How can we help teachers invest in themselves

Being a teacher is a difficult and time consuming job.  Grading papers until late into the evening or every second of planing time is used to make just enough photocopies to get through the school day.  

With school closures affecting nearly every classroom across America, educators have a unique opportunity to invest in themselves like never before.  The world of online learning has evolved and our teachers, many of whom have been turning their own classrooms into an online learning environment, have the ability to use technology to become self paced learners themselves.  

In the West Valley Career and Technical Education Department, we want our teachers to have access to the most relevant and up to date on line learning available.  Teachers will have access to over 15,000 online lessons.

Teachers are able to use this time to learn a new language to better connect to our students, learn how to use technology to build a personalized learning environment, or design course standards to meet industry certification and college articulation agreements. 

Courses available:

Microsoft Education - https://education.microsoft.com/en-us

Google Education - https://teachercenter.withgoogle.com/training

LinkedIn Learning - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/me

Lynda - https://www.lynda.com/

Khan Academy - https://www.khanacademy.org/

Rosetta Stone - https://www.rosettastone.com/

Ed Elements - https://www.edelements.com/webinars

Elevating the Work Across the Hallway

New post on Connected Principals Elevating the Work Across the Hallway #Podcast by George Couros Check out the full podcast discussing these ideas on Spotify, Soundcloud, or iTunes. The following excerpt is from “Innovate Inside the Box“: There is never harm in positively and authentically acknowledging the contributions the adults in our schools make. Don’t wait for someone to leave your building to appreciate them! Say good things about them now, right in front of them! As former NBA player Jalen Rose has said in the past, “People will bring flowers to your funeral but won’t bring you soup when you’re sick.” Don’t wait for it to be too late to share a kind message. You will be amazed at how simple, heartfelt words can improve relationships with your peers and change the culture and environment for the entire school. Here is something to think about; why is the phrase, “You can’t be a prophet in your own land” so prevalent in education? Why do we value the expertise of those across the world more than we value the abilities of those across the hallway? Do we feel that elevating others in our school or organization some way diminish our work? I remember working with a teacher that I looked up to tremendously.  He was one of the hardest workers that I knew, not only in school but outside of it as well. Not only was he a master-teacher in how he taught and interacted with students, but he also ran a company outside of education (totally unrelated) where he excelled at as well.  I learned so much from him as an educator, and I know that I was better off because of his influence and mentorship. I left that school and didn’t talk to him much after, and then I had heard that he had a sudden heart attack and passed away before he retired.  I was heartbroken as were the countless lives that found out the same news when they heard of his passing. I think a lot about his influence on me as an educator, and to be honest, a dad, even though I became a dad after he passed.  I often shared with him how much I appreciated his influence, but not to the extent that it was deserved. I wish I could have shared that with him, and now I will never get the chance. I do my best to share my appreciation with others, and here is one thing that I have learned; I have never regretted sharing a kind word or an authentic compliment to someone else, but I have regretted not doing the same thing. Teaching is hard. Life is short.  Don’t wait until it is too late to share your appreciation with someone that has had an impact on you, your school, or students.   We would tell our students to do the same thing, and I am trying my best to model it myself.

West Valley Takes Top Four Spots in CWU's "Many Faces of Entrepreneurship."

What's your business idea that's going to change the world?

That is the question asked today of students attending the Central Washington University  College of Business', "Many Faces of Entrepreneurship."

Students designed a business idea, constructed business plans, and made presentations to a panel of entrepreneurs.  

West Valley students landed in the top four teams with four West Valley students earning top honors.

Congratulations to.

- Kyle McClean

- Sophie Milford

- Ramiro Huerta

- Taylor Dunn

Special accommodation was award to the lone Junior High students from West Valley Junior High.  Caitlyn Pham was selected as the, "Many Faces MVP."  

West Valley Sweeps Washington LifeSmarts

West Valley Financial Algebra travelled to Central Washington University today for the annual LifeSmarts competition.

West Valley teams won both first and second in the LifeSmarts State Competition.  

Competition includes online and live competitions. Students who participate in the program begin competition online. The highest scoring teams are invited to in-person live state championships. State-wide competitions are locally coordinated by state partnering organizations and agencies. In states without a state coordinator, NCL hosts a virtual state championship. State winners are invited to the National LifeSmarts Championship held in a different city every April.

Students Teaching Students with Junior Achievement

On Tuesday, Feb. 11^th, West Valley High School had thirty-five Hs students take over the entire second grade classrooms at Summitview and Apple Valley Elementaries. They taught five common core aligned lessons where students learned about money, jobs, taxes, running a business and other features of Our Community  (JA). 

Commendations have been coming from principals, teachers and the program coordinator for Junior Achievement. Feedback has been positive about how professional the students were, how engaged the elementary  students were.  Second graders left stating that this was the best day ever. 

Special thanks to these West Valley Rams.

Darby Bailey

Cara Edwards

Maisie Sundquist

Abby Potts

Gracie Speer

Jeff Garibay

Alex Terry

Lauren Reed

Ashlee Davis

Maddie Terry

Cassie Maybee

Jordan Farris

Racheal Chouinard

Loghan Thorn

Orlando Ibarra

Colton McKinney

Kaidyn Miller

Tucker Frank

Trinity Ferreira

Raevyn Blair

Austin Creasy

Maddie Cook

Iza Juarez

Grace Clift

Maddie Brocks

Emma Packard

Haley Thompson

Zach Dodge

Alberto Naranjo

Sam Bagnall

Chucky Emerick

Braiden Wilson

Annie Jo Tkacz

Dani Harmon

Core Plus Takes West Valley Students to New Heights

As part of the West Valley and Core Plus Partnership is the Boeing Internship.  Students spend five weeks living in dorms while interning on the Boeing Campus.  

Michael O'Neill from Boeing Aerospace spoke with West Valley Core Plus Aerospace students about the multiple career options ahead of them today.  

As a Core Plus member school, West Valley students recieve support in applications and interviews for careers at Boeing.  Member schools recieve program support from Subject Matter Experts within the Core Plus program who visit and assess students.  Teacher professional development is tailored to our student needs.

Learn more about the Core Plus Internship here:

https://coreplusaerospace.org/2020internship/

Forensics host regional Skills USA

Wednesday, January 22nd, students in the West Valley forensics club hosted the regional Skills USA Competition.  Students competed in knowledge areas around collecting evidence, maintaining a controlled and safe crime scene, and dusting and comparing finger prints.