Celebrate! Kenai Central High School Assistant Principal Will Chevernak is recognized as the 2022 Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals Region III Assistant Principal of the Year!
“Working with such an amazing staff is a true blessing and I feel very fortunate to have such strong support from my school and fellow administrators,” said Will Chervenak. “Going into work each day, knowing that I have the opportunity to be a positive influence in the lives of our kids, is more than I could ever ask for in a career. Recognition was never my motivation for making education my life’s work, and I am so appreciative that my efforts have had a positive impact on the Kenai community.”
Mr. Chervenak has a continual growth mindset. He always seeks to find ways to improve, and thereby become even more effective at having a positive impact on students.
-Superintendent Clayton Holland
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland said, “Mr. Chervenak is an outstanding assistant principal and we are all thrilled that he has been named Region III Principal of the Year. Mr. Chervenak has a continual growth mindset. He always seeks to find ways to improve, and thereby become even more effective at having a positive impact on students. He is supportive of staff, and he seeks to include their voice on decisions made at the site level. Mr. Chervenak, along with Principal Dan Beck, have created a great culture that is supportive of students, staff, and families.”
Thoughts from Alaska Region III 2022 Assistant Principal of the Year, Mr. Will Chervenak, Kenai Central High School
In 2021…
“This year I have pushed myself to improve my professional practice and have taken a new approach to student discipline, focusing on restorative justice and building positive relationships. This is a shift from the more traditional disciplinary model of correcting student behavior punitively. Another skill set that I am building upon is facilitating the N.O.T. (Not On Tobacco) youth cessation program. This program focuses on tobacco product education, cessation, providing an alternative to out-of-school suspension for a student found to be using tobacco products at school. Further, my work on the school intervention team has allowed me the opportunity to advocate for response to intervention (RTI) best practices, and I look forward to the RTI Summit later this year in which I hope to improve my RTI acumen and bring those techniques back to my school.”
School culture
“I am very proud of the culture that exists at Kenai Central High School. We are focused on student voice and providing a student-centered curriculum that is further supported by the personalized learning framework. I formed a committee to enhance our student-centered focus to fill the monthly calendar with positive activities for student. For example, during October we had Halloween-themed spirit days, a pumpkin carving contest, a Halloween hallway decorating class competition, hallway trick-or-treating, and an outdoor scary movie drive-in. I also had the opportunity to facilitate our annual community job shadow event. Current 11th graders are paired with local industries, participating in a quarter-long workshop that focuses on employability skills, resume building, interview protocols, and culminates in a full day job shadow experience in their identified career field.”
Education during a pandemic
“The global pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges for staff and students. These challenges were further compounded when my head principal was forced to leave for immediate and urgent health concerns. This led to an administrative restructuring in which I fulfilled the role of head principal for the entirety of second semester and was afforded the opportunity to bolster in-building capacity to promote another member of our certified administrative staff to assistant principal. During this challenging year, my assistant and I focused to provide staff a voice that they had not experienced before. This was made possible through the formation of a collaborative leadership team involving administration and department heads. The results were increased staff voice in the master schedule, building-level interventions, in-services, and addressing the immediate needs of both remote and in-person student learning. The distributed leadership model led to the formation of school-wide homerooms that focused on building trusting relationships with staff and students, as well as providing scaffolding for immediate academic and behavior interventions.”
Dr. Lisa S. Parady, Executive Director of ACSA/AASP said, “Congratulations—you are one of the best of the best in Alaska! We thank you for your continued commitment to Alaska’s students and congratulate you on being named your region’s Assistant Principal of the Year!”
Links
- Website: Kenai Central High School
- Facebook: Kenai Central High School
- AASSP: Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA)
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Posted in Awards by .
Nov 21
8
Veterans Day 2021
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Veterans Day is a KPBSD school holiday*.
*calendar variance: Kachemak-Selo, Nanwalek, Port Graham, Razdolna, and Voznesenka schools are in session on November 11, 2021.
Many KPBSD schools make time near Veterans Day for celebrations, assemblies, and learning this week about the importance of Veterans Day.
Please offer thanksgiving and make time or remember a meaningful story about the people in your life who have served, or are serving in active duty.
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Nov 21
4
Let’s Get In GEAR
Let’s get in GEAR and celebrate KPBSD school psychologists every day, and especially during National School Psychology Week
Eleven school psychologists working in the KPBSD provide a range of services to support students’ academic achievement and social–emotional well-being. They collaborate with staff and students, provide suicide prevention classroom presentations, respond to critical incidents, provide feedback on district policies, assess individual students, participate in meetings with parents, and grow as professionals.
During the week of November 8–12, 2021, schools throughout the country will celebrate National School Psychology Week to highlight the important work school psychologists do to help students thrive.
The 2021 theme is “Let’s Get in GEAR.” (Grow, Engage, Advocate, Rise). The theme’s acronym provides a challenge to grow personally and professionally. It encourages school psychologists to engage in best practices and advocate for children’s access to mental health and learning supports. To rise implies resilience and renewal despite the challenges of the past.
This has a particular resonance this year as we work to help students, families, and school staff emerge from the challenges of the past year and a half. When we get in gear, we move together. When one gear moves, the gears connected to it move as well. When we move together there is a positive synergy that builds and becomes greater than any single effort.
“As with all school-based professionals, we are most effective in our work through collaboration with other school staff, families, and members of the community. National School Psychology Week is part of an ongoing effort to improve collaboration and foster the common elements of a thriving school community in KPBSD to help all students grow and succeed. We are fully committed to working with you and the rest of the KPBSD’s staff to continue to energize and empower our students on a daily basis.” –Angie Nelson, KPBSD School Psychologist
Posted in Appreciation by .
Kenai Peninsula Middle College School
In the 2020-2021 school year, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, through River City Academy (RCA), launched a middle college pilot program! The Kenai Peninsula Middle College School (KPMCS) is a partnership with Kenai Peninsula College (KPC) and creates a bridge between high school and college by providing eligible students the opportunity to exceed their high school academics through classes at KPC.
Tuition, books and fees are paid by KPBSD and students receive both high school and college credit while working toward their Associate of Arts degree and meeting their high school graduation requirements. Hosted through RCA, students benefit from the support of a collaborative learning environment, a cohort of middle college peers, and a structured mentoring program.
Twenty-one students from River City Academy, Soldotna High School, Kenai Central High School, and Nikolaevsk School joined the pilot in 2020, and earned more than 200 college credits. One family said that middle college, “provides access to more advanced classes for high school students. Additionally, it serves as an introduction into the college framework with extra support both at the college and at a local school.”
In the 2021-2022 school year, 35 students enrolled for the fall semester, and there is capacity for an additional 15 students to enroll in the second semester beginning in January 2022.
Learn more about the Kenai Peninsula Middle College School, https://kpbsd.org/schools/river-city-academy/kenai-peninsula-middle-college-school/
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Oct 21
14
Great Alaska Shakeout 10.21.21
Forty-two diverse schools in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will participate in the Great Alaska ShakeOut “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” earthquake drill on October 21, 2021, at 10:21 a.m.
In addition, schools will conduct a radio check in conjunction with this drill.
To learn more, go to https://www.shakeout.org/alaska/
Read about safety protocols in the KPBSD
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Celebrate! On September 25, 2021, during the annual Alaska Speech-Language-Hearing Association (AKSHA) convention, excellence in the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District was highlighted, with current and retired staff receiving the Sourdough Award, Red Lantern Award, and the Lifetime Member Award with 20 or more years of outstanding history in clinical practice!
“The KPBSD is so fortunate to consistently have an outstanding speech department for our students. Our quality speech pathologists have energy and compassion, and continue to rise above any challenge that is presented. These awards and recognitions prove just that. I have worked closely and seen firsthand how their knowledge and expertise has been an integral part to help special education teams collaborate and assist students with the wide variety of communication needs in our school district. This statewide recognition is well deserved, and I feel honored to work with these fine individuals.”
–Amy Hagen, KPBSD Director of Student Support Services
Jackie Kempf, Speech Pathologist, received the Sourdough Award for outstanding contributions in SLP or Audiology!
The Sourdough Awardrecognizes an Audiologist and-or Speech Language Pathology (SLP) who demonstrates long-term dedication to issues in the state, advocacy, leadership, or outstanding clinical practice.
Over her career, Jackie Kempf has done an excellent job as a therapist and
achieved a strong reputation as a school-based practitioner. A particular strength
is working with students with significant communication delays and building
language abilities from the preschool setting through 6th grade, specifically
with children on the Autism Spectrum and with significant early developmental
delays. Jackie has incorporated many integral elements of speech therapy,
including PECS, Aug Com systems, visual supports, functional play and school
routine mastery, pragmatic skills building, and narrative retell strategies
into her therapy as needed in the overall support of global communication. She
and her long time SLPA team are often the first speech pathology staff
preschoolers encounter in KPBSD, and the early therapy she provides continues
to make significant differences in those preschoolers’ abilities to enter primary
grades with the building blocks necessary to grow academically and navigate
their social worlds with success and understanding.
In addition to her clinical work, Jackie has given of her time to graduate students over the years as they undertake clinical hours, internships, and mentoring for their CCC’s, and her open and kind personality and enthusiasm for her students as people is infectious. She has for many years juggled high caseload numbers and complex cases spread over multiple sites with efficiency and fidelity. Her conviction that every child should have a voice is clear to see through the passion and dedication she has given her work as a school-based speech pathologist over the last two decades at KPBSD.
Robin Evans, retired and now a substitute SLP, received the Red Lantern Award for Outstanding Contributions in Rural Alaska!
The Red Lantern Award recognizes the unique challenges many AKSHA members work under to provide services to those in our rural areas.
Robin served as KPBSD’s Child Find Coordinator, bringing her expertise as a SLP. She traveled around the diverse KPBSD K-12 school district that includes several small schools and communities. She went beyond screening youngsters; many times her SLP expertise led her to complete a speech and language evaluation. This expedited the process of qualifying children for services. Robin’s care and concern for youngsters was evident. In addition, she eased the caseload for the SLP who would be servicing the child at their neighboring school. After Robin retired, she began her new adventures, travel and lifestyle, though she returned to KPBSD to assist in any way possible. She contracts her services, as well as provides substitute services for SLPs and special education teachers. Robin was a positive force who made a difference in the lives of children, families and communities.
Melody Spangler-Hatch, retired SLP, 1980-2012 was honored with the Lifetime Member Award for 20 or more years of outstanding history in clinical practice!
The Lifetime Member Award recognizes an outstanding history of clinical practice in the field of speech language pathology and-or audiology within Alaska and AKSHA. Nominees must have practiced at least 20 years as an Audiologist and/or SLP and been an AKSHA member for 10 or more years.
“For the past three plus years, I have been the SLP serving the Seward area schools with Seward Elementary as my home base,” wrote nominator Cecilia Deatherage. “Being in Seward in Melody’s old position, and her same room (30+ years), I repeatedly hear from many parents about their speech therapy and how she helped them … now it’s their kids. Though I only really know her from KPBSD SLP meetings over the years and at AKSHA conferences, the consistent positive feedback I hear about her led me to this nomination.”
Julie DeBoard, Special Educator and former speech student at Seward Elementary, shared, “Melody Spangler was my speech teacher in my second-grade year. In one year, she helped me master my R & S sounds. I still remember using the clicker to identify where in the word I heard my R sounds. Later on, I had the opportunity to work with Melody Spangler Hatch. I learned so much from this wonderful colleague. She taught me about paperwork, conducting myself in IEP meetings, interacting with the staff, and her love of her students was contagious. She was not only a colleague, but is also a very dear friend to this day! I saw her touch the lives of not only me, but also hundreds of students during her time at Seward Elementary School Her smile was infectious and it makes me so happy to see her plaque on the wall by her old room.”
Kathi Davis, head secretary and parent of a speech student at Seward Elementary, wrote, “Melody Spangler Hatch–what a remarkable woman, a wonderful friend, and a person that is a joy to have in your life! Melody has always done so much for the community of Seward and has an amazing giving heart. Seward was blessed the day she arrived so many years ago, met the love of her life, and made this her home. She was a speech therapist at Seward Elementary for 32 years and taught hundreds of students how to speak correctly during her tenure here. I was one of the lucky parents having a child be a successful recipient of her love, dedication and talent. My son no longer sounds like he is from Brooklyn!”
Discover: Who are Speech-Language Pathologists & what do they do?
Link
AKSHA association
Posted in Awards by .
Oct 21
12
No school for students
Friday, October 15, 2021, is an inservice day,
no school for students*
*calendar variance: Kachemak-Selo, Nikolaevsk, Port Graham, Razdolna, and Voznesenka schools are in session
KPBSD Calendar and Variance Calendars
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Celebrations happen every day in KPBSD schools, and a new $10,000 grant will support the Soldotna High School Welding program!
Students experience multiple pathways to life after high school, and some students receive certifications and trade expertise, then go straight into a career after graduation, others pursue additional education at a college, university, trade school, or join the military, and others take a gap year or time to determine what their next best move is. Everyone can learn skills in high school through career and technical education (CTE) courses, and Airgas USA, a leading single-source supplier of gases, welding equipment, supplies, and safety products, awarded the Soldotna High School welding program a $10,000 grant.
Dan Grove, the account manager of the Kenai Airgas branch, nominated and submitted a grant proposal, recognizing Soldotna High School in revitalizing the high school welding program with the industry expert Clyde Swaby. Airgas identified Soldotna High based on the education alignment with local industry needs through oil refineries, offshore platforms, fishing, and construction industries.
Soldotna High School was one out of 23 schools across the nation to be awarded this grant!
-Dan Grove, account manager, Kenai Airgas
#thankyou
Posted in KPBSD District Stories by .
Find all finance documents at go.kpbsd.org/finance
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District requests input from staff, parents, students, and community members at a Districtwide FY23 Budget Development meeting. All meetings begin at 6:00 PM.
Central Peninsula Community
Thursday, October 7, 2021, 6:00 p.m., Soldotna High Library*
Homer Community
Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 6:00 p.m., Homer High Library
Seward Community
Wednesday, October 20, 2021, 6:00 p.m., Seward High Library
*October 7, 2021, 6:00 PM, is the only budget development meeting that will be also livestreamed and include a live Q&A via zoom.
Additional details and new finance information when it
becomes available is posted on the Finance page of the KPBSD website at go.kpbsd.org/finance.
If you have questions about these meetings, please call Natalie Bates at
907-714-8888.
October 7, 2021, KPBSD Budget Development Meeting Zoom Option:
https://kpbsd.zoom.us/j/88694754284
Or One tap mobile :
US: +17209289299, 88694754284# or +19712471195, 88694754284#
Or Telephone:
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 720 928 9299 or +1 971 247 1195 or +1 206 337 9723 or +1 213 338 8477 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 602 753 0140
Webinar ID: 886 9475 4284
International numbers available: https://kpbsd.zoom.us/u/keyzqoCati
Posted in Budget by .
Oct 21
1
KPBSD PEAKS assessment
September 30, 2021
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Students in grades 3-9 participated in the 2021 Performance Evaluation for Alaska’s Schools (PEAKS) summative assessment for English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, and Science. The Alaska Department of Education and Early Education (DEED) stated that, “Low participation rates due to COVID-19 warrant caution comparing results to prior years.” The 2021 results are only one part of the overall picture informing us about how well our students and schools are doing to meet all the grade level expectations identified by Alaska State Standards. Your child’s results are now available through the KPBSD PowerSchool Parent Portal.
Given the low overall participation rate and the high variability in participation among student groups, DEED cautions against comparing 2021 PEAKS data to previous years at the statewide level. Parents and educators can use individual student data from PEAKS, along with other local assessments, to inform decisions about instructional needs during the 2021-2022 school year. DEED has published a Parent Guide to Student Reports and FAQs online under the “results” tab.
Typically, summative assessments guide intervention and targeted support activities for schools as directed by the Every Student Succeeds Act. However, the U.S. Department of Education waived accountability requirements for the 2021-2022 school year. DEED will continue to support ongoing school improvement efforts in local school districts, including stewardship of federal COVID relief funds.
Parents and Guardians have the authority to object to and withdraw their child from standards based assessments, or tests required by the State. The KPBSD Curriculum and Assessment Opt-Out Form must be completed annually and submitted to the school. The form can be found at this link: http://bit.ly/2lAPbca
You can find parent resources on the Alaska Department of Education PEAKS webpage: https://education.alaska.gov/assessments to assist with understanding these state required evaluations.
Student reports are available through the KPBSD PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you need help accessing these results, please contact your child’s school.
Sincerely,
Kari Dendurent
Assistant Superintendent
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District