The Informer - Laramie County School District #01

inf rmer
laramie county school district 1 employee newsletter
Volume 21 • Issue 5
Cheyenne, Wyoming
April|May|June 2015
Bartlett named Assistant Principal of the Year
C
hances are, if this
Laramie County
School District 1
administrator had to take
up farming to make a living,
she could easily do it. As
a girl on her parents’ farm
near Worland and a little
town called Manderson,
she learned how to bale hay,
weed crops and cultivate
fields. Additionally, she fed
livestock and worked with
a rolling harrow, navigating
it through rows of beets and
corn.
“I hated cultivating the
beets,” East High Assistant
Principal Fawn Bartlett
admitted. “But that’s where
Dad needed me. I had to
cultivate the rows twice and
the second time it was hard
to see where I was going.”
The youngest of four
children, Bartlett grew up
with three older brothers.
When they left home, her
chores increased.
“When my brothers
were home, I did yard work,
cooking and took care of
the livestock,” she said. “But
when they left, I learned how
to help in the fields.”
Bartlett said she enjoyed
the freedom she experienced
living on her parents’ farm.
“Now where I work there are
bells and times to be places
and deadlines. In farming,
the deadline is when a crop
needs to be in or you have to
harvest it at a certain time.”
Bartlett attended
Manderson schools from
first through 10th grade. She
said when she was growing
up; she played sports
because that was her social
time.
Bartlett went to Worland
to finish her junior and
senior year. For two years,
she attended Eastern
Wyoming College in
Torrington, where she
played volleyball and
basketball. She said the
only time she lived out of
state was when she attended
Eastern Montana College
in Billings, Montana. She
continued to play volleyball
there.
Originally, Bartlett
had intended to become
a veterinary technician.
However, when she met
her future husband, Dave
Bartlett, he encouraged her
to become an educator.
“I guess I wasn’t that set
on becoming a veterinary
technician if I was convinced
by Dave to go into
education,” Bartlett said.
“I still focused on science,
which kept me in the biology
field.”
After graduation, she
moved with her husband
Dave to Glenrock, where
he’d been teaching. She said
she served as a substitute
teacher there for about a
year and a half, then taught
junior high science and
social studies for three years.
She also coached high school
volleyball and middle school
basketball and track.
Bartlett’s been with
Laramie County School
District 1 for 13 years. For
four years of that time she
taught in district schools.
Nine years ago, she was
appointed as an assistant
principal at East High.
Recently, the Wyoming
Association of Secondary
School Principals named
Bartlett the State Assistant
Principal of the Year. Some
requirements to receive the
award include advocating for
children, improving student
learning, implementing
school goals and objectives,
anticipating and resolving
emerging problems and
involving community in the
school.
“Honestly, I didn’t think
I had a chance of receiving
that,” Bartlett said. “I just do
my job and I felt there were
other people who do more
than me. It was a surprise.”
the informer
2
April| May| June 2015
Maljian influences students’ lives through CLICK
CLICK Club members Erik Emerson, Ari Marlin, Maloree Hansen, Cali Stewart, facilitator Deb Maljian, Shae Turner, Dani Noble and Quinton
Weber pose for a photo following a recent club event.
S
ome students at every junior high and high school in Laramie County School District 1
can be seen wearing T-shirts with “CLICK” on them. CLICK Club has been around for
many years and has gone through some changes to take on its current role.
“CLICK Club is a prevention program under the Safe & Drug Free Schools and
Communities,” coordinator John Contos said. “Deb Maljian is the facilitator of the program.”
“I have worked with Deb and the CLICK Club for six years now,” said violence prevention
facilitator Chris Zimny. “In that time, I have seen Deb build a very positive and strong
program.”
CLICK used to be called CAN (Change Attitudes Now). At that time, it worked in
conjunction with DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). About four years ago, the
program changed its direction and focused mainly on highway safety. Funding for the program
comes from the Wyoming Department of Transportation through a federal grant, Contos said.
Because it changed directions, Maljian asked the students to come up with a new name for it.
“The students came up with CLICK, because that’s the sound the seatbelt makes when you
buckle up, and the program focuses on highway safety,” Maljian said.
CLICK students go out to all district schools to hold presentations in classrooms and
common areas about wearing seatbelts, distracted driving, drinking and driving, texting
and driving, and making good choices. CLICK has more than 100 students involved in the
club. However, the strongest speakers are the high school kids, because they are the ones
driving, Maljian said. CLICK is a year-round club, which recruits its students mostly through
word-of-mouth.
“CLICK really is dependent on the students and I have great members who others can
relate to,” Maljian said.
These students strive to make a difference in the lives of their fellow students as well as the
community at large.
“Through CLICK I can help others understand the negative effects of drinking and driving
as well as texting and driving,” South High junior Ari Merlin said.
New Employees, Rehires & Changes in Assignment
“CLICK means I get to help others understand their
responsibilities regarding highway safety, what high school
will be like and how to handle situations they feel like they
can’t get out of,” South High senior Dani Noble said.
CLICK not only functions as program to prevent
dangerous behavior, it also helps the students with public
speaking, leadership, confidence, self-consciousness and many
other things.
“Being a part of the CLICK Club helped me deal with my
panic disorder,” East High junior Mercedes Fermelia said. “It
has helped me desensitize and now I get to share my story
with others while teaching them how valuable their lives are.”
While Maljian might give a lot of credit for the program’s
success to the students, the students credit her with having a
positive impact on their lives.
“Ms. Maljian is easy to talk to and is an overall amazing
person. She truly cares about us,” Noble said. “She is like a
second mom who wants us to do our very best to become
better people as well as help others to do the same.”
Mark Your
Calendar
LCSD1’s All-Staff Picnic
Thank you to Human Resources for providing this information.
Rachel Christoph, Alta Vista
Erin Fagan, Freedom
Sarah Finch, South High
Rodney McDowell, Alta Vista
Doreen Oakley, Pioneer Park
Eric Risha, Ed Annex
11 a.m.–1 p.m. • Monday, Aug. 24
Storey Gymnasium
the informer
3
April| May| June 2015
News Briefs
Wellness
To register for upcoming classes, ask about
minigrants to promote health at schools
and work sites or to serve on the wellness
committee, contact Lynn Fox at 771-2373,
ext. 102 49 or e-mail foxly@laramie1.org.
Free Fitness Classes
vPump It Up—Tues. & Thurs., 4–5 p.m.,
Triumph High gym
vYoga—Tues. & Thurs., 4:15–5 p.m.,
Triumph Instructional Music Room
vZumba!—Mon. & Wed., 4:30–5:30 p.m.,
Triumph High gym
✳Classes are scheduled through May 28, 2015.
Register for classes online at http://fs10.
formsite.com/laramie1/form138/index.html
Health Programs and Classes
vFinancial Wellness Challenge
March 23–April 30
Participants will receive the book Financial
Warehouse
As we close out the school year, please
remember to place your work orders with the
Facilities Department if you have extra desks or
other excess property to clear from the work site.
These items will be taken to the Warehouse
Materials Management Department where their
use will be determined.
According to Warehouse Manager Lisa Sharp,
oftentimes people in other departments put their
Wellness at Work by Jeff Rubleski, a log sheet and
weekly e-mail tips.
vHow Money Works
Tuesday, April 7, 4:15–5 p.m., Admin Building
Room 324
vPlanting the Seeds for a Secure Future
Tuesday, April 28, 4:15–5 p.m., Admin. Building
Training Center 3rd floor
vLCSD1 Wellness Incentive
Incentive Plan #2
Nov. 10 2014–April 30, 2015
$100 benefit paid on May 31 paycheck
Employees and spouses on district Blue Cross Blue
Shield health insurance plan are eligible
ELIGIBILITY:
• Complete Incentive Plan #1
• Accrue 150 points by April 30, 2015
1. Complete the excerise and tabacco
components (worth 100–125 points)
2. Choose additional activities (worth
25–50 points)
For more info visit:
http://tinyurl.com/3wfynso
✳Wellness Incentive Plan #2 Forms are due by
April 30, 2015 to Lynn Fox in the Wellness Office
in the Admin Building Room 111A.
Recognition
Reception
May 15 at
Holiday Inn
Mark your calendars for
the 28th annual Recognition
Reception, held to honor
retiring district personnel
and those recognized for
years of service.
The event will be held
Friday, May 15,
from 4–6 p.m. Deadline
to reserve tickets is Friday,
May 8.
Additional tickets
are available through
Community Relations for $6
each. Children under 3 may
attend free of charge.
Those interested in
attending may fill out the
attached flier and send
it through district mail,
fax to 771-2252 or e-mail
it to Cindy Reynders,
reyndersc@laramie1.org.
Graphics
name on a waiting list to receive certain goods as they
come back in.
“Excess property consists of items that can still be
used by schools and departments,” Sharp said.
She reminds people not to dispose of electronic
equipment. Instead, proper procedure is to have the
Department of Technology clear the equipment of
information before placing the work order to have a
computer, monitor, etc., sent to the warehouse.
If you have questions, please call 771-2618.
District honors business community’s contributions
Superintendent
John Lyttle addresses
business representatives
during the LCSD1
Business Appreciation
Breakfast March 12.
Approximately 140
people attended
the annual event
recognizing the important
contributions businesses
make to our schools.
Now is the time to
think about sending your
print jobs for all of those
special “end-of-the- year”
projects and events you have
scheduled.
Need assistance or have
questions? Call Kathy Vogel
at Graphics, 771-2224.
vHuman
Resources
Human Resources Open
enrollment for flexible
spending accounts will be
May 1–Aug. 31, 2015 for the
plan year Sept. 1, 2015–
Aug. 31, 2016. Notices will
be mailed to employees the
end of April.
Open enrollment for
vision insurance will be
May 1–29, 2015 with
changes effective
July 1, 2015. Notices will be
mailed to employees the end
of April.
South High teacher receives
national art educator award
John Lyttle
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. TracEy Kinney
Assistant Superintendent of Instruction
Matt Strannigan
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
David Bartlett
Assistant Superintendent of Support Operations
Dr. Marc LaHiff
Director of Instruction
Alice Hunter
Director of Special Services
Gordon Knopp
Director of Technology
Colleen West
Assistant Director of Instruction—
School Improvement/Assessment
J.P. Denning
Assistant Director of Special Services
Michele Ragaglia, surrounded by her students, smiles after receiving the news of
her national award.
W
hen you step into Michele
Ragaglia’s South High art room,
you can see busy students
working on their art projects and asking her
questions. This teacher likes to stay in the
background of the activities while always
being ready to help her students.
“My professional goal as a visual arts
teacher is to create a learning environment
in which the arts have a significant place in
education so students can learn, discover and
grow,” Ragaglia said. “I am always looking for
ways to improve the quality of my teaching
practice, ways to connect with my students
and for ways that help me meet the needs of
my students.”
Ragaglia’s teaching methods earned her
the National Art Education Association
(NAEA) Pacific Region Art Educator of
the Year award. She was chosen over other
nominees from Alaska, Hawaii, Washington,
Oregon, California, Idaho, Utah, Arizona,
Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, American
Samoa, Guam, British Columbia and Yukon,
a press release from the Wyoming Art
Educators Association stated.
In order to qualify for this award,
nominees must demonstrate art education
leadership and activities at the national,
regional and state levels.
Ragaglia fulfilled these and more through
her leadership as Art Department chair for
South High and many activities.
“I received an e-mail from the president of
the NAEA in mid-January which stated that
I had received the award,” Ragaglia said. “I
thought she was confirming that I had been
selected to represent Wyoming.”
After a few more e-mails and help from
a co-worker, Ragaglia realized she had won
the national award. It took her by surprise
because she was not expecting to win, she
said.
“So far, the best of moment of this award
was my students cheering and giving me
hugs when I told them about the award,”
Ragaglia said. “The recognition of my
accomplishments through this award is such
an honor, but the endeavor has always been
for my students and for my love of teaching
and learning.”
kud s
Fawn Bartlett, East High
—Wyoming Association of Secondary School Principals (WASSP) 2015 Assistant
Principal of the Year
Michele Ragaglia, South High
—National Art Education Association Pacific Region Art Educator of the Year
Board of Trustees
Sandy Shanor | Chairman
Lynn Storey-Huylar | Vice Chairman
Mark Klaassen | Clerk
Marguerite Herman | Assistant Clerk
Tim Bolin | Treasurer
Jim Landen | Assistant Treasurer
Nate Breen | Trustee
Dave Evans | District Counsel
Laramie County School District 1
2810 House Avenue
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Tel: 307.771.2100
Community Relations Office
Tel: 307.771.2192
Fax: 307.771.2252
© 2015 LCSD1 Community Relations
THE MISSION
OF LARAMIE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 1,
in cooperation with students, parents, staff and
the community, is to guarantee a high-quality
education in a safe and orderly environment for
all students, inspiring them to become lifelong
learners and responsible, productive citizens.
REVISED 3.28.07