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.  

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and May 9 is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. 

High leverage classroom-based strategies for supporting student mental health:

• Positive greetings at the door

• Raise awareness by sharing SAP info with families and students via Seesaw/Canvas, and by posting and sharing the 9-8-8 and other crisis line information with older students

• Utilize time set aside for SEL/advisory to incorporate modeling and practicing stress reduction strategies

• For more information, see this guide to supporting student mental health needs from the U.S. Department of Education

https://www.samhsa.gov/about/digital-toolkits/childrens-mental-health-awareness-day

Did You Know?

All SEP students and any member of their household have access to 6 free counseling sessions through our Student Assistance Program. In addition, SEP Junior High students have access to small group SAP sessions at school, and Middle School and High School students can access their free individual sessions from a counselor at school. 

If you have a student who you think might benefit, reach out to one of the counselors to discuss this further.

Educator Learning

If you’re interested in learning more about student mental health, you might want to consider one of the following options:

• Youth Mental Health First Aid, which is offered at SEP each summer. If you’d like to be added to the waitlist for June 5, please email Amy Anderson. 

• Iowa Safe Schools Academy offers many courses related to student mental health, including Anxiety Awareness & Advocacy , Depression Awareness & Advocacy, Mental Health Systems, Supports & Awareness, and more 

• The Scanlan Center for School Mental Health from the University of Iowa offers webinars and workshops, online-demand courses available for license renewal credit (a great option for using your TQ funds!), podcasts, and more 

Educator Wellness:

Educator wellness is associated with student wellness and healthy school climates. Remember to take advantage of wellness programs that SEP offers, including:

• Employee Assistance Program - 6 free counseling sessions for you or any member of your household

• Employee Wellness Program

• The Scanlan Center mentioned above also offers ongoing virtual educator wellness groups with topics including grief and loss and educator empowerment

April Teaching and Learning Newsletter

April Teaching and Learning Newsletter

 This month's Teaching and Learning Newsletter includes resources for:

• Celebrating our Youngest Learners

• Emergent Bilinguals and Core Instruction

• Sparking Innovation: Tech Tips, Tricks, and Resources
• Elementary

• Secondary

• Science for All
• Birding
• Project Lead the Way
• Bees
• Earth Day

As you explore these topics, we encourage you to reflect on how you and your team can integrate these ideas into your teaching practices. If you have any questions or would like additional support, please don't hesitate to reach out to a member of the Teaching & Learning Team. We’re here to help!

Thank you for all you do to ensure ALL students learn at high levels!

-Southeast Polk's Teaching & Learning Team

Secondary Collaboration

We are looking forward to collaborating with secondary job-alike teams this Wednesday, April 9th. We will begin at 7:30 AM and dismiss in time for people to return to their buildings. The focus of our work will be around continuing to strengthen teaching and learning within each subject area. Please report to the locations below and bring a charged laptop. 

PE/Health 6-12	JH Room 180
CTE (PLTW) & Business	HS Room 169
Science- 6-12	JH Science Rm 223
Math: 6-12	JH Robotics Room
World Language, 8th World Language	HS N148
Art and Music	HS Multi-Purpose Room
Social Studies 6-12	HS N268
ELA 6-12, ESOL 6-12, TAG 6/7, Teacher Librarians	JH Library
Counselors	Skilled Trades Extension Center

*Special Education teachers--please report to the content area you support. 

Feedback on Virtual Learning Day

Snow days are a part of Iowa and they often result in an unexpected change of plans.  For the first time, we adapted our snow day to a virtual professional learning format, providing an opportunity to fulfill the contract day through the completion of required tasks as well as engagement and reflection on our instructional framework. We appreciated the input, feedback, and support of the PD Steering Committee and building and teacher leaders while we navigated both the flexibility and challenges of virtual learning. 

As of today, 99% of teachers have completed the components of the virtual professional learning day! 

Now we would like your feedback on the this day.  How did the learning impact your thinking? What worked well in this format? What adjustments could be made if this format is considered in the future?

Please take a few minutes to provide your feedback on the form linked below.  The information will be summarized and shared with the PD Steering Committee as well as building and teacher leadership in order to continue to grow and strengthen the pathways for professional learning. 

SEP Virtual Learning Feedback Form

Thank you for your engagement, flexibility, and dedication to continuous growth.

February Newsletter and Virtual Professional Learning

 This month's Teaching and Learning Newsletter includes updates on:

• School Counseling and Social-Emotional Learning

• February Learning Opportunities
• Black History Month
• President's Day

• Sparking Innovation: Tech Tips, Tricks, and Resources
• Elementary
• Secondary

• iReady Winter Math Data and ISASP Projections

• Science Updates
• Outdoor Education
• Environmental Education

If you need further information or support, don’t hesitate to contact a member of the Teaching & Learning Team.

Virtual Professional Learning

During our snow day on Wednesday, we implemented a Virtual Professional Learning model to fulfill the contract for that day.  A big thank you to the Professional Development Steering Committee and the Teaching and Learning team for the work and feedback needed to implement this model.  The overall response has been very positive, and we will review data and feedback to determine advantages, limitations, and future possibilities.  Below is the link to the Virtual Learning Plan. As a reminder, the work should be completed off contract and submitted by the conclusion of the day on Wednesday, February 19th.

Southeast Polk Virtual Learning Plan 

Improved Attendance at Southeast Polk!

We all realize that attendance has been a challenge since Covid, and we wanted to share some improvements in the data as we enter the month of February. 

Chronic Absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason.  Our chronic absenteeism for the month of January 2025 was 14%.  This is the lowest number we have seen since returning from Covid, as well as a 4% improvement from December, and a 7% improvement from this time last year!  

• All 11 buildings improved their attendance as compared to December of 2024. 
• All 11 buildings improved their attendance as compared to January of 2024
• No building had above 20% chronic absenteeism.
• 4 buildings had single digit chronic absenteeism
• We narrowed the difference between SEP and the state from 5% to 3%.
• Attendance improved for around 300 students as compared to last month.
• Attendance improved for over 500 students as compared to last year

While we are still focusing on narrowing the gap with subgroups, we saw:

• A 4% improvement for students receiving free and reduced lunch
• A 6% improvement for students with individual education plans

We can't control illness, ways of getting to school, alarm clocks, etc., but as buildings have demonstrated, we can create a school environment that is welcoming, productive, and supportive.  We have great teaching at Southeast Polk, and we appreciate your efforts to ensure that more students are able to experience this and advance their learning.  This has been a districtwide effort, and we thank all who are working hard each day to support student attendance.

Professional Learning Survey/Shirt Order

The Southeast Polk Professional Development Steering Committee met last Wednesday, and WE WOULD LIKE YOUR INPUT!  Please complete the survey at the link below.  There are 8 questions, and it should take no more than 10 minutes.  Your feedback will be used to plan future learning opportunities.

Southeast Polk Professional Learning Survey

*You are welcome to use your name, but it is not required.

**This survey presents as a quiz, but the 'points' are not calculated--just the responses. 

Thank you for your feedback. 

Yes We Can! Shirts

Yes We Can! shirts are available from Fully Promoted through February 9th.  Any shirts purchased after that timeline will be at a higher cost.  If you are interested, you may purchase at the link below. 

SOUTHEAST POLK YES WE CAN! SHIRTS