Education Summit Presented by Juli Kwikkel Prepared by Tracey Bailey

Storm Lake Community Schools The Storm Lake Community and its schools have experienced dramatic demographic changes in the last 25 years. We have taken measures to encourage, engage and empower our students for a better tomorrow.

Encourage 1.We needed teachers from diverse populations on our staff and had none, so we wrote a grant to “grow our own”. 2.We conduct many home visits throughout the year. If a child has difficulty getting transportation to school, one of our arrangements may be to go and pick them up ourselves. 3.We encouraged minorities (parents and students) to become involved in all aspects of our schools – advisory committees, councils and student or parent organizations. 4.We send home numerous postcards to students and their parents. We also communicate via social media. 5.We have encouraged leaders among the ethnic groups to help us with communication efforts and provide us with valuable feedback. Leaders included parents, local business people, parent group officers, school committee members, clergy, public safety personnel.

6.We have a large number of students participate in our “Teammates Mentoring Program”. 7.We began a program to have our elementary students and their whole family attend one sports activity each season at each quarter at no charge. 8.We began a partnership with the Kiwanis groups in Storm Lake to have a “Reading Railroad” be a daily part of our K-1 school day. Volunteers are paired with students to improve students’ reading. It is a highly successful program. 9.We have 48 Storm Lake businesses paired up with our classrooms in our “Partners in Excellence” program.

Engage 1.Translate everything that is published and/or sent to parents and your community. We send out information in both minority and mainstream media, utilizing all technology available. 2.Visit as many homes as you can. Visit all neighborhoods by walking, riding your bike, etc. 3.Make publications reflect your diverse population by having representation in photos and words. This practice should occur in every facet of your school district in reporting to pubic. 4.Have values/statements on cultural diversity in your school board policy. 5.We began Welcome Back Conferences in PK-5 grades to communicate the child’s and school’s needs for all aspects of the child’s education and growth.

6.We sought and secured interpreting and translation help from employers in Storm Lake to help with Welcome Back Conferences, registration, parent teacher conferences, kindergarten round-up, Family Fun Nights, etc. We all work together and have around 95% attendance at conferences. 7.We use community liaisons through our Community Education program to reach out to and engage all folks in our community. 8.We take additional steps to provide transportation for our students needing a ride to an activity. 9.Our elementary students in grades 1-4 participate and learn from Storm Lake Business men and women in our Junior Achievement program.

Empower 1.Provide language acquisition classes to the public. Provide help with gaining citizenship. 2.Provide parenting classes and activities such as “Love & Logic”, Character Counts, Doughnuts with Dads, etc. in representative languages through your school, community education, community college or other outside agencies such as Iowa State Extension, public library, etc. 3.Storm Lake has the only Charter School within a high school in the state. We collaborate with Iowa Central, and Buena Vista University. Students take dual credit courses after an additional year of high school, they graduate with an associates of arts degree with additional training. 4.Apply and secure grants to empower your students such as the Gear-up and AVID grants. 5.We utilize the 6 pillars of Character Counts and recognize students and staff for their efforts in demonstrating good character.