Colstrip School District Recieves National System Accreditation

Shared by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Cognia System Accreditation

On June 29, 2021, Cognia Accreditation Commission announced that  Colstrip Public School District has earned system accreditation by Cognia™, a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers. 

 

Cognia, formerly AdvancED, nationally recognizes districts that meet rigorous standards that focus on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meet the needs of learners, and effective leadership. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the system and all of its schools are accredited, and that Colstrip Public School District is recognized across the nation as a school system that meets Cognia Standards of Quality, and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement.

 

“Systems accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides Colstrip Public School District a nationally recognized mark of quality for our school system and each school within our system,” shared Superintendent Bob Lewandowski.  “It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our openness to external review and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.” 

 To earn accreditation from Cognia, a school district also must implement a continuous process of improvement, and submit to internal and external review.  Colstrip Public Schools went through their review during the week of April 19 through April 23, 2021. During that time, teachers, staff, administrators, board members, parents and community members were interviewed.  School systems in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a five-year term. 

Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, “Cognia System Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school system and its community on the primary goal of preparing lifelong learners in engaging environments where all students can flourish.  Colstrip Public School District is to be commended for demonstrating that it has met high standards, is making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.” 

 

Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Parents and interested community members can learn more about the Cognia Accreditation at cognia.org. 

 

About Cognia

Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, professional learning, and improvement services to institutions and other education providers. The result of the merger of AdvancED and Measured Progress, Cognia was formed to bridge the gap between school evaluation and student assessment. As a global nonprofit working in over 80 countries, our 36,000 institutions serve and support nearly 25 million students and five million educators every day. Cognia serves as trusted partner in advancing learning for all learners.  Find out more at cognia.org. 

CPS Staff is Back to School to Make Dust

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Monday, August 19, 2019 marked the first day back to school for all of the staff. After an initial welcome and introductions in the auditorium, staff began ALERT Training in the CHS Commons. This group of professionals are eager to meet their students and Make Dust in 2019.

During the afternoon break, I managed to gather the staff for a photo in front of the new Coach.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Searching for "GREAT" Teachers!

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Many schools across the country are having difficulty hiring teachers. It is no different here at Colstrip Public Schools. Teacher shortages are a reality.

The table at right indicates that schools throughout the country are grappling with teacher shortage. This graph indicates the subjects most effected across the nation.

Currently the Colstrip Public School District is searching for several positions for the 2018-2019 School Year. The District advertises these positions at both the state and national levels in hopes to gain the interest of teaching candidates that will do a great job. As superintendent, I send out individual emails to educational graduates soliciting their interest to come to Colstrip. Below are flyers I am posting on our District Facebook and my Twitter accounts to help get the word out.  Please feel free to share them in your social media.

 

Finding the best educators to serve the youth of Colstrip has become a focus. Very seldom do schools get a plethora of applicants for an opening. According to CNN's Caitlin Ostroff, she shared a study done by UCLA that found that college freshmen's interest in teaching as a career has steadily declined since 2006. In fact, nationwide teacher education enrollments have dropped 35% since 2009.  In addition, teachers leaving the profession have increased by 8% with two-thirds quitting before retirement according to the Learning Policy Institute. The bottom line is that fewer folks want to become teachers with a high percentage of teachers leaving the profession.

Hiring teachers and retaining teachers in remote communities is a challenge. There are so many variables to consider. Cost of living, quality of housing, access to shopping and eating amenities, health care and health insurance are just a few of the things that every potential employee considers before signing a contract. I also want to mention the biggest variable that comes into play is also the most difficult for remote educational communities to compete with: a candidates desire to work close to the home where their extended family reside. It is an employee's market in very demanding times when it comes to educational accountability. 

Districts have to be more strategic in the hiring process by doing some of the following: build relationships with surrounding teacher-college programs; grow your own teachers by generating student interest; get to the candidates first (before the competition); find new ways to solicit interest from teacher candidates; or provide more money, amenities and fringe benefits with fewer funds to do so. Searching for "GREAT" teachers is more difficult than ever. 

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Things Every Kid Should Hear Everyday

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Two years ago our District started branding Make Dust or Eat Dust as a theme to set high expectations for our educational community. I believe it has been embraced with a number of examples of excellence. You can see many of them in my blog; however, "Make Dust or Eat Dust" can also speak to a number of other needs, especially to their psychological ones. "Making Dust" is also taking "care" of one another and providing the safety, support and belonging required by each individual in our community. "Making Dust" takes into account that "People don't care what you know until they know that you care."

MAKE SOME DUST TODAY! Let those you work, learn and live with know that they are important and you care about them. See the infographic for more details.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Aggressively Recruiting Human Resources

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Colstrip Public Schools are aggressively recruiting potential applicants to fill vacant positions for 2017-2018. It is becoming more difficult to hire highly qualified staff and administration. Our school district is taking the next step by using social media to generate interest in what Colstrip has to offer.

It is our intent to brand and market our school system using social media as well as other means to get attract the very best teaching candidates for our school.

Please share this information as to assist the school district with these endeavors. We are seeking the very best for the very best.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

A Purpose-Driven Education Through Strategic Planning

By Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Just short of seven years ago, on April 13, 2009, the Colstrip Board of Trustees formally adopted its new Strategic Plan.  Colstrip Public Schools’ Board and Staff Leadership Team embraced the method of strategic planning as a continual and ongoing process to set the direction of the District for years to come.  This is not a "strategic planning project" that is completed. Adoption of a strategic plan is an affirmation of the general intent and direction articulated by the Core Ideology, Envisioned Future and Goals and Strategic Objectives. It is understood that progress toward achieving strategic objectives will be assessed annually, and the plan will be updated based on achievement and changes in the needs of the children served by the Colstrip School District. 

Strategic Planning allows Colstrip Public School District to create a direction for the school district that strategically focuses its resources on identified wants, preferences, and needs of its community. As part of this process, Colstrip Public Schools has begun a strategic planning and thinking process which will lead to a stronger and more vital school district.  This process has been ongoing as Colstrip Public Schools moves into the future.  This strategic plan is intended to help Colstrip Public Schools in focusing its resources in a manner which will best benefit the children enrolled in Colstrip Public Schools.  

The Colstrip Board of Trustees and Staff Leadership Team began the strategic planning and thinking process necessary to amend its current educational goals to better fit with its commitments to children, to community engagement, and to knowledge-based decision making processes. The Board and Staff, through this process, to date have discussed at length how it could best meet the present and future needs of the students of the Colstrip Public Schools.  Point of fact, the School Board monitors Strategic Planning processes at every monthly meeting to assure the direction set are being met or are meeting the needs of our students 

One of the first  items the board and community determined in the strategic planning process was the Core Ideology of the District. The Core Ideology describes a school district's consistent identity that transcends all changes related to its relevant environment. The Core Ideology consists of the following two elements: 

1)   Core Purpose - the school district's reason for being (see slide above).

2)   Core Values - essential and enduring principles that guide a school district (see slide below). 

The Core Ideology and Purpose provide a foundation for purpose-driven governance. The framework used by the Colstrip School District for its strategic planning process was adapted from a model developed by Jim Collins, author of “Built to Last” and “Good to Great.” The Board focuses on five different planning horizons, starting with the long term issues first to provide focus to shorter term efforts. 

Follow up posts to this blog will further explore the strategic planning process and the District's Envisioned Future and the process associated in developing the District's Big Audacious Goal and Vivid Descriptions. 

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"