We value feedback, ideas, concerns and classroom experience, so we want to make sure you’re aware of NUSD committees that enhance opportunities for teachers’ voices to be heard. We also want to spotlight some of the progress made and issues under consideration this year.
Certificated staff and NUSD administrators are discussing and collaborating on matters ranging from elementary report cards to Special Education programs, professional development courses, Professional Development Day, instructional operations, and K-8 school conversions.
As NUSD prepares to adopt History-Social Science textbooks for next year, teachers are driving the evaluation process in textbook adoption groups. All members were teachers on a 32-person Selection panel that narrowed the field to two competing textbooks in each grade span – K-5, 6-8, 9-12 – and all seats are held by teachers on a 51-member Textbook Pilot panel that is testing the books in classrooms before making final recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
Other key committees benefiting from teacher participation include:
· 1) Consultation Committee: This 16-member committee reviews, monitors, and considers suggestions, concerns and feedback related to curriculum, instruction and assessment. The panel has met twice this year and will do so again Dec. 11. Topics have ranged from professional development to conversion of Jefferson, Bannon Creek, American Lakes and Paso Verde schools to K-8.
The Consultation Committee, included in the NUSD-NTA contract, consists of eight teachers appointed by the Natomas Teachers Association, four teachers appointed by School Leadership and Support, and four administrators appointed by the Superintendent.
The committee is designed to disseminate and gather information from staff, so if you have ideas or suggestions please contact a representative listed below:
Name Grade Level School
Lorrie Lewis 3rd Two Rivers Elementary
Sheryl Sorensen 3rd Heron School
Patrick McClurg 5th Heron School
Steve Smith 6th American Lakes School
Terin Zweck 5th H. Allen Hight
Kristen Rocha Science Natomas Middle School
Maria Atherley World Language Inderkum High School
Maria Rios World Language Natomas High School
Amanda Garcia Kindergarten Paso Verde School
Anthony Kolak 6th Jefferson School
Karen Taylor English Inderkum High School
Laurel Shannon 5th Paso Verde School
The Superintendent’s appointees to the committee are Associate Supt. Doug Orr, Coordinator Travis Burke, Principal Danisha Keeler, and Principal on Special Assignment Thomas Dickinson.
· 2) Report Card Committee: This 12-member committee is evenly divided, per agreement, with six certificated staff members appointed by the Natomas Teachers Association and six members by NUSD. The panel has met three times this year. Members are creating a new student report card to be fully aligned with Infinite Campus. As part of the process, they are benchmarking report cards from other districts. NUSD’s new report card is expected to be implemented for 2019-20, then monitored through 2020-21, with discussions each report card period during those two years.
Please contact a representative listed below if you have ideas or suggestions for the committee, which is designed to serve staff by providing information and receiving input:
Name Grade Level School
Georgia Allen-Schaaf Kindergarten Heron School
Lisa MacMillan 1st Heron School
Sheryl Sorensen 3rd Heron School
Mark Totey 4th Heron School
Julie Baggett 5th Two Rivers
Michelle Stellmacher 6th Heron School
Administrative members are Associate Supt. Orr, Associate Supt. Joel Rabin, Executive Director Diana Curtaz, Coordinator Burke, and Principals Tonja Jarrell and Jason Manviller.
3) Special Education Joint Solutions Panel: Evenly divided among certificated and administrative staff, this panel consists of four members selected by the Natomas Teachers Association and four by NUSD. It has identified problem-solving techniques and organized issues and discussion topics into agreed-upon priority areas for future discussion. A Memorandum of Understanding says “the panel will provide an end of process summary shared with respective bargaining teams prior to the last teacher work day of the 2018-19 school year.”
Providing and gathering information are functions of this committee, so staff should not hesitate to provide input by contacting a representative listed below:
Name Grade Level School
Phil Cox (Co-chair) 5th Two Rivers Elementary
Anthony DaMarto School Psychologist Natomas Middle School
Karah Tovar Speech Therapist Natomas Middle School
Moriah Finch Special Education teacher Leroy Greene Academy
Administrators are Asst. Supt. Tom Anderson (co-chair), Executive Directors Curtaz and Earl Pavao, and Director Kori Olson.
Joint committees addressing NUSD issues in a collegial, collaborative and effective problem-solving manner are consistent with the following goal in the district’s “The Next 5” strategic plan: “All staff take responsibility for improving communication and collaboration amongst staff upwards, downwards and across the district to better meet the district’s vision, goals and core beliefs.”
We look forward to continued collaboration in preparing students for college, career, and a bright future.
