Local teachers go above and beyond for board certification
December 21, 2011
A small group of teachers at schools across Sammamish are celebrating reaching a milestone.
After about a year of conducting self-evaluations, writing papers and compiling lesson plans and in-class video, 23 teachers representing all grade levels received National Board Certification, the National Board for Teaching Standards announced Dec. 7. They are among the 6,200 teachers around the country who earned the certification — considered the highest level of certification for a teacher — in 2011. Read more
Sammamish neighborhoods unlikely to change school districts
December 16, 2011
New: Dec. 16, 2:47 p.m.
The outlook is not favorable for residents for a handful of Sammamish neighborhoods who want their children to attend the Lake Washington School District, instead of the Snoqualmie Valley School District.
At its meeting Dec. 15, the Snoqualmie Valley School Board voted to oppose the transfer. The residents, who filed a petition in September to change districts, now wait on the Lake Washington School Board, which will make a decision Jan. 9.
The Lake Washington board weighed its options during its special meeting Dec. 12. Read more
LWSD School Board recommends former Inglewood teacher and principal, Traci Pierce, for superintendent
December 6, 2011
New: Dec. 6, 9:59 p.m.
Traci Pierce is the Lake Washington School Board’s preferred candidate to replace outgoing superintendent Chip Kimball, it announced at its Dec. 5 meeting.
The board unanimously voted to approve Pierce, who began her career as a teacher at Inglewood Junior High School in Sammamish as its choice for the next Lake Washington School District superintendent. They cited interest among district leaders and community members in having continuity in major initiatives the district has underway including the grade reconfiguration and building a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics high school. Read more
New grading system motivates students
November 30, 2011
At first, Caitlin McIlwain got a little nervous when she saw a lower-than-desired grade on her first world studies paper as a freshman at Skyline High School.
She knew she did better than the “B-” reflected in the rundown on the online grade book. But she quickly realized that “B-” was one of six grades she received for the assignment from teacher Sarah Rainwater.
“I didn’t like seeing that in the grade book,” said McIlwain, now a sophomore. Read more
New grading system hopes to motivate students
November 29, 2011
New: Nov. 29. 10:09 a.m.
At first, Caitlin McIlwain got a little nervous when she saw a lower-than-desired grade on her first world studies paper as a freshman at Skyline High School.
She knew she did better than the “B-” reflected in the rundown on the online grade book. But she quickly realized that “B-” was one of six grades she received for the assignment from teacher Sarah Rainwater.
“I didn’t like seeing that in the grade book,” said McIlwain, now a sophomore. Read more
State budget cuts would hit school districts hard
November 8, 2011
New: Nov. 9, 12: 17 p.m.
Recent budget cuts suggested by Gov. Christine Gregoire could mean more students and less pay for Lake Washington School District teachers.
On Oct. 27, Gregoire revealed a list of potential cuts to education funding she’s considering as the state grapples with an estimated $2 billion shortfall in next year’s budget. The announcement was the opening salvo in budget negotiations before Gregoire officially presents her budget Nov. 21 and the legislature meets for a special session after Thanksgiving. Read more
Lake Washington School District to hold surplus sale
November 2, 2011
The Lake Washington School District is holding a surplus material and equipment sale Nov. 5. Items such as camcorders, digital cameras, microwaves, monitors, vending machines and PE equipment, among others, will be on sale from 8 a.m. to noon at the district’s warehouse annex, 15130 NE 95th St. in Redmond. It is open to the public.
Material and equipment in the sale tend to be damaged, dated, and in some cases, unusable. Read more
Siri Bliesner poised to be new member of Lake Washington School Board
October 25, 2011
Siri Bliesner, of Redmond, is running in an uncontested race for the Lake Washington School Board this fall. She will replace outgoing board member Ravi Shahani.
Although Bliesner does not live in Sammamish, school board seats are voted on by the district as a whole, and decisions she makes will impact Sammamish families in the Lake Washington district. The general election is Nov. 8. Read more
Lake Washington School District proposes school board boundary changes
October 18, 2011
As the Lake Washington School Board prepares to bring on a new member after the fall election, the school district is also reshaping each director’s area of representation, according to a board discussion Oct. 10.
If the current proposed boundary change is approved, Doug Eglington, who represents families in district four — Sammamish and bits of Redmond and unincorporated King County — will see his district shrink by roughly 2,000 people. But it will grow geographically. Read more
Some Sammamish residents want to change school districts
October 13, 2011
New: Oct. 13, 2 p.m.
Residents from a handful of Sammamish neighborhoods want their children to attend the Lake Washington School District, instead of the Snoqualmie Valley School District, according to Lake Washington School Board documents.
The Lake Washington School Board formally recognized the petition Oct. 10 and began the process of negotiating whether or not to transfer a piece of the Snoqualmie schools’ territory into the Lake Washington schools. Read more
