Goal is to improve student learning in diverse environment
By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
A state cooperative education agency has selected Lakewood School as part of a new pilot program in an announcement made at the Dec. 16 Twin Lakes District No. 4 board meeting.
Cooperative Educational Services Agency, or CESA, is an agency that provides support to area schools in multiple disciplines.
“We were chosen as a pilot school, they are developing a program to support other schools in Wisconsin with literacy,” said Sara Markee, the school’s director of curriculum and instruction.
The program, known as Comprehensive System Support and Instructional Improvement Project, seeks to improve student learning by expanding the capacity of diverse school districts, according to the program’s mission statement.
Markee told board members that about six CESA representatives visited the school to interview parents and see classroom instruction.
However, some teachers reportedly were nervous about classroom observations, but drew some praise from participating parents.
“It was nerve-wracking for some teachers, since they were coming in and they are sitting there and watching the classroom, and talking to parents,” Markee said.
“But it went really well…I actually got a couple emails from parents thanking me for involving them, although I was not (directly) involved,” she added.
All parents were sent surveys, with data being collected for review by CESA representatives.
Markee said the pilot program offers a different perspective.
“We are kind of in it, so they are going to give us a helicopter view of what other people are seeing as well,” Markee said.