp and it was great to see the students actively involved in learning activities.  Much of the activities were focused on team building.  Several staff members and parents attended the event and stayed overnight as chaperones.   It is truly a special event for the students. 

     All of these events have some common themes:  there is a lot of student learning taking place.   All of the experiences extended the learning beyond the classroom, an opportunity that is not common in every district. All of the events had staff volunteering beyond the school day to provide these experiences for their students.  All of the occasions had a large amount of parent involvement.  The experiences showed that the FPBS Schools value a wide range of learning including, the arts, extended learning and a high level of student engagement. 

     As an anthropologist, I observed a great deal of student and teacher interaction and a value of providing students with rich experiences.  The culture is student centered and the adults take great care for the students to learn and grow.  As a superintendent, I take great pride in the fact that our students are engaged in incredible learning experiences and that the staff, parents and students are working together to provide a great education. That is the story I take out of my experience observing and participating in the four events.

Letter to Stormonth parents regarding the appointment of Mrs. Karen Grimm-Nilsen to Principal

Dear Stormonth Families,

It is with great enthusiasm that I announce that at the recent Fox Point-Bayside School District Board of Education meeting Mrs. Karen Grimm-Nilsen was appointed to serve as Principal for Stormonth Elementary School for the rest of this school year and beyond.  As you may know, she has been serving in that role on an interim basis.

This summer an interview team consisting of teachers, support staff members and parents interviewed several candidates for the position.  At the conclusion of that process, the District, with input from committee members, decided to go with an interim for the 2013-14 school year.  Mrs. Grimm-Nilsen was selected.

During the past six months I have spent a lot of time interacting with students, staff, and parents at Stormonth Elementary School.  Also, I have really gotten to know Mrs. Grimm-Nilsen as an educator, leader and colleague.  I have had several parents, staff members and students tell me what an excellent job she is doing in her role and how they trust and respect her.  She is deserving of serving in the position on a permanent basis.

Mrs. Grimm-Nilsen has been an educator for 27 years.  She has an undergraduate degree from UW Eau Claire in regular and special education and a graduate degree in Educational Leadership from Marian College.  She has been with the Fox Point-Bayside Schools for 23 years in regular and special education at the elementary and middle school levels.

This year Stormonth Elementary School was identified as one of the best schools in the state.  The school received a “Significantly Exceeds Expectations” rating from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.  Mrs. Grimm-Nilsen is poised to continue that tradition of excellence and to lead us to even higher levels of achievement.

With Pride and Respect,

Dr. Vance Dalzin

District Administrator

Happy Thanksgiving

Dear Fox Point-Bayside Team Members:

Please allow me to use the Thanksgiving meal metaphor to illustrate the connection of what we do as a learning community.  First, much like the Native Americans helping the Pilgrims harvest food and survive the first winter, our educators facilitate learning for students to help them survive, thrive and grow as people.

Like many of you, I really do reflect on what I am grateful for during this time.  Of course, I am thankful for the health and happiness of my family, but my list also includes having the opportunity to work in this very special school district with such committed educators and supportive parents.  I feel truly blessed. 

Thank you for your continued commitment.  Best wishes for a Thanksgiving that returns the gratitude you have given to your students.  May you sit down to a great meal and enjoy time with family and friends. 

With Pride and Respect,

Vance

Vance Dalzin

District Administrator     

Teachers Matter!

     Smarter Balanced Assessment System, Common Core Standards, Response to Intervention, and a host of other initiatives are making their way into schools as a way to provide a better public education for students.  History tells us some of these initiatives may make a difference and some may not.  I believe what has always made a difference, and always will, is the quality of educators a school has in front of students facilitating learning on a daily basis.  In virtually every study or piece of literature I have read on factors that affect student learning, the quality of the teacher almost always is at the top of the list.  Although important, the standards, curriculum, assessments, technology, and physical appearance of the school do not have nearly as much influence on student learning as the teacher does.

     In July, I started serving as the superintendent of one of the highest academic performing districts in the state of Wisconsin.  I have been asking a lot of questions of different stakeholders (teachers, support staff, parents, and students), searching for why the district is performing at such a high level.  I feel the answer is that the district has done a great job attracting, selecting and developing quality teachers who are making an incredible difference for students.  For a typical teaching vacancy in our district, it is common to get over 300 applications.  The Fox Point – Bayside School District has become a destination district for not only parents to send their children, but for experienced educators to continue their professional journey.  Most of our teachers taught in other districts before they came here.

     I continue to be amazed at the high quality and talent of our educators.  I was impressed with the staff development our staff members were involved in over the summer.  Most of our teachers have advanced degrees and are immersed in continuing to evolve in their craft.  Much of my professional career was spent at the middle school and high school level and now I am seeing firsthand how primary teachers facilitate the first steps toward literacy; I am simply awestruck.  Teaching really matters.

    What do I believe are the primary reasons our two schools are outperforming other schools? It is because we have supportive, knowledgeable, curious and resourceful parents who have high expectations for their children and highly skilled educators who have the knowledge, skills and dispositions to get the most out of students.  It is a good formula for success.  As a district, we need to never lose sight of our investment in attracting, developing and supporting teachers.  It has paid great dividends and helped bring us to where we are as a learning community.  Teachers matter and I am so glad to be a part of the FPBS Team!

I love my new Job!

I started this blog in late August and wondered if anyone would actually read it.  Well, I am able to see how many daily  hits on it I get and I am averaging about twenty-five a day.  I am hoping it is not just one person checking it twenty-five times a day and that it is a good mixture of parents, staff, and maybe even some students.  Anyways, I have been asked the question a lot "how is it going?"  and I want to tell you that I love my new job.  I enjoy the staff a lot.  They are hard-working, student-centered, and incredibly talented. I have found the parents to be active and supportive of our schools.  Most importantly, I have really enjoyed interacting with the students in each building.  I have tried to be visible and get into some classes even if if it is for a short period of time, on a daily basis. I was able to fill some of the administrative positions and "build my team" and that has been awesome.  I really feel I have a strong team.  I get a lot of questions about my family. Below is a picture of my family. My son, Connor, is in the back row and from left to right in the front row is my daughter, Lauren; my wife, Diane; and my youngest son, Mitchell.  They are all very supportive of my new job.  My wife is a teacher and she has a good sense of teaching , learning, and how important it is for me to be visible and engaged in my new job. I am in a good place on my professional journey and I feel I am growing and helping the district to continue to evolve.  I am very happy!  If you are one of the people who reads my blog, drop me an email and let me know what topics you would like me to explore on this blog. I am proud of the learning that is taking place.

Always Great to Celebrate District Successes!

On October 25^th, the District had a Professional Development Day. We started the day with a short celebration of the Fox Point - Bayside School District receiving a rating of Significantly Exceeds Expectations for student performance during the 2012-2013 as reported on the District Report Card by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The faculty and staff ate cake as we discussed the importance of this recognition. Next, the day was spent individually and collaboratively planning for continuous improvement. Even though we were only one of nine districts in the state to receive the distinction, there was a definite theme that kept emerging during the day that we still have areas that we can improve on to enhance learning in our schools. It is exciting to be a part of such a high performing district. The work ethic of the faculty and staff, high expectations they have for their students and themselves, and the genuine care and concern they have for children was so evident again today. Our teachers are focusing on Common Core Standards, Response to Intervention Initiatives, a new state assessment system, and a new state evaluation system. I continue to be impressed and inspired by our team. Hats off to all of our educators for a productive and meaningful staff development day today

Thank You Principals!

Did you know that October is National Principals Month?  The title "principal" evolved from the concept of the "principal teacher" because early in U.S. education the principal was the lead teacher in a building and also was responsible for much of the operational part of the school such as evaluation, school finance, and student discipline.  This changed in the early 20th century as the expectations of principals changed and so did the required training.  In Wisconsin, principals are required to have at least three years of teaching experience and a graduate degree that is essentially a credential in School Leadership.  The job continues to become more complex and demanding.  I really appreciate the role, having served as a principal for seventeen years myself.  Over the years, I have studied mounds of research on effective principals and  their influence on student achievement, school climate, and the culture of schools.  The research continues to document the important role that principals play in leading a successful school. This next year, in Wisconsin, all principals as part of their evaluation, will be held more accountable for the student achievement in  the schools they lead. Teachers will also have more accountability in outcomes of the individual students they teach as part of the DPI Educator Effectiveness Initiatives.  Hats of to both Dr. Don Galster, Bayside Principal, and Mrs.  Karen Grimm-Nilsen, Stormonth Principal, for the fine job they do providing leadership in our schools. Both of them inspire me on a daily basis.

For more of my thoughts on the principalship, please see an article that I had published a few years ago
http://www.nassp.org/Content/158/PLFeb10_MyOpinion.pdf

Parent Engagement Supports Student Success

Recently I attended a Math Program Informational meeting in the district which was followed by the monthly PTO meeting.  Today, I attended the Back to School Coffee sponsored by the PTO.  What strikes me about each of these events is the incredible amount of parental engagement in our schools.  Parents had great questions as we were discussing the pilot math program.  Parents could talk about the instructional technology we are using to enhance learning.  It is truly impressive.  It is not a coincidence that this week the DPI rated the Fox Point –Bayside School District as Significantly Exceeds Expectations on the State Report Card for performance during the 2012 -2013 School Year.  Much research supports the significant role parents play in student achievement.  The home – school connection is paramount to this success and we want to continue to cultivate that partnership as we are engaged in continuous improvement. Thank you to all stakeholders for your work in contributing to the high level of achievement in the district.

Thank You Fox Point - Bayside Educational Foundation!

 A big Thank You to the Fox Point - Bayside  Educational Foundation for their work in raising funds to help improve instructional technology in our schools.  This year, they raised over $30,000 that was used to bring the vision of  Smart Board technology in every classroom. We are almost there.  Please check out their link on the District website.  Below is a picture of some of the members who attended the recent monthly meeting on September 12th.

New Backpacks, Tennis shoes, Opportunities and Learning; I love the first day of school.

On Tuesday, September 3rd, 938 students entered the doors of the Fox Point - Bayside schools. There was a great amount of anticipation, excitement and energy in the district as the staff greeted the students as they entered the schools.

One of the initial things you notice on the first day of school is all of the backpacks.  To me backpacks are symbolic in schools.  They represent that important connection and partnership between  home and school. The packs are empty when they arrive and filled  with books, supplies, information sheets and other artifacts for parents and students to use as they go home.  You as parents entrust us with your most precious possession, your children. We as educators pledge that we will care for them, have high expectations,  and build from  the incredible amount of learning that takes place at home.  This partnership is so critical as we facilitate learning in our schools.

The new tennis shoes that are proudly displayed are a good analogy for the start of the school year. The newness represents the fresh, optimism that they will be able to jump higher and run faster.  Our job as educators  is to preserve that optimism of the new tennis shoes and the new school year and help each student grow and maximize his/her potential.  It is a charge that we will all take very seriously.

 Students welcome back! You are the most important people in our schools and we missed you over the summer.

Thank You PTO

A special THANK YOU to the Fox Point - Bayside Parent Teacher Organization for providing the staff luncheon on August 27th.  We are fortunate to have a vibrant PTO that does great things for students, staff and parents in the FPBS schools.  The PTO does have a link on our District website, I would encourage you to check it out.