SSISD Now A District of Innovation; Title I Funding to be Used for Teacher Training
With Title I Federal Funds available to fund the training, 150 Sulphur Springs ISD teachers in kindergarten through second grade will receive “Capturing Kids Hearts” training following a vote by the Sulphur Springs ISD board of trustees Monday night. The board also approved the final step to become a District of Innovation and approved the calendar of school days for students and teacher workdays for the next school year.
According to Superintendent Michael Lamb, 30 SSISD teachers received “Capturing Kids Hearts” training before the current school year began. Those teachers returned with an enthusiasm for their peers to receive the training. At a cost of $63,000, three groups of 50 teachers K-2nd grade will now receive the training before the start of school for the 2017-2018 school year. In following years teachers in other grades will receive the training. The board agreed to the training, noting in a motion by Don Sapaugh, after being assured that no local budget money would be used to pay for the training. Lamb noted that the “Capturing Kids Hearts” program had been introduced to local teachers over the past four years.
Sulphur Springs ISD is now a District of Innovation as defined by guidelines set by the state following the vote of the board. Now the TAB will be informed of the vote. The vote following several months of specific steps taken within the district that led to Monday’s action. As a District of Innovation, the local district will benefit from two specific opportunities now available. An earlier start to the school year will allow the district to accomplish specific purposes in minutes in the classroom for students and make available teacher workdays at intervals desired. The designation will also allow the district to have greater flexibility in hiring as a shortage of teachers continues to plague schools across the state. The district will be able to hire based on certification, experience, and knowledge that an individual has acquired through industrial/business experience that may not fit the normal demand for a degree. Although one is hired without teacher certification, they must begin working toward that certification. Under the District of Innovation structure they would have up to five years to accomplish the needed teacher certification. It was noted that the need for teachers in various technical fields could be filled with greater ease under the program.
