Schools

South teachers rated effective, highly effective

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NEW MARKET — All South Montgomery Community School Corp. teachers were rated effective or highly effective in the latest evaluation.

Superintendent Dr. Shawn Greiner presented evaluation results for the 2021-21 year to the school board Monday before teachers returned to the classroom this week.

Of the 111 teachers districtwide, 67 were rated effective and 44 were deemed highly effective, results showed. None were determined to need improvement or rated ineffective.

Teachers are graded on a four-point scale using the state’s evaluation model, called RISE 3.0. The evaluation, which is based on at least five classroom observations, looks at a teacher’s instructional, planning and leadership skills and core professionalism.

South Montgomery does not factor standardized test results into the score.

In other business, the board received an update on the district’s JumpStart summer remediation program, which ended last week.

Nearly 40 students entering grades 1-3 participated in the two-week program at Ladoga Elementary that focused on reading and math, with students given books to read at home.

“You saw those students, they would go each day and they would pick out their book that they could take home and they were excited,” said Anna Roth, director of curriculum, instruction and teacher development.

The district plans to offer the program over the next two summers using federal stimulus funding.

In other business, the board:

• Held a pre-bargaining public hearing on the latest teacher’s contract. The district will begin negotiations with the teachers’ association in September.

• Learned that new playground equipment has been installed at Walnut Elementary in memory of Parker Schroll, a 19-year-old former student who died in May from injuries sustained in a car crash. Schroll’s mother Lenna is the counselor for Walnut and Ladoga Elementaries.

The new equipment includes a 9-Square game and a Gaga Pit for a dodgeball-like activity. The school hopes to install other pieces before the start of the school year, Walnut principal Eric Brewer said.

“So it’s really starting to take shape quickly,” he said.

• Approved the hiring of Megan Harshbarger, high school business teacher; Erin Blaydes, junior high dean of students and athletic director; Sarah Fadil, junior/senior high choir teacher; Kandora Hargis, New Market Elementary Title One teacher; Lori Ward; junior high math teacher; Jaclyn Baxter, junior high social studies teacher; Ivy Ballinger, Ladoga Elementary teacher; Ashley Testerman, substitute teacher for Ballinger unitl late September; and Jeffrey Lockhart, high school welding instructor.


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