Thank you to our Mentor Teachers!

Several times a semester, CAPS Teacher Ed reaches out to educators to provide opportunities for observations and interactions for our future teachers.  We would like to thank the following teachers for being part of our journey and for welcoming our students into their classrooms and schools!


Thank you to our Blue Valley District Educators:

Megan Holsapple, Wolf Springs Elementary School (CAPS Teacher Ed Alum)
Ryann Regier, Heartland Elementary (CAPS Teacher Ed Alum)

Polly Blair, Wolf Springs Elementary
Alyson Maher, Timber Creek Elementary
Taylor Douglas, Wolf Springs Elementary
Mark Mosier, Blue Valley High School
Madi Elpers, Blue Valley High School
Mary Garretson, Sunrise Point Elementary
Molly Gafney, Heartland Elementary
Cheryl Kerns, Blue ValleyWest High School
Cristi Clark, Sunrise Point Elementary
Jeff Ruelberg, Oxford Middle School
Chris LaValley, Blue Valley Northwest High School
Michael Richards, Oxford Middle School
Michelle Phifer, Oak Hill Elementary School
Melissa Humphreville, Leawood Middle School
Amy Young, Prairie Star Middle School
Katie Geist, Timber Creek Elementary School
Bill Smithyman, Blue Valley Northwest High School
Valerie Golden, Blue Valley Northwest High School
Kelsea Clayton, Stanley Elementary School

Also thank you to our other welcoming schools and educational organizations:

Kelly Chandler, Nativity Catholic School
Denny McKee, The Children's Place

We look forward to working with many more Blue Valley and other educators this school year!

Teaching and Technology Conference 2019

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On October 9 and 10, CAPS Teacher Ed students traveled to Pittsburg State University where they presented two concurrent sessions each day at the Greenbush Teaching and Technology Conference for Teachers.  The presentation, entitled "Teachers in Paradise:  A Second Chance for Innovation in Learning," was created by and presented by all students in the program.

Kateann Penrose and Ashley Geer put together an opening video, featuring all of the CAPS Teacher Education students as a way to introduce themselves. 

Jade Ratterman joined in with her presentation of "Managing Type I Diabetes in the Classroom: What Teachers Need to Know" and Madilyn Veatch also added her presentation, "Lost in Space: The Importance of Environment on the Well-Being of Students."

Students who attended and presented both days were Halley Kern, Jade Ratterman, and Madilyn Veatch.

Other students who attended and presented one of the two days were Dasha Carver, Audrey Crawford, Jordan Durocher, Riley Hinmon, Regan LeValley, CaiLyn Nye, Mackenzie Paul, Leo Rakowski, Evelyn Lawler, Macey Lewin, Jordyn Messenger, Olivia Mueller, Molly Stasieluk, Chandler Traul, Jaden Webster, and Veronica Weng.

CAPS Teacher Ed students will present again at the 6th Annual Educators Rising Kansas Conference to be held November 6, 2019, on the campus of MidAmerica Nazarene University.

CAPS Teacher Education Off to a Great Start!!

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CAPS Teacher Education provides a transformational environment in which education is studied as a career, as a concept, and as a vehicle for change in the future.  Besides learning attributes of quality teaching and learning environments, students participate in regular collaborative project sessions and plan events outside of the CAPS environment.

Congratulations to Ms. Hannah Spencer, CAPS Teacher Education alumni and current student at the University of Kansas who has been named the recipient of the CAPS 2019 LULA Entrepreneurship Scholarship.  The Lula CAPS Entrepreneurship scholarship is exclusive to students who have successfully completed a CAPS program. Applicants provided transcripts, letter of completion from their CAPS program, resume, and an essay on the topic, “How did the CAPS program help you?

·       Students were also to be enrolled at any 2-year or 4-year university in the Fall of 2019.

  

During the week of September 2, the CAPS Teacher Education students visited Harmony Elementary to view their progressive and flexible physical environment and to discuss how the environment impacts learning and teaching.  They also spent a day at Stanley Elementary, reading to students ranging in age from Kindergarten to fifth grade for National Read a Book Day. 

During the week of September 9, the CAPS Teacher Education students are beginning their “duty assignments” at district elementary schools and soon will be traveling to their “teaching assignments” as well.  For duty assignments, the students travel to one elementary in the distric to help with education activities and responsibilities.  Many assist with car duty, lunch duty, or classroom duties.

On October 9 and 10, Teacher Ed students and Dr. Fry will travel to Pittsburg State University to present to practicing teachers at the Greenbush Teachers Technology Conference.  The student-created presentation will be interactive and is entitled Teachers in Paradise:  A Second Chance for Innovation in Learning.  Students will be presenting twice each day to an audience of teachers and administrators from many Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma school districts.

On November 6, the students will be assisting with hosting the Educators Rising Northeastern Regional Conference at MidAmerica Nazarene University.  Students from Blue Valley CAPS Teacher Education and Olathe’s 21^st Century Future Teacher Academy have worked behind the scenes of the conference to develop theme, branding, web resources, programs, signage, and programming.  In addition, student will be presenting their conference presentation to high school students from across northeast Kansas and will also take part in competitions during the day.  These events will lead up to the Educators Rising state conference to be held at Emporia State University in February.  The logo for the conference was designed by CAPS Digital Design student Chloe Kuckelman.

CAPS Teacher Education already has many projects under way:

·      POZIKC will be selling manipulative dough again this year as a part of our CAPS Teacher Education student-run company, in conjunction with EdCorps and Real World Scholars. 

·      A plan is in the works to assist with curriculum development for autism-awareness puppet presentations for children in conjunction with ChaseKC

·      Dr. Shivers, Director of Elementary Education, Manhattan KS schools and CAPS Teacher Education students will again collaborate to build a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering,Math) lesson to be taught to Manhattan 5^th graders virtually by our Teacher Education students.  This year, we will be incorporating alumni who are students in the Teacher Education program at Kansas State University.

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CAPS Teacher Education students will be involved in a research study conducted by LeanLab EDU and Indigo Project.  The study will survey students from various strands at CAPS who will take the Indigo personal assessment to measure

career readiness, self-confidence, and personal direction.  A group of CAPS students will take a 5-hour online course to determine if the content helps to better the students’ career focus, self-awareness, and personal direction.  The study will take place over the Fall semester.

·      CAPS Teacher Education student ambassadors will assist in forming an Educators Rising Club at each of our high schools for students 9-12.  This club’s purpose will be to promote the profession of teaching and to get students involved in educational activities and collaborating with educators and administrators across the district’s schools.  The clubs will be beginning initial activities during September.  http://tinyurl.com/bvedrising

We are excited about what the year will bring to our students and the start of a possible career in education!  Follow us on Twitter:  www.twitter.com/wevegotclass