WiRSA INFO
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Assembly Committee on Education
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Teacher Apprenticeship Dept. of Work Force Develpment
School Data Tools
DPI - Legislator by School District
Special Education Interactive Map
2022-23 Interactive State Map Voucher Aid Reduction for Wisconsin Public Schools
ELC (Education for Law Center - Special Education Funding Crunch Information
WiRSA Update - June 4, 2024
Announcments
The WiRSA Update will be sent every other week during the summer months; however, membership schools may receive additional individual emails between the updates.
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WiRSA Conference Registration 2024
Rural Schools and Communities! Resilient Rural!
Monday, October 28 & Tuesday, October 29, 2024 - Welcome Reception - October 27, 2023 - 7:00 p.m.
Click Here for -
Information and Registration
(Click Here to Register)
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WiRSA Conference Breakout Proposals, Vendor & Sponsor Information, & Live Auction Donation Link
WiRSA Conference - Call for Proposals
WiRSA Conference - Vendor Registration and Information
WiRSA Conference - Silent & Live Auction Donations (Google Form Donation Link)
We will once again have a silent and live auction to support our WiRSA high school senior students and student-teacher scholarships. Responses can be adjusted if needed. Keep your URL link saved after you submit an auction item.
Highlights / Opportunity
Mike Beighley, Superintendent in Whitehall, is featured in a PODCAST discussing Industry 4.0, AI, and the Future of K-12 Technical Education.
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From EngageRocket
PODCAST - Featuring Dani Scott - Superintendent (Pecatonica)
Building a Culture of Trust: The Key to Retaining Top Talent
Superintendent Dani Scott on leadership best practices in K-12 education. Dani shares her journey from pre-med to education, emphasizing the importance of building a positive culture and fostering trust within the district. She discusses the impact of relationships and administration support on teacher retention and highlights the value of investing in professional development. Discover how Dani transformed an average school district into one of the top 100 districts in Wisconsin by prioritizing relationships, communication, and the growth of her staff.
Key Takeaways:
Culture and trust are foundational for transitioning from an average to a top-performing school district, impacting both student success and staff retention.
Professional development and mental health support for educators are crucial investments that should be maintained even amidst budget constraints.
Understanding reasons for staff retention, through surveys and direct communication, helps in reinforcing the positive aspects of the district.
Relationship building with staff by the superintendent and administrative team is essential for fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.
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PODCAST - Featuring Dani Mikula - Superintendent (South Shore)
Creating a Destination District: How to Attract and Retain Top Educators
Summary:
Join Dr. Jim as he speaks with Dani Mikula, superintendent of the South Shore School District in Wisconsin, about building a culture of teamwork, community, and coaching in a small K-12 district. They discuss the unique challenges of a small district, such as wearing multiple hats and preventing burnout, and how to attract and retain talent in a remote, rural area. Dani shares strategies for creating a positive culture, involving the community, and providing support and development for educators. Discover the key principles that have led to the success of the South Shore School District.
Key Takeaways:
Building a culture of teamwork and community is crucial in a small district where every employee counts.
Streamlining processes and policies can help alleviate the burden on educators and prevent burnout.
Providing mentoring and coaching support is essential for retaining early career educators and helping them thrive.
Involving the community and parents in the school creates a sense of belonging and pride, attracting and retaining talent.
Creating opportunities for connection and collaboration, both during the school year and in the off-season, helps combat isolation and fosters a positive work environment.
Highlighting the WiRSA District Administrator of the Year
Nomination!
The Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance (WiRSA) Board of Directors established this award to recognize a school administrator/director who has made significant contributions to his/her rural school district.
To be nominated, you must be an administrator/director at any level in a WiRSA member school district.
Award winners will be selected by the WiRSA Board of Directors Executive Committee. The deadline is September 1, 2024
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Nominations for our WiRSA rural school awards!
This is a great opportunity to recognize the outstanding staff, community members, and organizations that do so much to support our schools.
Website Link
WiRSA Conference Registration 2024
Rural Schools and Communities! Resilient Rural!
Monday, October 28 & Tuesday, October 29, 2024 - Welcome Reception - October 27, 2023 - 7:00 p.m.
Click Here for -
Information and Registration
(Click Here to Register)
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WiRSA Conference Breakout Proposals, Vendor & Sponsor Information, & Live Auction Donation Link
WiRSA Conference - Call for Proposals
WiRSA Conference - Vendor Registration and Information
WiRSA Conference - Silent & Live Auction Donations (Google Form Donation Link)
We will once again have a silent and live auction to support our WiRSA high school senior students and student-teacher scholarships. Responses can be adjusted if needed. Keep your URL link saved after you submit an auction item.
Highlights / Opportunity
National Math and Science Teacher Finalists
WiRSA would like to recognize and congratulate the Wisconsin Teacher Finalists - A special congratulations to Debra Heitman (Coleman School District)
Six Wisconsin Teacher Finalists
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Of great interest to us right now is the fact that, while overall community college enrollments have declined every year since 2010, the number of students under 18 has grown every year. Dually enrolled students now make up a third or more of all students. Link to JFF Information
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Portrait of a Graduate:
A Decade of Transforming Education
School districts and state systems nationwide have crafted Portraits of a Graduate, which outline the skills and competencies necessary for success in work, higher education, community involvement, and personal development.
Join our webinar to gain expert insights into:
The value of developing a Portrait of a Graduate for any school district.
Analyze the essential skills communities are prioritizing.
Tangible initiatives that communities have implemented based on their Portrait of a Graduate vision.
Strategies to empower students to meet the demands of a complex and ever-changing world.
DPI - News
Updated Asset-Based Performance Levels
DPI Flyer Communication Handout
After extensive engagement with internal and external education partners, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is updating terminology used to describe student performance levels on statewide standardized assessments.
The terms developing, approaching, meeting, and advanced will replace outdated terms on student standardized assessment reports. This update promotes academic potential, engagement, and growth at every level, and improves feelings of encouragement and motivation among students.
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DPI Memo for the 2023-2024 Enacted
Legislation Affecting Schools
Linked here is a summary of K-12 education-related bills enacted in this session, along with links to the text of each act and available Legislative Council summary
Legislative Update
WASB Blog News:
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Legislative Maps - 2024 & 2022 (Interactive)
You can find your legislator and their contact information by CLICKING THIS LINK and entering your address.
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The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that Direct File will be a permanent, free tax filing option, with all 50 states invited to join in Filing Season 2025. Press Release
The Treasury Department’s goal over the next few years is to make Direct File an available option for working- and middle-class taxpayers nationwide, and Treasury expects significant expansion of this free filing option next year.
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News Articles
WISCONSIN POLICY FORUM
Wisconsin Public Radio
WISCONSIN EXAMINER
Dane Co. judge who signed recall petition expected to rule on lawsuit challenging Act 10 - May 29th
Evers administration requests release of $25 million for child care and tourism
21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nation’s aging grid
Twenty-one states including Wisconsin are joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize America’s aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar and severe weather.
The Colorado Sun
Colorado's teacher apprenticeship program - includes a path for paraprofessionals into an apprenticeship program and options for high schoolers.
OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY /WSCCA
OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY SAFETY RESOURCES TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES VIRTUAL LEARNING
Update From NREA (National Rural Education Association) From the NREA Weekly Update
“A Can’t Miss Education Conference.” “Best Education Conferences to Attend.”
The National Forum to Advance Rural Education is one of the country’s leading rural education conferences. The event is designed to create an environment for collaboration and innovation with a diverse community that includes national experts, K–12 and higher education practitioners, leading researchers, policymakers, and philanthropic leaders from around the country.
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The Rural Voice:
Dispelling Myths About Rural America
Welcome to Episode One of the Rural Education mini-series on the Learning Can’t Wait podcast! This week, Hayley Spira-Bauer hosts a panel of three incredible education leaders to dispel myths about rural America:
Melissa Harris - Senior Fellow at Transcend
Allen Pratt - Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association
Taylor McCabe-Juhnke - Executive Director at Rural Schools Collaborative
Tune in as guests illuminate the many positive aspects of rural education, exploring how the "scrappiness" of rural schools inherently fosters a culture of innovation. The group also delves into the opportunities of AI and other technologies, while describing why collaboration between rural schools and communities is essential.
Update From CEF (Center for Education Funding)
CEF - Investing in America’s Future - EDUCATION MATTERS
The recorded CEF Hill briefing to release our FY 2025 Education Budget Book.
We had a great panel discussion highlighting the importance of investments in the education continuum. If you missed the briefing, you can watch it on CEF’s YouTube channel and attached above are the pdf budget book for 2025 and PPT slides with all charts.
Thank You!
WiRSA 2023
Conference Sponsors
