Teacher Weekly
May 29, 2024
Looking Ahead to Summer
Dear Educators,

As we wind down another successful school year, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your unwavering dedication and hard work. Your commitment to fostering a nurturing and inspiring learning environment makes a profound impact on our students’ lives each and every day.

As we look ahead to Summer Professional Learning, we are excited to continue our journey together to build our collective capacity.

We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to share your experiences, learn from your peers, and gain visibility into our shared vision for educational excellence. Your participation and leadership are vital to our ongoing success and the bright future we are building together.

Thank you for all you do, and we look forward to a productive and inspiring summer of restoration and growth.

Respectfully,

Dr. Tony Smith
Deputy Superintendent
This Week's Top 5 Things to Know
Complete EOY Performance Evaluations by June 12
The 2023-24 End-of-Year (EOY) performance evaluation window for the Leadership Excellence and Development (LEAD) framework is May 22-June 12.

NEXT STEPS:
  • Review the LEAD EOY Guide.
  • Request Leader CollaboRATE results from the school leader you are evaluating to help inform their EOY evaluation (if available).
  • Use this Step-by-Step Guide to help draft evaluations in SchoolMint.
  • All evidence and rationale justifying ratings must be entered directly into SchoolMint. 
  • Host the conversation and finalize the LEAD EOY form in SchoolMint by June 12
  • The process is complete when the evaluator clicks “Ready to Share,” allowing the evaluated person to review and sign off.

For more LEAD information, visit the LEAD page on The Commons. If you have questions, email LEAD@dpsk12.org.
Reminder: Register for Summer Professional Learning
Registration for Summer Professional Learning is now open. Information on both required and optional sessions can be found in the 2024 Summer Professional Learning Session guide. Specialized sessions for all educators adopting a new curriculum and/or assessment next year will be provided. 

Note: Training is required for teachers using any newly-adopted curriculum and/or assessments. If you do not know which curriculum and/or assessment your school is adopting next year, please check with your school leadership. If you need to request an ADA accommodation for any PL, complete this form. 

Summer professional learning is paid at the contractual Extra Duty pay rates. If you have any questions, please email Professional_Learning@dpsk12.org.
Special Education Universal Supports for the 2024-25 School Year
DPS Special Education will launch of several new universal school supports for the 2024-25 school year. 

These initiatives include: 
  • Special Education School Leadership Meetings held virtually for STLs/administrators overseeing special education providing critical department updates. 
  • Center Program Cohorts aimed at enhancing professional development and fostering community across center programs. 
  • New Mild Moderate Teacher Cohort offering targeted support for teachers new to DPS. 
  • Intensive Paraprofessional Training is provided by our Central Paraprofessional Team.

These supports will cultivate community and further develop best practices to support the various students with disabilities across DPS. More information will be provided in the fall. For additional information, contact Dr. Charlie Merrow.
Changes to SLOs
Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) have been revised. Teachers will have the option to create their own SLOs in the new GPS tool or choose from an integrated bank of newly updated district-created options. STLs are invited to enroll in a year-long PDU to get support in facilitating their PLCs with SLOs at the center by seamlessly integrating the work of SLOs into DDI cycles with the teachers on their teams. 

SSPs and Non-Instructional/ Itinerant Teachers (NIIs) will be shifting away from SLOs into more fitting student growth measures starting in the 2024-25 school year. SSPs will be completing Measures of Student Outcomes (MSOs) and NIIs will complete Student Service Objectives (SSOs). Contact Stephanie Price for more information or targeted PD on SLOs, SSOs and/or MSOs.
Reminder: SchoolMessenger Expiring June 30
Effective July 1, DPS will no longer be using SchoolMessenger as a communication tool and will instead transition to the new and improved, all-in-one system: Thrillshare by Apptegy. This transition aligns with the Strengthening Our PaCT Initiative as we continually evaluate our web-based communications tools. 

To communicate with students at the class level, teachers will now use DPS Schoology, SeeSaw or Google Classroom. Contact Jacob Turner for more information.
Additional Resources and Information
Additional resources and opportunities can be found here.

  • Introducing DPS GPS

  • Professional Development Units

  • Reminder: Third Grade Teachers: Register for Summer Professional Learning READ Assessment Training

  • Reminder: Share ProComp Trust Board with Community

  • Register for the Far Northeast Hiring Fair

  • CTE Teacher Recruitment: Do You Have Industry Experience or An Industry Credential?

  • Reminder: MLE Offering Free Graduate Courses

  • Ombuds Presents: Second Annual Report

  • Share Summer of Learning Resources for Students and Families
Contact Us
Connect with Us
Denver Public Schools sends all district newsletters and critical employee communications through Constant Contact. Please do not unsubscribe your DPS email address from any message; if you unsubscribe from one newsletter or one communication, you will be removed from all other district-managed email lists in Constant Contact. If you have any questions, please email newsletters@dpsk12.org.