Congratulations to Paula Hamp, a special education teacher at West High School. She was recently presented the "Outstanding Educator Award", by The Learning Disabilities Association of Iowa.
Congrats Paula!
Special Educator of the Year
East and North High Raise Money for Special Olympics
Sioux City Teacher Survey Shows Support for Assistive Technology
September 22, 2014 10:00 pm • GREG FORBES [email protected]SIOUX CITY | For eight years, Jill Sharp has made sure technology within the Sioux City school district has been put to proper use. As an assisted technology specialist, Sharp coaches 81 teachers on devices that help special education students maximize their learning ability. Magnifiers and binocular devices appeal to students with visual impairment while speech-to-text tools help those with a physical disability, she said. They become so skilled with technology that they can look information up on their own and get it pretty much at any time when they have these devices sitting there,” she said. In a presentation at Monday's school board meeting, Janet Rohmiller, assistant director of learning supports, said 90 percent of special education teachers believe this assisted technology is indeed making a difference. This is the first year teachers have been surveyed on how the adaptive technology is working for their students. Rohmiller said while only 14 percent of general education teachers use the technology in their classrooms, they showed a willingness to collaborate with special education teachers, and would be more likely to use technology in the classroom with more training. Jean Peters, director of learning supports, said the tools give special education students an edge and help "level the playing field." The tools can be as simple as a specialized pencil grip or as complex as a computer that helps a student speak, she said. Rohmiller said the results of the survey help reinforce the need for cooperation between general and special education teachers when it comes to helping students learn. "We’ve already started improving here," she said. "We’re working to get the rest of the technology, we’re meeting with each building to raise student achievement, and I’m excited about their work so far.” Krysl re-elected school board presidentSIOUX CITY | At Monday's meeting, the board unanimously nominated and voted to re-elect Mike Krysl as board president and Michael McTaggart as vice president. Krysl said he was honored that the board members and administration continued to put their faith in him as a leader and that their guidance is what helps him succeed. "This isn't about one person, it's about all of us," he said. "None of us have any authority to act alone. We only have authority when we act together." -- Greg Forbes