vision – KPBSD Communications Field Notes

Thoughts please: KPBSD #StrategicPlan survey is open

News Release

KPBSD Five Year Strategic Plan Revision

Soldotna, November 7, 2016—Do you have an opinion about how to improve KPBSD schools?

Community members, families, students, and staff are invited to offer thoughts for the KPBSD 2017 – 2022 strategic plan revision through an online survey open through November 21, 2016.

KPBSD is refreshing and revising our five year strategic plan. Each of you has a unique perspective that will help guide our planning. Community members, families, students, and staff can have a voice in this process by completing the Survey. Your opinion will assist KPBSD to determine long term goals. Brief survey questions designed for our diverse schools include these topics:

Evidence of Education Quality
Challenge and Issues Impacting Education Quality
Educational Priorities
Student Skills and Abilities
Financial Priorities
Your Suggestions to Improve Quality of Education

The Survey is online, through this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/83VBSQY
The KPBSD webpage also includes a link to the survey, www.KPBSD.org.
Superintendent Sean Dusek said, “In an effort to improve our school district, we need a good plan to guide that effort. As a stakeholder in our community, you have a unique perspective that will help in the development of our new strategic plan. Your opinion will help develop areas the school district should focus on and guide which goals we should set. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey as we chart the direction of our schools for the next several years.”
Survey results will be essential in the process of refreshing and developing our long-term KPBSD strategic plan. A synthesis of the responses will be shared with the Board of Education, and available online. Thank you for making time to complete this valuable survey. Your feedback is important.
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PE: a vision impaired bowman learns skills

Unassumingly, everyday, KPBSD staff goes the extra mile for their students, and often we never hear about it. This #GoldenMoment took place before school started, one winter day in Soldotna, Alaska.
Before school hours, Malikhi Hansen, a Soldotna High School vision impaired student, made a visit to Redoubt Elementary, a neighboring school.
With Granger Nyboer, KPBSD vision specialist, Joe Shirley, his special education aide, and under the direction of Donny Joachim, physical education teacher and archery specialist, Malikhi received memorable lessons.

I'm inspired. Teacher and student share time

Today I met a remarkable teacher, new to the school district. She and two of her students captivate me. I thought I’d spend an hour with them at the Kenai Middle School Vision Room to write a highlight story. Three hours passed swiftly, and I didn’t want to leave. You can read why next week.

Braille watches; teacher and student share time

I’m searching for words to express how KPBSD supports our vision impaired and blind students. I know I’ll be thinking about braille watches for the rest of my life.
Knowing what time it is helps us to orientate our day. As a sighted person, I look at a clock, the light or darkness outdoors, or easily ask a friend or stranger who wears a watch, “Do you have the time?” Or, I can look at my iPhone. I remember the first time I visited Alaska in the winter, took a nap, and woke up from a deep sleep, looking for a clock. The red digital numbers indicated 8:40. But suddenly I didn’t know if it was a.m. or p.m., and experienced confusing dis-orientation. I finally figured out it was evening, after my heart pounded, and I took several deep breaths.
Can you imagine the value, difference, and independence a braille watch offers to a person who is blind? I’m only now beginning to comprehend.
Every life, and every learner matters. I’m proud to be part of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, and to share the stories of our teachers and students. Look for a web story soon. I think you’ll be inspired.