DNH - Growing Learners and Leaders

Welcome to another event-filled school year at Dike-New Hartford Community School District. After over a year of planning, Dike-New Hartford was approved for the Iowa Teacher Leadership and Compensation grant. Our plan, with a focus of improving student achievement, provided funding for four instructional coaches that provide support for literacy, math, collaboration/mentoring, and technology integration. After a series of interviews, Amanda Bonjour (literacy), Diane Eilderts (math), Amy Seitz (collaboration/mentoring), and Joanna Seymour (technology) were chosen for these positions. The plan also created nine model teacher positions. Sandy Becker, Tad Brace, Jill Cronbaugh, Tammy Luhring, Ryan Mitchell, Susan Parker, Jamie Shakespeare, Chelsie Slaba, and Katie Slack (while continuing teaching responsibilities) will share strategies and provide support for fellow teachers.

Throughout the spring and summer, the coaches met to create a cohesive plan and communication tools to assist our teachers. This website is one artifact we will be using to provide information and resources to our community. We hope you have a chance to look through the content to learn more about the program which we are calling Growing Learners and Leaders.

At the first teacher meeting of the year, we kicked off our program. All the teachers reflected upon the reasons they teach and created a thought bubble to share their passion. We hope you enjoy the #whyiteach bulletin boards in all of our buildings. By reading through them, you will see how committed our teachers are to the children in our communities.
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The beginning of the year has been busy and filled with learning. The coaches have already talked, planned, observed, and co-taught with several teachers. Students have already learned some thought provoking content and we continuously analyze data to help students master content. Throughout the year we will be working with teachers on strategies to differentiate and personalize learning, help learners develop a growth mindset, and help students and teachers realize the power technology can bring to enhance learning. 

2016-2017 is shaping up to be a tremendous year of learning. We will continue to celebrate our successes in this blog. You can follow us here or on Twitter @dnhlearners, on Pinterest at pinterest.com/dnhtlccoaches, and on Google+ . 

​~JS

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