Keep Calm and Aim High! -- Shirt Order Form

Such a tremendous effort on the part of all staff to make today a great start to the school year!  Many have asked about the "Keep Calm and Aim High" shirts.  We are happy to share that these are available through Fully Promoted.

The store will close at 11:59 pm on Monday, September 1st. All orders will be complete on or before September 16th.  The orders will then be distributed to buildings and will not be shipped to individuals. 

Keep Calm and Aim High Order Form

* Some firewalls prevent you from getting to the credit card section.  If this occurs, please use cellular or hotspot alternatives.

This design is available in unisex and ladies t-shirts and unisex hoodies and crewnecks. (Click on the apparel tab). 

                                                            

Teacher Quality

Southeast Polk teachers have a strong commitment to professional learning.  In the 2024-2025 school year, over 150 teachers applied for teacher quality funding to advance their learning.  There are some changes to TQ this year related to the application process.  You may now apply for TQ funds through LaserFiche.  One change is that the application MUST be submitted prior to taking the course. 

Teacher Quality Funds

Teacher Quality funds will again be available to teachers wanting to take coursework to further their learning. Courses that are credit-bearing are eligible for TQ funding. Below are some frequently asked questions and clarifications.

Q: What is the window for TQ Funding?

A: The window extends across the school year.  The course must begin between August 23, 2025 and August 22, 2026. 

Q: Do I need to submit a form for approval prior to the course starting?

A: Yes.

This is the most significant new process for TQ.  Forms are submitted through LaserFiche, and MUST be submitted prior to taking the course. 

Q: I no longer need any credits to renew my license.  May I still apply for TQ funding.

A: Yes.  Courses that are credit-bearing are eligible for TQ funding.  You need not apply for the credit to receive the funds.

Q: How many courses may I take?

A: You may submit one course a year for TQ funding*. 

The process in LaserFiche will walk you through submitting your transcript and hours for payment.  Below is a link to the application form. More information regarding Teacher Quality funding may be found on the SEP Professional Development site. 

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Teacher Quality Funding

*Exceptions are made for courses available through the Department of Education and pre-approved by the district. These are noted on the LaserFiche form. 

District Professional Development--August 20th

Welcome back to another great school year!  Wednesday, August 20th is a district professional development day.  Today's blog has details on location, content, and materials needed.

The focus of professional development will be a follow up to the All Means All institute which was hosted at Southeast Polk last June--"All Means All: Putting Beliefs Into Action."  The learning targets include:

• Apply learning from the All Means All Institute to classroom practice.
  
  

• Understand and leverage our teacher leadership and instructional coaching model.
  
  

• Integrate technology and AI responsibly to support student learning and AI use.

Secondary staff will meet from 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM in the HS Auditorium.

Elementary staff will meet from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM in the HS Auditorium.

As you attend this professional learning session, please sit with your collaborative team.  If you attended the Institute in June, please review your notes or bring them to the session. To accommodate space, there will be no laptops, and please bring something to write with.  You may also refer to the preservice document for details.

Secondary Professional Learning

Elementary Professional Learning

We are looking forward to a day of learning as we prepare to meet the needs of all of our learners at Southeast Polk!

All Means All Institute: Day 3

We are wrapping up our preview of the All Means All Institute that will be held at Southeast Polk High School on June 16-18. Day 3 of the Institute has a different format than Days 1 and 2.   Day 3 has only a morning session, and begins with breakout groups and ends with a keynote.  The All Means All Institute concludes at at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, June 18th.  After the Institute, teams may:

The keynote speakers and authors of "Yes We Can!" have recently published a follow up book designed to support teams in implementing the actions that will be shared at the Institute.  We will be supporting purchase of this book for school teams so we can continue and apply our learning in the classroom. 

Essential Actions for Leveraging Yes We Can!

By: Heather Friziellie, Julie A. Schmidt, Jeanne Spiller

Foreword by: Matthew Treadway

Be brave and shift the mindset—inclusion begins with recognizing all students as general education students. This book provides educators with practical tools, research, and renewed motivation to champion all learners. Organized around learning, living, and leading, it offers deeper dives into Yes We Can! practices, emphasizing how to implement them effectively.   

•  Agenda of sessions

Morning Breakout Sessions

• Long Live the Strategies We've Learned!
• Braving Difficult All Means All Conversations
• Learning From the Past: Avoiding Historical Pitfalls in Special Education
• Inclusive Master Scheduling for Students with Specialized Plans (Elementary)
• Where's the Finish Line? Backward Designing Instruction for Proactive Success

Keynote-Yes We Can: Leading With Purpose, Navigating Challenges, and Inspiring Change

Jeanne Spiller

With over 30 years of experience in K–12 education, author and education expert Jeanne Spiller is an associate with Solution Tree. She has served as a classroom teacher, administrator, and assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, bringing a deep commitment to student success and educational leadership. Jeanne supports schools and districts through workshops, coaching, and collaborative initiatives to enhance instruction, foster innovation, and promote equity.

A coauthor of five books and editor of a K–12 literacy series, Jeanne is dedicated to advancing educational practices and literacy development. She holds a master’s degree from Loyola University Chicago and a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University.

All Means All Institute Newsletter

All Means All Institute: Day 2

As the month of May and this school year wind down, we are 32 days away from the All Means All Summer Institute! Today's blog continues our preview of the All Means All Institute.  During the institute, you can work with your team to: 

•  Agenda of sessions

Day 2

Keynote: Heather Friziellie

Living Yes We Can: Bringing Beliefs to Life                                  

Shifting mindsets is only part of the Yes We Can journey. In order to truly make change happen, educators must use tools to turn beliefs into action. In this session, Heather Friziellie digs into the tools aligned to the core principles and allots time for participants to reflect on what can help them move their context forward. Get ready to make a plan for shifting from knowing to doing!

Morning Breakout Sessions

• Specially Designed Instruction (SDI): What Does It Look Like and Feel Like in Real Life?
• Maximizing Impact Through High-Leverage Collaboration
• Strategic Scaffolding: Supporting Students During and After Instruction
• How GenEd and SpEd Collaborate on Team-Created Common Formative Assessments
• Coteaching Unleashed: A Framework for Impactful Collaboration and Student Success

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

• Yes, Even When the Answer Is No
• Now Is the Time: Leading the RTI Way!
• Leading for All: Guiding Teams Toward Inclusive Excellence
• Grading and Reporting Student Learning With IEPs
• Leadership Actions for Highly Effective PLCs
• No More Stretch Armstrong: Uniting SDI for Seamless Student Success

We end Day 2 with a Power Hour: An Interactive Think Tank

Participants use their collective knowledge, experience, and best practices to address challenges faced by students who are beginning to thrive as they

explore ways to unlock their full potential through targeted support.

All Means All Institute Newsletter

All Means All Institute: Day 1

Today's blog continues our preview of the All Means All Institute.  Prior to the institute, you can work with your team to: 

•  Agenda of sessions

• Yes We Can! Chapter 3

Day 1

Keynote: Julie Schmidt

Learn It: How Did We Get Here?                                    

For decades, schools have grappled with the persistent achievement gap between students entitled to special education services and those in general education classes. 

Participants in this session:

● Challenge the mindsets and practices that undermine an all means all culture.

● Consider the historical and systemic factors that have led to persistent achievement gaps.

● Identify the six core principles of Beyond Labels work.

● Create a sense of urgency to implement best practices that push schools beyond labels so all students thrive regardless of their educational needs.

Morning Breakout Sessions

• Building Collaborative PLAAFPs (Present levels of academic achievement and functional performance) to Set Your Students’ Course
• The Great Eight: Ensuring Priority Standards Drive Teaching and Learning
• Creating an Inclusive Culture of Learning for All Students
• Labels Off, Students First: Rewriting the Narrative for Every Learner

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

• Collaborative IEPs: Life-Changing Goals Designed to Bring About Progress
• All Behavior Is Communication, Like It or Not!
• Beneath the Surface: Aligning Beliefs and Behaviors for a Culture of Success
• Elevating Excellence: Designing Lessons That Inspire High Expectations for All Students
• Creating Learning Progressions for All Students
• Every Ladder Needs a First Step: Designing Learning Progressions for All Students

Facilitated Team Time

All Means All Institute Newsletter

All Means All Institute

The countdown is on--45 Days until the All Means All Institute is hosted at Southeast Polk!  We have 250 Southeast Polk teachers registered to attend the institute, and we will be joined by educators from all over the United States.  Our Learning Supports Coordinator, Stephanie Laird, has designed a newsletter to help prepare for the institute.  (The full newsletter may be found at the link below).  In this newsletter you will find keynote and session speaker information, media highlights, and reflection opportunities to engage in before, during, and after the institute.  

All Means All Institute Newsletter

Each week during the month of May, we will highlight different speakers and sessions as your team makes plans to participate in the learning. This week you can review the newsletter as well as the agenda of sessions.