HOULTON, Maine — RSU 29’s new Superintendent Ellen Schneider was welcomed by more than 100 employees at the “Back to School” workshop held last Thursday at Houlton’s Performing Arts Center. All staff members met in the cafeteria for breakfast before the daylong event.
Schneider, a native of Presque Isle, gave a brief history of herself, which included wearing a variety of educational hats throughout her career of 28 years. She has been a special education teacher, special education director, curriculum director, assistant principal, assistant superintendent and most recently superintendent in Wells-Ogunquit.
Schneider is anxious to get the school year underway and become part of the greater Houlton community. Following her presentation of introducing new staff members, Schneider updated those attending on new policies and procedures. She also shared with the staff that work would continue on aligning the standards for a proficiency-based system.
By 2018 graduating students will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the standards of the eight content areas. Those areas include: career and education development, English language arts, health and physical education, mathematics, science and technology, social studies, visual and performing arts and world languages.
Schneider also wanted the staff to focus on “pride” throughout the district.
“And just what might that be?” she asked. A definition from the dictionary says, “It is a deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements or as a team effort.”
Schneider said, “It is doing a good job, a job well done. We need to be prideful in who we are, our profession, our classrooms, our buildings, our district. We know as educators our students are always on our minds, instill pride in those students, pride in a job well done.”
Supporting this effort were banners in the auditorium featuring the slogan “Let your Pride shine in RSU 29.” Staff members received pens and pencils imprinted with the slogan as well. She also commented on a mailing she had received from a former student from the district who shared how proud they were to be an alumnus of Houlton High School and how fortunate the district is to have the support of the very active Houlton High School Alumni Association.
Guest speaker for the workshop was Linda Schott, president of the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Schott shared UMPI’s goal of personalized learning for students coming from our high schools. She said, “Many of our teachers have been in classrooms learning to implement teaching standards, preparing students to be future teachers.”
The university plans to place students in the classrooms early to make sure this is the correct career path for them. UMPI’s program aims to prepare the students not only in their chosen subject, but also with the use of technology, so once they become employees of school districts or businesses they are ready to go.
As part of the Essential Learning Outcomes program, UMPI’s courses are detailed in what they want the students to know. Schott has ventured in to the community to ask employers “What are you looking for in your future employees?”
Their responses were: “We want them to have the ability to problem solve, know how to be a good employee; be on time, communicate clearly verbally, as well as with written speech, be a good citizen, think creatively, be able to process and manage information.”
“Every student learns in different ways and at different times. Be mindful of the needs of the students you are responsible for,” said Schott.
Following Thursday’s workshop, staff members met in their own buildings on Friday for schedule updates, planning for Professional Learning Group meetings and preparation for the first day of school.
