MONROE - The Monroe school district administration got two of its wishes Monday as the school board agreed to add a new fifth-grade teacher and continue the instructional facilitator position.
The fifth-grade teaching position for Parkside Elementary School will allow the district to get class sizes under 25 in grades K-5 across the district. Without the additional teacher, the district said it would have had to shuffle some students to a different school between their fourth- and fifth-grade years.
"We don't want to be transferring kids in fifth grade," said Jennifer Thayer, director of curriculum and instruction. All students transfer to Monroe Middle School for sixth grade, so adding a transition between fourth and fifth grade would be hard for students and their families.
The position is budgeted at $60,000 for salary and benefits.
Making the instructional facilitator position permanent was another top priority for the administration. Gail Murray was hired as the facilitator as a one-year position this year.
The facilitator, or coach, works with new and veteran staff at each of the district's three elementary schools. The coach is particularly helpful working with new teachers to help them learn and better implement curriculum materials. Currently, the coach is working primarily on reading, Thayer said, but the goal is to have her work more on writing, as well.
Research shows "coaching (teachers) is the strongest method you can use to improve student achievement," Thayer said. She also said it's difficult to point to improved student scores and say conclusively they are the result of having an instructional facilitator.
"It's a combination of factors," she said.
However, Thayer said she hopes to see an increase in student achievement in a year or so.
The position is budgeted at $85,000 for salary and benefits.
Other items on the district's priority list including having Gifted and Talented resource staff at each school building; adding to the supplies budget for the elementary and middle schools; and having curriculum chairpersons at each elementary school and one for grades 6-12.
The fifth-grade teaching position for Parkside Elementary School will allow the district to get class sizes under 25 in grades K-5 across the district. Without the additional teacher, the district said it would have had to shuffle some students to a different school between their fourth- and fifth-grade years.
"We don't want to be transferring kids in fifth grade," said Jennifer Thayer, director of curriculum and instruction. All students transfer to Monroe Middle School for sixth grade, so adding a transition between fourth and fifth grade would be hard for students and their families.
The position is budgeted at $60,000 for salary and benefits.
Making the instructional facilitator position permanent was another top priority for the administration. Gail Murray was hired as the facilitator as a one-year position this year.
The facilitator, or coach, works with new and veteran staff at each of the district's three elementary schools. The coach is particularly helpful working with new teachers to help them learn and better implement curriculum materials. Currently, the coach is working primarily on reading, Thayer said, but the goal is to have her work more on writing, as well.
Research shows "coaching (teachers) is the strongest method you can use to improve student achievement," Thayer said. She also said it's difficult to point to improved student scores and say conclusively they are the result of having an instructional facilitator.
"It's a combination of factors," she said.
However, Thayer said she hopes to see an increase in student achievement in a year or so.
The position is budgeted at $85,000 for salary and benefits.
Other items on the district's priority list including having Gifted and Talented resource staff at each school building; adding to the supplies budget for the elementary and middle schools; and having curriculum chairpersons at each elementary school and one for grades 6-12.