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Inside this issue
  • New Year: It Takes All of Us
  • MTSS Assessment Framework: Fastbridge Learning
  • LSCI Training
  • ​In the Spotlight: YOU...the Teacher
Important Upcoming Events/Meetings

September 5, 2017      Welcome back Students in CF, GD, KW, LC & ZM!
September 6, 2017      Welcome back Students in RW!
September 7, 2017      GCED Day - Make-up
September 13, 2017    RBEC Late Start 
September 15, 2017    ADSIS/Coaches PLC
September 20, 2017    Superintendent Council
September 25, 2017    SPED Leadership Team
October 5, 2017          Principals Meeting
October 10, 2017        Sonday I Training @ RBEC
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Fall Assessment Window 
September 6-26, 2017

The Progress, September 2017:  ​Volume 3, Issue 1

The Progress archive
Click here to view past issues from the current school year.
Comments? Suggestions for new articles?
Contact Jillynne Raymond, Editor, The Progress,
jraymond@gced.k12.mn.us

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The New School Year: It Takes all of Us!


By Cherie Johnson

Welcome to the 2017-18 academic school year! At this time of year it is only natural for me to reflect on the 11 years that I have been in this position.  I am quite fortunate for my position because I love my job, honestly.  I love working with you, working to clear things out of your way so that you can do your job.  This collaborative problem solving brings me great joy; it fills my bucket!

It is estimated that educators make up to 35,000 decisions in the course of a day.  The majority of those decisions come from problem solving one situation or another.  I encourage you to think with your head and your gut as you problem solve this year.  We are all going to fail multiple times, and that is okay; it is a part of the process.  Some of you may have an evaluation that doesn't go quite right.  Some of you will design a beautiful lesson and it will flop.  Some of you may struggle as you learn SpedForms.  It's okay.  Own the failure and pick up the pieces; it is all a part of the learning process.

What is important to remember is that we have each other.  You may need to lean on a teammate or you may need to step in and let a teammate lean on you.  It truly takes all of us and we are in good hands with YOU on the team.

As I collaborate with each of you, I learn so much about you.  The words you use and the areas you emphasize when you advocate for your students helps me understand your why, or your purpose for doing this important work.  I am so glad that you chose this work.  Public education is a challenging field.  It is also a field in which we have great opportunity to make a difference in others' lives.  I continue to be in awe with your commitment to make those differences.  Thank you...it takes all of us.  Together, it's going to be an awesome school year!

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L to R: RBEC Teacher Emily Grobe and RBEC Social Worker Matt Rodgers with keynote speaker Willow Sweeney.
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Living above the line.
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Keynote Speaker Willow Sweeney addresses all educators on GCED Day 2017.

MTSS Assessment Framework: FastBridge Learning

All of our member districts are using FastBridge Learning with the 2017-2018 GCED Assessment Framework.  Below are materials to help the continued work including: (1) 2017-18 GCED Wide Assessment Window, (2) GCED Assessment Framework, (3) Training Modules aligned with Framework, (4) Benchmark Planning for Screening, and (5) 2016-17 Summary of Effectiveness Data.
2017-18 Assessment Windows.pdf
File Size: 240 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Assessment Framework
File Size: 209 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

fastbridge_certification_training.pdf
File Size: 969 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Benchmark for Screening Planning
File Size: 240 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

2016-17 Summary of Effectiveness.pdf
File Size: 88 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Life Space Crisis Intervention Training at RBEC


Many Minnesota schools including most of our member districts' schools, and schools country-wide, have implemented PBIS in their districts with the support of the MN Department of Education (MDE) and the US Department of Education; these schools have felt the impact of explicitly teaching the behaviors expected of students.  MDE recognizes that PBIS works well for most schools; they also recognize that there are additional behavior challenges for federal setting IV programs.  Because of that, MDE offered a competitive grant to help build staff capacity to work with students that have extreme behavior challenges.  GCED applied for and was awarded such a grant.

One part of the grant has been to consult and work with Danielle Theis, a licensed Psycho Therapist and Setting IV Principal. Her consulting work is helping us build a trauma informed paradigm.  One aspect of that paradigm is the use of Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI); from the LSCI website:

    Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI) is an internationally recognized, professional training           and certification program.  It offers advanced, interactive therapeutic strategies for turning         crisis situations into learning opportunities for children and youth with chronic patterns of           self-defeating behaviors.

    LSCI views problems or stressful incidents as opportunities for learning, growth, insight,             and change. This non-physical intervention program provides professionals and parents               with a road map through conflict, using crisis as an opportunity to teach and create positive         relationships with youth.

It is essential that the adults' communication - verbal and nonverbal - is nonjudgmental as they work with students through the 6 stages of LSCI:
  1. CRISIS - Drain off the student's intense emotions by acknowledging feelings.
  2. TIMELINE - By using affirming and listening skills, discover the student's point of view.
  3. CENTRAL ISSUE - Identify the student's vital interest and select the appropriate LSCI Reclaiming Intervention.
  4. INSIGHT - Use one of the Reclaiming Interventions to help the student recognize his pattern of self-defeating behavior.
  5. NEW SKILLS - Teach the new skills which lead to more responsible behavior.
  6. TRANSFER OF TRAINING - Prepare the student to re-enter the ongoing activity and setting.
We recognize that RBEC is not the only school that needs help with student behavior. Behavior help is the number one request that GCED receives from its member districts. Danielle Theis will present a foundational training for our principals in December. Though it is never easy, our most at-risk students are deserving of this focused work. ​
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​LSCI Institute's Mission:
​
The Life Space Crisis Intervention Institute trains staff to turn crises into learning opportunities and build trusting relationships with children and youth.


"My hope for implementing LSCI is that through effective usage of this strategy
we improve our ability to turn crisis situations into learning opportunities for children and youth with chronic patterns of self-defeating behaviors."
              - Maggie Helwig, RBEC Principal

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​In the Spotlight:  YOU...the teacher


Research blah, blah....does the word "research" make you tune out? I get it. Perhaps you are on research overload, perhaps you are tired of research based interventions; whatever your perhaps, hang in there another few moments.  When it comes to YOU, the teacher research tells us a great deal.  Thanks to educational research we know....
  • that the teacher is the #1 variable that influences student learning;
  • that a student working with an effective teacher can earn at least one year's worth of growth;
  • that a student working with an ineffective teacher can not only lose that one year of learning, but more;
  • that a teacher does not leave college with the full knowledge and skills needed to be an effective teacher;
  • that a teacher can continue to develop and improve each and every year on the job;
  • that teaching is both an art and a science;
  • that developing and evaluating teachers is messy and meaningful work; 
  • and more!
As you prepare to welcome your students soon, we wish you the best and we thank you. Teaching is the most challenging and the most rewarding profession that exists in our world today.
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Privacy/Disclaimer Statements
District Policies
Goodhue County Education District, 395 Guernsey Lane, Red Wing, MN 55066         651-388-4441      
Goodhue County Education District is a group of six southeastern Minnesota school districts: Cannon Falls, Goodhue, Kenyon-Wanamingo, Lake City, Red Wing and Zumbrota-Mazeppa. Working  together, the districts provide effective and efficient educational services and funding for special education programs, staff development, extended and alternative summer school services.
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