NNER S E T T I N G A NN UAL R E P ORT
2014
PLEASE RETURN TO ANN FOSTER AT ANNFOSTER@NNERPARTNERSHIPS.ORG
BY JANUARY 19, 2015
SETTING NAME WYOMING SCHOOL-UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP
SETTING CONTACTS— PLEASE INCLUDE NAMES, E-MAIL ADDRESSES, INSTITUTION
AFFILIATION, AND ROLES FOR EACH
SETTING NNER PARTNERSHIP CONTACT
Audrey Kleinsasser, Director
Wyoming School-University Partnership
1000 East University Avenue, Department 3374
Laramie, WY 82071
307.766.6358 (office)
307.766.3792 (fax)
www.uwyo.edu/wsup
partnership@uwyo.edu
dakota@uwyo.edu
Michael Day, Interim Dean
College of Education, University of Wyoming
1000 East University Avenue, Department 3374
Laramie, WY 82071
307.766.3145 (office)
307.766.6668 (fax)
www.uwyo.edu/education/
MikeDay@uwyo.edu
SETTING GOVERNING COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE
Diana Clapp, Partnership Chair and Superintendent
Fremont County School District #6
223 North Cherry Street
P.O. Box 10
Pavillion, WY 82523-0010
307.856.7970 x1 (office)
307.856.3385 (fax)
http://www.fre6.k12.wy.us/index.html
dianac@fre6.k12.wy.us
SETTING TRIPARTITE COUNCIL ARTS AND SCIENCE REPRESENTATIVE
Audrey Shalinsky, Professor of Anthropology, and
Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Avenue, Department 3254
Laramie, WY 82071
307.766.4106 (office)
307.766.2697 (fax)
ashal@uwyo.edu
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SETTING TRIPARTITE COUNCIL EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVE
Leslie Rush, Associate Dean/Professor, Office of Teacher Education
University of Wyoming
1000 East University Avenue, Department 3374
Laramie, WY 82071
307.766.2163 (office)
307.766.2018 (fax)
LRush@uwyo.edu
SETTING TRIPARTITE COUNCIL P-12 REPRESENTATIVE
Diana Clapp, Partnership Chair and Superintendent
Fremont County School District #6
223 North Cherry Street
P.O. Box 10
Pavillion, WY 82523-0010
307.856.7970 x1 (office)
307.856.3385 (fax)
http://www.fre6.k12.wy.us/index.html
dianac@fre6.k12.wy.us
2014 has been a year of loss for the NNER with the passing of our respected leader whose vision
for school-university partnerships renewed schooling and teacher preparation. To keep us
grounded in his work and to remind us that we must forward this work in new contexts for new
generations we are asking that each setting’s report include an addendum with reflections on
John Goodlad and your setting. Recollections of his insightful observations, examples of how he
motivated change and renewal, and moments that were definitively John would be appreciated.
The addendum may be added after the 3-5 page annual report as described in the template below.
This annual report template includes three points of emphasis to enter the information from your
setting. The report should be approximately 3 to 5 single-spaced pages that address the setting’s
current work to advance the NNER mission.
Emphasis Area 1: DESCRIBE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES INCLUDING PROJECTS,
INITIATIVES, AND ACTIONS THAT ADVANCE SIMULTANEOUS RENEWAL ACROSS
INSTITUTIONS, DEPARTMENTS, OR OTHER GROUPS. Collaborative grants, reciprocal
professional development, partner school and/or community partnerships, and collaborative
policy work that advance the mission serve as examples. Provide detailed information that will
help colleagues learn from your successes and include descriptions of challenges.
Successes:
Will co-host 2015 NNER Summer Symposium and Wyoming site renewal
In the fall of 2014, the Wyoming School-University Partnership submitted a request to be a co-host for the 2015
NNER Summer Symposium. The Partnership also requested a pre-symposium day for Wyoming site renewal and as
a recruitment tool for the NNER. The summer symposium will be June 26-29, 2015, in Laramie. The presymposium will be on June 25. Updates will be available on the Partnership website, http://www.uwyo.edu/wsup/.
Reaching Wyoming Educators
Over 850 educators, administrators, and students from K-12, Wyoming Community Colleges, and the University of
Wyoming participated in Partnership coordinated and co-sponsored events.
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Lost in Transition: High School to Higher Education Initiative
This initiative is approaching its ten year anniversary. Lost in Transition continues to provide an avenue of
respectful sharing among colleagues at the high school, community college, and university level. These convenings
remain a robust example of simultaneous educational renewal and democratic practice.
The infographic provided below gives an idea of how this initiative continues to grow and impact the state of
Wyoming.
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Co-sponsored events
The Partnership co-sponsored the 6th Annual University of Wyoming’s College of Education Fall Literacy
Conference by providing marketing, a website for the conference, and online registration. Approximately 140
educators participated in the conference that took place at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, September 26-27.
The Partnership also co-sponsored the 6th University of Wyoming’s e-Volution Technology Forum, the
Mathematical Association of America Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, the 17 th Shepard Symposium on Social
Justice, and the University of Wyoming’s World Language’s Day. For these meetings, the Partnership provided
support in the form of marketing, creating nametags, and some financial support.
2014 NNER Summer Symposium
The Partnership covered the full registration ($600) for four Wyoming attendees. The participants were: Michael
Day, Interim Dean, University of Wyoming College of Education; Angela Jaime, Educational Studies, University of
Wyoming College of Education; John Kambutu, Department Head, Educational Studies, University of Wyoming
College of Education; and Dee Ludwig, Vice President of Student Learning, Eastern Wyoming College. Dee and
John reported out on their experience in the Partnership’s September newsletter. To see their thoughts and insights
about the 2014 NNER Summer Symposium, visit the following website.
http://www.uwyo.edu/wsup/_files/docs/newsletters/partnership/september%202014/september-newsletter-2014final.pdf
League of Democratic Schools
The Partnership paid the full school membership fee for four schools participating in this program of the NNER for
2014-2015 ($250 per school for a total of $1,000). The schools are Woods Learning Center and Star Lane Center,
Casper (Natrona #1), UW Prep School, Laramie (Albany #1), and Guernsey-Sunrise High School, Guernsey (Platte
#2).
Wyoming School-University Partnership Memberships
Currently, 23 of 48 school districts belong to the Partnership and pay annual dues. While the number of school
districts was down five from last year’s membership, the Partnership did gain another member in the Wyoming
Professional Teaching Standards Board. Dues are used for the general operation of the Partnership office, including
the salary and benefits of the office associate, and to fund the Partnership’s initiatives.
Governing Board Development
Each governing board meeting features a specific theme (accompanied by a short advance reading) for discussion.
Session evaluations reveal the importance of the conversations to many governing board members. Audrey
Kleinsasser presented on this idea at the 2014 Annual NNER conference in Cincinnati.
Board members have expressed that Partnership governing board meetings are a place to bring personal and
professional concerns about education to a group of others who can provide wise counsel. And governing board
meetings are often the only place board members have opportunities to discuss important educational issues that
revolve around more than testing and accountability. This is just one more way that we practice Agenda for
Education in a Democracy principles. Feedback from governing board meetings confirms that board members
appreciate this atmosphere and find themselves being renewed at the governing board annual meetings.
Website Presence and Marketing Materials
With total credit to the talents of several exceptional office associates, the Partnership fields an excellent website
which also enables effective and dependable online registration for events. We’ve been very successful distributing
an impact map that shows where the Partnership is in Wyoming and what it does. Far and away, the document
elicits the most comments and questions when we share our materials. Find the map on the following page, or
download a copy online. http://www.uwyo.edu/wsup/_files/images/impact%20map/partnership-impact-map-20142015-final-november-2014.pdf
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Partnership Newsletters
In 2014, the Partnership published four newsletters. The newsletters are available to download on the website and
are also sent electronically to a list of over 1,400 people who receive email updates from the Partnership. We also
regularly distribute over 100 hard copies of each newsletter.
Challenges:
Funding
The Partnership experienced a loss of funding from Partnership members this year with losing five school districts.
However, the Partnership was able to compensate by receiving some funds from the former Wyoming P-16 Council.
Continuing to look for grants and other ways to fund the Partnership initiatives is important. But, there are other
possibilities, such as inviting other state stake-holding entities, such as the State School Board and the Facilities
Commission, to become Partnership members as well.
Expansion
The Partnership has a goal of recruiting at least one school district from each of Wyoming’s counties in the next five
years. The Partnership is hoping to uncover the reasons that several school districts did not rejoin this year. Some
of it may be connected to changes in leadership.
Leadership Changes
Thirteen school districts in Wyoming have new superintendents this year. In addition, the University of Wyoming is
in the process of finding a new dean for the College of Education. Leadership changes present a challenge to any
organization. While the Partnership is hopeful that these new leaders will be supportive of Partnership work, only
time will tell.
Marketing
The Partnership continues to try to find ways to get the word out about initiatives. While the web presence, the
newsletter, and word of mouth continue to expand, the Partnership is thinking about new ways to reach the
educators in the state of Wyoming.
EMPHASIS AREA 2: DESCRIBE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES THAT ARE EQUITYRELATED SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AS SETTINGS CONTINUE TO DO
INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION. FOR CONTEXT, PLEASE CONSIDER REVIEWING THE
FOLLOWING EQUITY DOCUMENTS AND THE MINUTES OF OUR FALL 2014 GOVERNING COUNCIL
MEETING:
HTTP://WWW.NNERPARTNERSHIPS.ORG/COMMUNICATIONS/EQUITY-TASK-FORCE-EQUITY-REPORT/
HTTP://WWW.NNERPARTNERSHIPS.ORG/MEMBERS/MEETING-MINUTES/
Successes:
Promotion of Heal Up and Hair Over: A Wyoming Civility Reader
Without a willingness to listen to multiple points of view, equity cannot be achieved. Learning to have civil
discussions about heated topics is crucial, especially within education. When the Partnership learned of the
Wyoming Humanities Council reader on civil discourse, we were excited. The Partnership has helped to promote
the book throughout the state and throughout the NNER.
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Co-sponsoring the 18th Annual Shepard Symposium for Social Justice/League of
Democratic Schools Teacher Tea
In conjunction with the 18th Annual Shepard Symposium for Social Justice, April 2-5, 2014, the Partnership helped
sponsor the annual teacher tea.
Challenges:
Large geographic area
Wyoming is a large state with some unique challenges. Travel from Laramie, the base of the Wyoming SchoolUniversity Partnership, can be a substantial undertaking. Trying to promote equity and diversity in a geographically
large state with a wide variety in student population (Wyoming’s smallest school district has 94 total students, while
the largest has 13,635) can be a challenge.
Difficult political atmosphere in state leadership
Political turmoil at the Wyoming Department of Education has created extra challenges for Wyoming school
districts. The Partnership is hopeful that the state will see some steady leadership in future years.
EMPHASIS AREA 3: DESCRIBE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES RELATED TO ANY/ALL OF
THE FOLLOWING NNER PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN A FOCUS FOR THE SETTING
AND ARE NOT INLCUDED ABOVE.
 Community Engagement
 Promoting the democratic purposes of schooling in the current political environment
 Stewardship of the profession and quality teacher preparation
 Research related to NNER mission and its implementation,
Successes:
Lost in Transition planners co-wrote and published and essay in the NNER Journal
Both the Partnership director and office associate were pleased to be part of a writing group that produced The
Missing Middle: Describing a Professional Development Model Convening Secondary and Postsecondary Faculty
to Examine Student Writing (by Audrey Kleinsasser, Elizabeth Wiley, Rick Fisher, April Heaney, and
Leslie Rush). The Missing Middle was published in the October 2014 edition of Education in a Democracy: A
Journal of the NNER.
Involvement in the Wyoming P-16 Education Council and Other Wyoming Education
Organizations
Audrey Kleinsasser continues to be a supportive part of the Wyoming P-16 Council. The council continues to
discuss disbanding, but is hoping that new leadership at the Wyoming Department of Education might glean some
support. Kleinsasser continues to offer the Partnership’s assistance in ways to help this organization find a
successful format for operation.
Kleinsasser also remains involved with other education organizations in Wyoming, such as the Wyoming Foreign
Language Teachers’ Association, the Wyoming Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships, and the Advisory Board for
Wyoming’s National Board Certification of Teachers, and consulting with state legislative and educational
accountability advisory committees looking at teacher and administrator accountability systems in the state.
Kleinsasser seeks to foster relationships to encourage these educational organizations to work with the Partnership in
keeping democracy a vital part of education. We also encourage Wyoming education organizations to help the
Partnership see where we could be useful in stewardship of the profession within the state.
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Challenges:
Funding: School Community Engagement Initiative
In 2012, the Partnership received outside funding to pilot a school-community engagement initiative. This seed
money was spent with good results; however, there are several Partnership member school districts that are
interested in starting similar projects. The Partnership is looking for ways to continue providing some funding for
the initiative to encourage those interested to find ways to involve their students in projects for the schools and the
communities.
OTHER SETTING INFORMATION:
(Provide any additional information including celebrations, acknowledgements, awards,
accomplishments, challenges at the setting, changes in personnel, etc. that provide additional
background.)
A goal of changing the office associate position to a full-time programmer position
The Partnership was able to financially support the office associate position as a full-time position beginning in
October of 2013. Depending on available funding, the Partnership staff would like to work with the College of
Education and the University of Wyoming’s Human Resources Office to officially change the title of the office
associate to include programming. This would also involve changing the official job description to better reflect the
duties of the position.
ADDENDUM
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