{"id":6930,"date":"2014-04-23T13:58:34","date_gmt":"2014-04-23T20:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animashighschool.com\/staging\/?p=6930"},"modified":"2014-04-23T13:58:34","modified_gmt":"2014-04-23T20:58:34","slug":"letter-from-the-head-of-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animashighschool.com\/staging\/2014\/04\/23\/letter-from-the-head-of-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter From the Head of School"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>April 23, 2014<br \/>\nDear Ospreys, happy spring!<br \/>\nI am certainly ready for some biking, hiking, and hopefully even a good river season.\u00a0 I hope you are each finding time to enjoy our special corner of Colorado this time of year.\u00a0 I look forward to seeing you out there\u2026<br \/>\nI am writing today for a number of reasons and I apologize in advance that this is going to be a long letter.\u00a0 But there is a lot happening at Animas High School and I feel it is important for me to communicate often and clearly with you all.\u00a0 So here we go:<br \/>\nFirst, thank you all for the support and care you have shown my wife, Cat, and me with the birth of our daughter Sadie.\u00a0 She is almost three months old now and she already has me wrapped around her little finger.\u00a0 She is quite healthy and seems to be loving life.\u00a0 This has been a special time for our family and I am grateful we are raising Sadie in Durango and the AHS community.\u00a0 Everyday we feel the love and support from you all.\u00a0 So thank you.\u00a0 Now that Sadie has been cleared by her doctor, expect to see her tramping around campus soon.<br \/>\n<strong>School Culture<\/strong><br \/>\nWith the birth of my daughter, I have become even more aware of the importance of being part of a strong, positive work and school culture.\u00a0 The impacts of feeling safe, valued and challenged are wide-reaching.\u00a0 We know, for example, that a strong school culture greatly improves academic achievement.\u00a0 It can also help young people successfully navigate challenging terrain they encounter as teenagers, such as whether to use drugs and\/or alcohol, or whether to be sexually active.\u00a0 Although I believe that our school culture is fundamentally strong, we have encountered significant challenges this year.\u00a0 We moved into a new facility that feels less tight knit for students and teachers, we enrolled our largest freshman class ever, we bid farewell to our founding class of seniors, and we had less of the amazing energy Michael Ackerman infused into our community.\u00a0 As a cumulative result, we have had a tough year culturally.<br \/>\nBut at Animas High School, as a matter of habit, we persevere and refine.\u00a0 That is to say, we will overcome this challenge as we have many more before.\u00a0 We are all &#8212; students, staff, parents, board members &#8212; committed to reestablishing our Culture of Excellence.\u00a0 As I wrote above, I believe we have a solid foundation on which to build.\u00a0 Here is how we will regain our strong school culture:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Emphasis on Culture in hiring:<\/strong>\u00a0 As you read about below, we are in the middle of our hiring season for next school year.\u00a0 We have an amazing group of applicants.\u00a0 In all of our hiring decisions and staffing plans, I will prioritize school culture.\u00a0 For example, I will look to hire a staff member who can focus on building our school culture through things like lunch activities, after-school clubs and school assemblies.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Refining X-Block and SIG Offerings:<\/strong>\u00a0 Our staff is working hard this spring to expand our offerings for X-Blocks and revamp our SIGs.\u00a0 In the past, these elective classes have offered our students invaluable opportunities to mix among grade levels and interact with our staff in a less academically focused way.\u00a0 Our location this year has made X-Blocks challenging, since we don\u2019t have parks and\/or sports facilities readily available.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>However, we are already making strides!\u00a0 For example, Matt Hughes and his X-Block have built a portable skate park for our parking lot, and Roxy McKnight has found a way to drive her X-Block to the Durango Rec Center for a kayaking X-Block.\u00a0 I am working with our facility committee to make some additions to the campus so our students and staff have more opportunities for recreation.\u00a0 Along the same lines, we are working as a group to create a new approach to SIGs.\u00a0 We want to make sure our students have engaging, challenging options during this period.\u00a0 Look for more information in August.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>2014 Student Orientation:<\/strong>\u00a0 Our students and I have already begun planning Student Orientation Week for next school year.\u00a0 This is a great opportunity for us get to know each other, lay the foundation for a great year and have fun together.\u00a0 After five years of orientations, we have a good understanding of what works well and what doesn\u2019t.\u00a0 I know Student Orientation 2014 will be great, especially since student voices are driving the planning.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Continued Advisory Improvement:<\/strong>\u00a0 Every year our Advisory program gets better, thanks to more experienced staff and a more developed curriculum.\u00a0 I am anticipating the same for next year.\u00a0 We are considering adding new elements to Advisory, including senior mentors for each group, more focus on grade-level mixing with Advisory and closer mentorship for new Advisors.\u00a0 I know that improved Advisory will have a strong cultural impact.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In summary, although we have had a challenging year culturally, I am confident we will see significant strides next school year.\u00a0 Thank you to all of you who have come to me with ideas and offers toward building school culture.\u00a0 Together we can and will make this place even greater than it already is.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<strong>Staffing<\/strong><br \/>\nOf course, in addition to our amazing students, our staff is the best part of Animas High School.\u00a0 We have a group of talented and dedicated professionals who treat this school as a labor of love.\u00a0 Our Board of Directors understands the importance of retaining our high quality teachers and staff members.\u00a0 Recently, the Board approved a compensation increase for all returning AHS employees.\u00a0 The package includes raises, a one-time bonus and a number of stipends for additional duties and roles the staff takes on above and beyond their full-time teaching positions.\u00a0 I was thankful the Board approved the package and I believe our staff understood it as a recognition of the hard work they do.\u00a0 We have been able to retain a strong group of people for next year.\u00a0 Sadly, however, we will see some turnover.<br \/>\nIt is always hard to see colleagues go and it can be difficult for students to understand why it is happening, so I have asked each departing staff member to write a short goodbye to our community explaining why they are moving on:<br \/>\n<strong>Cathy Eagen, Math Teacher &#8211;<\/strong> \u201cAfter 23 years in high school mathematics teaching, I am leaving Animas High School for a new teaching opportunity at Fort Lewis College.\u00a0 I have accepted a position as Visiting Mathematics Instructor, teaching Pre-calculus, Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 beginning this fall.\u201d<br \/>\n<strong>Elaine Ehlers, College Counselor &#8211;<\/strong> \u201cI love Animas High School \u2026 talented students and dedicated staff!\u00a0 I am leaving to \u2018rebuild\u2019 my Durango College Consulting business so I can continue to work with teens in our area with the college application process but on my own schedule.\u00a0 Lots has been accomplished in two years of working at AHS including the 9-12 AHS College Counseling curriculum, Junior Seminar curriculum and Parent \/ Student College Workshops that will assist the next lucky person who gets this position.\u00a0 The Animas High School Ospreys, I am certain, will continue to soar.\u201d<br \/>\n<strong>Katherine Ghadimi, Math Teacher &#8211;<\/strong> \u201cDear Animas Community, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to teach at your school and trusting me with your students.\u00a0 I have decided that I need to be living in a bigger city to achieve my goals, so I must bid you farewell.\u00a0 I have enjoyed your enthusiasm for education and your dedication to excellence.\u00a0 I hope that I have imparted on my seniors a fraction of the knowledge they have imparted on me.\u00a0 I wish you all the best.\u201d<br \/>\n<strong>Dave Haffeman, Spanish Teacher &#8211;<\/strong> \u201cFor the past four years I have been a part of the Animas High School community.\u00a0 The school, the students, the faculty, and the parents have all played a crucial role in my development as a teacher since the first day I set foot in the classroom.\u00a0 At this stage in my life I plan to pursue other avenues of personal and professional development. Just as important as my own growth, I will be supporting my girlfriend, Maggie, in her educational and professional experiences outside of Durango.\u00a0 The relationships I have formed and the skills I have developed during my time at AHS will continue to serve me on my educational path, and in the future I hope to return and continue my career with Animas High School.\u201d<br \/>\n<strong>Rachael Sands, College Counselor &#8211;<\/strong> \u201cAfter 13 amazing years in Durango and 20 years in Colorado, my family and I are moving to be closer to family.\u00a0 I have loved my three years at AHS and will miss the students, faculty, and the amazing sense of community.\u00a0 It has been an honor to work with such a talented group of students, faculty, and administrators.\u00a0 I look forward to following the continued achievements of the school and our students.\u201d<br \/>\n<strong>Jennifer Snead, Math Teacher &#8211;<\/strong> \u201cI will not be returning to Animas High School for the 2014-2015 school year because my husband and I have decided to relocate back to Virginia. After being away for three years, we realize that even though we love Durango it is still not the same without family. In December we will be moving to Richmond, Virginia where I will be attending a graduate program at Virginia Commonwealth University for my Masters of Science in Applied Mathematics. After earning my masters I plan on continuing my passion for teaching wherever that may take me. I have deeply valued my time at Animas High School and the love of learning that so many of the students embody. I appreciate the opportunity to teach at AHS and I will have many memories to cherish as I move on.\u201d<br \/>\nAs I wrote above, it will be hard to see these talented educators go.\u00a0 I am grateful for the work they have done for our students and I know our school is better thanks to their efforts.\u00a0 It will be hard to fill these shoes, but I do have some good news: this year we have the strongest group of applicants ever for AHS Bonanza.\u00a0 Bonanza is our hiring process and it is happening right now.\u00a0 We invite candidates to campus for a full day; during their visit they teach a sample lesson and interview with students, staff and administrators.\u00a0 This is a highly intentional process designed to give everyone at the school a voice in the hiring process.\u00a0 It is a busy and exciting time.\u00a0 This year we are thrilled to be hosting candidates from across the country, including High Tech High, Stanford\u2019s graduate program in education and other high-performing charter schools.\u00a0 Although we are losing some great people, I know we will have a very strong staff next year.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<strong>Enrollment<\/strong><br \/>\nAs we all know, strong enrollment is crucial to our long-term success at AHS.\u00a0 A full school will help us both financially and culturally.\u00a0 I am working closely with our Board of Directors, staff, and students to do everything we can to bring in a solid group of new Ospreys for next school year.\u00a0 People often ask how they can help the school, and, right now, here is my answer:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Register!<\/strong>\u00a0 Make sure that you have submitted your registration packet(s) for next school year.\u00a0 We need to have accurate counts of returning students to make appropriate enrollment and staffing plans.\u00a0 If you have any questions about this, please contact Maureen Truax at <a href=\"mailto:maureen.truax@animashighschool.com\">maureen.truax@animashighschool.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Spread the Word.<\/strong>\u00a0 Talk about AHS with your friends, family and colleagues.\u00a0 Let them know what AHS is all about and that we are accepting new freshmen and sophomores for next year.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Build Community.<\/strong>\u00a0 Join us this summer for some fun events &#8211; including a rafting trip in June &#8211; designed to welcome new families to our school community.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>That\u2019s all folks \u2026<\/strong><br \/>\nWell, I warned you all that this would be a long letter, and it was.\u00a0 Thank you for your time and attention to all of this.\u00a0 I am personally very excited for the future of Animas High School.\u00a0 I believe we already have an amazing group of students, staff, board members and devoted parents who care deeply about this organization.\u00a0 In the next few months we will be experiencing some growth and change, but I see it all as an opportunity for our school to get better and better.\u00a0 Thank you each for the role you play in making this a special place to work and go to school!<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nRespectfully, Jake Lauer<br \/>\nHead of School<br \/>\nAnimas High School<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>April 23, 2014 Dear Ospreys, happy spring! I am certainly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6930","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animashighschool.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animashighschool.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animashighschool.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animashighschool.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animashighschool.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6930"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/animashighschool.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6930\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animashighschool.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animashighschool.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animashighschool.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}