American Educators Week
Part 1 of 4 Part Series: Fullfilling the Needs of Students
American Education Week celebrates public education and honors the individuals that are making a difference to ensure that every student receives a quality education. During the week of November 1519, 2021, Valley City Public Schools will honor and recognize all of our educators for making a difference for our students. Please join us this week in celebrating all educators in Valley City and the surrounding areas.
A special thank you to the Valley City Times Record for helping us highlight local public education in a series of four articles written for American Education Week. Today, Wendi Wilmes, Education Foundation Director; Sarah Lerud, President Valley City Education Association; and Josh Johnson, Superintendent; share information about how public education is positively affecting the lives of our students at Valley City Public Schools.
Addressing the Needs of Mental Health (Wendi Wilmes)
Undoubtedly, the past two years have been very challenging for our students (and adults). The COVID-19 global pandemic created unprecedented changes in education and life. These changes have severely affected the lives of many people, including our students. Valley City Public Schools and the Education Foundation have partnered together to increase funds and resources to meet the mental health needs of students. The Access for All Program, which currently serves more than 45 students, provides in-school clinical counseling services for specific students 4-days per week. Our school counselors provide classroom guidance, small group lessons, and collectively visit with more than 200 students across the school district. Together, the priority on student health will continue at Valley City Public Schools.
Creating Student-Centered Classrooms (Sarah Lerud)
Education has shifted from a teacher-focused classroom to a studentcentered classroom. A teacher-focused classroom had all desks in straight rows and stu
dents listened to lectures the entire class period. The teacher was considered all-knowing and shared information with the class for them to memorize and be tested on. A student-centered classroom has the teacher be a learning experience designer where students can make choices on how they learn the material. These classrooms may appear to be messy and noisy, but that is the type of space where collaboration and creation take place. Teachers are facilitators of learning. Technology has allowed this shift giving access to devices to all our VCPS students. Along with technology comes the ability to be creative learners. We want our students to not only be consumers of information but also to be creators that share information. Change requires professional development, and teachers have put in the time and worked hard to implement more student-centered practices to give the best possible public education to all students.
Helping Students to be Choice-Ready (Josh Johnson)
We are focused on ensuring that all students are choice-ready upon graduation from Valley City High School (VCHS). Whether that is college, career, and/ or the military, our students’ futures are bright and full of new opportunities. We recognize that each student is unique, and as a result, we have created more individualized learning pathways to help guide our students’ futures. Last week in the Times Record, Mrs. Kristi Brandt, VCHS Principal, highlighted our Dual-Credit program for college-bound students. This week, she will share new efforts to meet the needs and provide opportunities for our career-based students. Together, we are excited about the future of public education at Valley City Public Schools and the many opportunities that are available for our students.
This article is one of four in an education series highlighting American Education Week in Valley City. Tomorrow will feature career-based opportunities for students from Mrs. Kristi Brandt.