North Dakota Teacher Center Network (NDTCN)

MINUTES North Dakota Teacher Center Network (NDTCN) October 6, 2009 10 a.m.-3 p.m. CDT Hughes Educational Center, Bismarck

Participants Teacher center directors in attendance were NDTCN President Deb Sisco, NDTCN Vice President Sandy Zahn, Missy Hutter, Marty Odermann-Gardner, Darlene Schwarz, Sandra Schilke, Valeria Becker, Jennifer Carlson and Jenny Deitz. Advisory Committee members Alyce Spotted Bear, Valerie Fischer and Beverly Sandness attended, along with Alexis Brinkman of Clearwater Communications. Laurie Stenehjem, the new teacher support system coordinator at ESPB, attended a portion of the meeting.

Welcome & Call to Order President Sisco called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. Introductions were made. New director Missy Hutter and new advisory committee member Alyce Spotted Bear were welcomed to the NDTCN.

Approval of Minutes Sandness moved to approve the minutes of the May 19, 2009, meeting. Odermann-Gardner seconded the motion, and it passed.

Financial Report Zahn moved to approve the meeting and meal expenses. Schilke seconded the motion and it passed.

The financial report was reviewed. Sisco noted that although the ND Game and Fish Department deposit had been sent to Kris Warmoth, NDTCN treasurer, it did not appear on the fiscal report as it may have been deposited in the wrong account. Sisco assured those present that it would be found and redeposited in the NDTCN account. Schilke moved to approve the report as presented. Becker seconded the motion, and it passed.

The advertising fund was reviewed. Brinkman went over current and past advertising revenue and noted the cash on hand growth since the NDTCN stopped receiving DPI funds. Sisco explained to the new directors the process that was used to start the state newsletter and where the account is now. Fischer asked if there was any sort of new marketing needed that could be financed with advertising revenue. Odermann-Gardner asked how REAs worked with newsletters and advertisers. Carlson noted that the REAs don’t have a statewide newsletter, and the NDTCN newsletter is the only statewide newsletter for teachers in North Dakota. There was discussion on working together with REAs on professional development courses and how each center shared the workload and revenue. In regard to the advertising fund, Odermann- Gardner suggested leaving all of the revenue where it is for now, but making it an ongoing agenda item. Odermann-Gardner felt that we should not redistribute the revenue until we could comfortably fund each center at at least $1,000. Odermann-Gardner moved to take no action with advertising funds at this time. Schwarz seconded the motion, and it carried.

Fischer moved that Warmoth distribute the $1,800 of Game and Fish funds equally between the nine centers. Sandness seconded the motion, and it passed. Sisco noted it is getting much easier to work with Game and Fish and the Game and Fish money does not need to be used from something specifically Game and Fish related, it just needs to keep teachers aware of Game and Fish.

Other Reports

DPI Report Fischer distributed a Lifetime Original Movie “She’s Too Young” DVD and Nez Perce Abstinence Project “Eagles Mate for Life” DVD from Centers for Disease Control to the directors. Fischer has been asked to find out what directors need for professional development as a group. Directors are supposed to be experts on professional development, and many don’t feel they are. Fischer suggested a special meeting or retreat to address the issue. Carlson supported the idea and stated she would be interested in discussion on planning, available resources and programs, the registration process, etc. The rest of the directors agreed and noted that the NDTCN may want to invite the person in charge of professional development at the REAs as well. Getting a database of speakers set up would be helpful. Fischer will put together a program on providing professional development. General consensus was that at least a full day would be needed, as well as some annual follow up. It was suggested a manual be created after the event on “how to put on a professional development” for future directors.

Fischer also noted North Dakota University Systems is offering a conference in Fargo about developing online courses at the end of October.

Fisher reported there is a new HIV coordinator at the DPI, and they still have some extra money if anyone is interested in doing some extra HIV trainings.

ESPB Report Sandness reported that professional growth requirements for license renewal will be going up on July 1, 2010. Teachers can renew their licenses six months prior to their expiration dates. Stenehjem suggested being proactive in planning some classes between now and July 1 and getting the word out to teachers. Sandness also noted teachers who have held a North Dakota license for 30 years can apply for a lifetime license. More information can be found by visiting www.nd.gov/espb. Sandness noted they are still working on the online application process.

Stenehjem described her new position. Her focus is coordinating a teacher support system that provides trained mentors for first-year teachers in North Dakota. She would also like to do some instructional coaching, but it depends on the budget. The teacher mentoring program is set and applications are due Friday, Oct. 9, at 4:00 p.m. Schools, groups of schools, and REAs have been applying. A building administrator may choose a mentor and send him/her to ESPB for training. The focus of the mentoring is to improve instructional skills and provide personal support. ESPB will be paying mentors a stipend of up to $800 per semester. Building principals will be required to complete a short training to understand what their role is in the mentoring process, how important their relationship is with first-year teachers, and how to choose a good mentor and be aware of the relationships between mentors and first-year teachers. New mentors will be given a one-day refresher training if they have been previously trained as a mentor. New mentors with no previous training will need to participate in two days of training. Mentors will provide first-year teachers with 18 hours of one-on-one time and a half-day meeting each semester. First year teachers will also be brought together for a half day of meeting. Stenehjem hopes to add some online courses next year and find a way to earn credit towards a master’s degree through mentoring. She noted the ESPB is restricted by law and cannot serve anyone not directly employed by a school district. The program is voluntary for schools, but some schools may make the program mandatory. The program is currently only funded for the 2009-2011 biennium. $2.3 million was allocated for the program during the 2009 Legislative Session.

Business Items

Annual Report Sisco noted that to report how many students a center serves the director should check how many students are in their districts and add them together. Zahn asked Brinkman to insert 2007-2008 numbers for Valley City’s 2008-2009 count.

Carlson asked why the report is necessary as REAs aren’t putting out a report. Odermann- Gardner said it is helpful when asking the legislature for funding, and we need it to be accountable for that funding.

It was noted the ‘other supporting members’ section of the activity report was confusing. Brinkman will update next year’s report forms so that out-of-state individuals will be included in individual membership and out-of-state schools will be combined with the other supporting members column. The reporting forms will be reviewed at the May meeting to be sure that directors are using consistent reporting methods.

It was noted Appendix H was wrong. Brinkman will make the corrections.

Zahn asked the directors for input on how to report her salary as half of it is funded by the SEC, but all of the money goes through the Center’s account. It was decided Zahn should subtract the SEC salary and benefits when reporting her salary and include that money in her center’s in- kind. Brinkman will make sure the report is correct.

Odermann-Gardner made a motion to approve the 2008-2009 annual report via email once Brinkman has made all of the noted corrections. Zahn seconded the motion, and it passed.

New Director Mentoring Sisco questioned Zahn, Deitz and Carlson on what mentoring strategies worked well for them, what didn’t, and if they still had questions. Deitz had questions on what other centers did as far as accounting services. Hutter noted she has more questions on the day-to-day activities of the center. Sisco will make sure all of the directors have access to the listserv for daily questions to other directors. It was also noted that new directors who wish to visit another center for mentoring will be reimbursed.

ND Game and Fish Department Sisco provided ideas on how to use and where to get the Game and Fish wild, wet and aquarium hands-on boxes. She also noted directors should not be afraid to throw the boxes away if they have maggots, etc.

Education at Large Position Fischer suggested inviting a principal to fill the position. Sandness, Becker and Zahn will look for someone to fill the position.

North Dakota Science Teachers Association (NDSTA) Sisco reported the NDSTA is having a conference Feb. 25-26 in Bismarck and has invited us to put up a display. Odermann-Gardner suggested we not do the display. Sisco and Brinkman will pass along any information they receive in regard to the conference. Brinkman will place a link to the NDSTA website on the NDTCN website.

Sisco and Zahn are working on bringing the NASA program to North Dakota. Other directors would be very interested in doing it as well. Sandness noted there is a need for NASA programming for teachers.

Center Reports Schwarz distributed Bismarck’s new brochure and described the overview she does with the center’s monthly highlights for her board.

Odermann-Gardner noted she tries to turn any type of programming with 15 hours or more into something for credit. Some ideas she suggested were a Theodore Roosevelt symposium, social network programming, or a program like World Voices that takes international students into elementary schools.

Deitz asked for the other directors’ input on how to find a wide range of classes to offer. She has tried asking her teachers what they are looking for but is not getting much of a response. Hutter noted that Deitz might get a better response by going out into the schools and making connections with the teachers. Sandness suggested reminding teachers of the new licensure requirements to get them more interested in programming. Odermann-Gardner said directors just really need to be creative and look for grants to fund certain programs.

Carlson noted her center does a teacher focus every other year to discover and rank their needs and goals.

Becker recommended programming on “secrets of the teenage brain.”

Sisco noted book study programs have gone over very well in Minot.

Zahn asked if it was necessary to keep detailed records of the books checked out of your library, and everyone agreed that it wasn’t necessary. Zahn also noted she was looking for Star Lab training.

Carlson reported she did a great tech academy this summer that went over really well.

Adjournment Odermann-Gardner moved to adjourn the meeting at 3:15 p.m. Zahn seconded the motion, and it passed.