Eight teachers from Pottsville Area's D.H.H. Lengel Middle School who developed Student Learning Objectives for a state pilot program in the 2013-14 school year were honored for their skills, Jeffrey S. Zwiebel, district superintendent, said.
More than 2,000 SLOs from all over the state were submitted this past school year. Of those, 12 were chosen to become "state models, or exemplars," Zwiebel said at the school board's July meeting Wednesday night.
"Of the 12 SLOs that were chosen to become state models, D.H.H. Lengel is honored to have eight of those 12," Zwiebel said.
When contacted for comment Wednesday night, Stephanie R. Ziegmont, the district's director of curriculum and instruction, said the district is collecting more information and was not ready to release the names of the eight teachers who developed those SLOs.
"The SLO is a state mandate, starting this coming school year. So last year, we were part of the pilot. So, we had to create these Student Learning Objectives. Basically it's looking at how we're going to make sure that the students are learning what they need to be learning," Ziegmont said.
SLOs are a component of the Teacher Effectiveness System mandated by the state Department of Education for the 2014-15 school year, according to Zwiebel.
"There were 10 teachers participating, five science and five social studies who were part of the pilot and all 10 of them submitted an SLO," Ziegmont said, adding that it was an honor to have eight chosen.
Ziegmont did not know the names of the eight teachers Wednesday night, but said the administration is working on a press release.
"Kudos," school board member Karen E. Rismiller said.
"I don't know if I'm one of the eight, but I was part of that team," Diane L. Howe, a fifth-grade teacher at Pottsville Area who was at the school board meeting, said.
In other matters, the board approved a list of 33 non-union managerial salaries for the 2014-15 school year. According to information provided by Zwiebel and district Business Manager Stephen C. Curran, they included: Dianne Dougherty, district technology director, $69,731; Melanie Thornburg, wife of district solicitor Richard A. Thornburg, who was contracted as an occupational therapist from Aug. 19 to May 29, 2015, $69,834; Gayle Rehnert, contracted as a school psychologist from Aug. 19 to May 29, 2015, $70,349; Sarah Fridirici, contracted as a school psychologist from July 1 to June 30, 2015, $66.950; Dana Evans, contracted as a school psychologist from July 1 to June 30, 2015, $60,770; Dan Slotterback, contracted as an athletic trainer from July 1 to June 30, 2015, $46,350; Donna Romano, contracted as an assistant nurse at the elementary school from Aug. 19 to May 29, 2015, $40,685; and three licensed social workers contracted from Aug. 19 to May 29, 2015, Migdalia Gunoskey, $48,925, Jessica Coyle, $48,925, and Lara Swartz, $43,260.
On Wednesday, the school board also hired temporary/professional employees for the 2014-15 school year:
- John S. Clarke Elementary: Kimberly Barone, autistic support, $38,400; and Stephanie Spleen, learning support, $39,000.
- D.H.H. Lengel Middle School: Katelyn Dunn, music, $38,600; Kelci Killian, health and physical education, $38,400; Krystina Kubeika, $38,800; Gregory Schuettler, librarian, $38,400; Christina Seiger, autistic support, $72,333.
- Pottsville Area High School: Meredith Coleman, English, $38,400; Abby Forney, special education, $50,015; Nathan Halenar, English, $38,400; Casey Horvath, life skills, $71,237; Jillian McSurdy, learning support, $48,900; Matthew Saporito, earth/space science, $44,900; and Cara Turolis, mathematics, $39,000.