May 15, 2023 meeting with Will Nelson, Superintendent of La Conner Schools.
Will has been the Superintendent of La Conner Schools since July of 2021.
The benefits of a small school include the personal touch and smaller class sizes. When playing sports, students can play all sports and are on the team, since they need all the players.
The benefits of a small school include the personal touch and smaller class sizes. When playing sports, students can play all sports and are on the team, since they need all the players.
Will shared with us some of the strategies he has been in place.
1) Proficiency Learning Community, where the teachers collaborate and take learnings on what is working class to class and share ideas to be most effective.
2) Universal Design for Learning – standardizing curriculum and designs across classrooms and
3) Student Choices where they can select the books they want to read and the concept is to understand the author’s purpose. That allows everyone to read whatever they are passionate about and boil down the author’s main points and purpose.
4) Equity – Different teaching styles to align to learning styles. You can teach it, but if students don’t learn it, you didn’t really teach.
1) Proficiency Learning Community, where the teachers collaborate and take learnings on what is working class to class and share ideas to be most effective.
2) Universal Design for Learning – standardizing curriculum and designs across classrooms and
3) Student Choices where they can select the books they want to read and the concept is to understand the author’s purpose. That allows everyone to read whatever they are passionate about and boil down the author’s main points and purpose.
4) Equity – Different teaching styles to align to learning styles. You can teach it, but if students don’t learn it, you didn’t really teach.
Thank you, Will, for a great program.
The La Conner Rotary members that attended the District Conference were all wearing their “Be The Good” shirts and shared with us what they learned. They all stated it was the best speaker lineup they had ever attended. Thank you Dennis, Connie, Marty, Audrey Danielle and Pam for sharing.
More details about Will and challenges for La Conner Schools:
Will is a tribal member of the Blackfeet Nation from Montana. In the Air Force, Will was fluent in Russian, went to Portland State University where he continued his Russian studies and Information Technology and System Integration. Will started his career as a technical assistant, Technical Principal, and then Superintendent, with a Superintendent Certificate Degree from Western.
Will shared with us that the La Conner schools are in a difficult transition with attendance down. He has had to let 8 people go, 4 time equivalent heads. The school district peaked at 660 students and due to covid and other factors has dropped to 490. The government funding is based on headcount which led to the staffing reductions aligned to the current headcount, driving a “right sizing” of the staffing to student ration. Will mentioned that there was a student protest through town to support those that were being let go, and was very respectful and peaceful. They also sent a very well written letter to the State Legislators to ensure Education Funding, Basic Education, and core curriculum would continue to be supported.
Will shared some of the impacts that COVID had on the students, who felt isolated, lacked in social learnings and when they returned to school in 2022, had some atypical behaviors that needed to be worked through. He stated that it continued to some degree this year, which means the students really need the teachers and counselors that are helping them through the issues. He believes we had not really seen the full effect of the 2 years missed as students had to be virtual.
Another cause of the decline in students is the lack of affordable housing in and near La Conner, including the financial issues with Skagit Bay Homeowners Association and the Tribe. Will is working with the Town Planning Commission and neighboring towns such as Conway, Bow, Sedro Woolley, etc. By working together, families have choices of where they attend school and bus routes can be combined to get them to school and home.
Will shared with us the contract language for the Teacher’s Union, to determine where the cuts would take place. It is based on Seniority; some being handled through retirements. The Elementary & Secondary schools are losing 8 staff, some teachers, some staff positions. When asked about the Music program, Will shared that it would indeed continue.
Will is looking at ways to reduce costs such as start and end times and working with Alumni groups to help with messaging and ideas.
Will shared with us some of the strategies he has been in place. 1) Proficiency Learning Community, where the teachers collaborate and take learnings on what is working class to class and share ideas to be most effective. 2) Universal Design for Learning – standardizing curriculum and designs across classrooms and 3) Student Choices where they can select the books they want to read and the concept is to understand the author’s purpose. That allows everyone to read whatever they are passionate about and boil down the author’s main points and purpose. 4) Equity – Different teaching styles to align to learning styles. You can teach it, but if students don’t learn it, you didn’t really teach.
The question came up regarding what students learn such as balancing a checkbook, auto insurance, working, paying rent – lessons that help them be independent when they graduate. Junior Achievement was the program that covered those types of topics and was taught by volunteer members in the community from local businesses and organizations. They do not have anything going right now, but might be a great way for our Club to give back in time, as well as the dollars we provide in support.