Superintendent Newsletter

Dear Lansing School District Community,

I hope that this newsletter finds you well. As always, it is a pleasure to be writing to you all.

Today, I am writing to you during Spring Break. I hope that all of you are able to get some very well-deserved rest and relaxation. When we return on April 1st, we will only have a little more than two months left before the end of the year. And we only have a number of weeks before the state exam window opens up. I can't believe how quickly this year has gone.

If truth be told, I am not the biggest fan of standardized tests. The way that many schools and districts use scores speaks to something other than the accuracy of learning. Is there really a difference between a child who scores 87% vs 91% on one exam for one 90-minute block? I doubt it. However, standardized tests, in the aggregate, really do speak to a larger sense of subject understanding. It is hard to argue that a child who answers 80% of the questions correctly doesn't conceptually understand a subject better than a child who gets 10% correct. And certainly, it is hard to argue that a teacher with 20 or more students in their class, who gets more than 80% of the scholars to gain a year of growth, doesn't do a better job than a teacher who only gets 25% of the children to make a year of growth.

Sadly, for many years, if not decades, the Lansing School District as a whole didn't dive deep into these results. Students were commended more on their "behavior" than their understanding. Teachers were praised more for their "control of the class" than for the outcomes of their scholars. Schools were promoted more for their "newness" or "order" than for how the school moved students forward in terms of knowledge and skill attainment.

We are trying deeply to change this. Just a few months ago, we started to hold "Edu-Stat" meetings with all school principals. During these supportive, informative, and analytic meetings, we, in the central office, meet with a group of school principals and together look at a series of data points, not just one. Rather than analyze just one item, we look at attendance rates, NWEA scores, graduation rates, teacher referrals, growth rates, and a host of other factors. Together with all of this information, we are able to get a fuller picture of how schools and individual teachers are doing.

Think about one teacher – a teacher who has most of their students passing their class, most of their students making adequate yearly progress, and very few referrals to the office. By triangulating these individual data points, you are able to get a fuller picture of how the class and the teacher are doing well. Now think about another teacher where the students, in general, are not making adequate progress, many students are failing, and a host of referrals to the office. Any good principal would see this and hopefully think about what we can do to support that teacher and that class. Again, this is about support and not punishment. But we do have to be honest about what is happening. If we don't address these issues, we are doing our students, our teachers, and our schools a disservice.

We also, as a district, should do a better job highlighting faculty that are making those great gains with our students. And today, during Spring Break, when people might be able to take a minute to accept the praise and not just continue to throw themselves into the work, I want to personally "shout out" a few folks who have moved the needle for entire classes of students. As a district, we need to always do two things: highlight the great work that is being done and support the folks who need help. This way, everyone can feel like we are working with every staff member to better teach our children.

So, here are a few folks I want to highlight:

Reanique Turner, 2nd grade teacher at Cavanaugh, who not only raised the average NWEA Math scores by 17.50 points in her class, but also had 91.30% of her students make annual yearly growth. Since the expected growth in 2nd grade math, from fall to winter, is 9.03 points, this means that Reanique almost doubled the expected growth.

Circe Chavez-Rodriguez, a 3rd grade teacher at Cumberland, raised the average NWEA math scores by 16.19 points and had 95.24% of her students make expected progress. The expected growth in 3rd grade math is 7.75 points, so she more than doubled the expected growth rates.

Allison Hansen, 5th grade teacher at Pattengill, raised the average NWEA math scores by 11.40 points and had 92.00% of her students make expected progress. The expected growth in 5th grade math is 5.56 points, so Allison also more than doubled the expected growth.

These three incredible teachers, and many, many more, are moving our children to exceptional places. I want to thank them personally for what they have done and highlight to you some of the outcome-based work we are praising, promoting, and sharing.

Thank you so much for all of your incredible support of our district. Together, we will do great things for the children of Lansing.

Benjamin Shuldiner, Superintendent

Lansing School District

The Lansing School District Board of Education has voted to select Joshua Crim and Daniel Nowiski to fill two seats that Dr. Farhan Bhatti and Missy Lilje previously held. “The Lansing School District welcomes Joshua Crim and Daniel Nowiski to our Board of Education,” said President Rachel Willis. “Their unique knowledge and experience bring different skill sets to the Board which will be helpful in the future.”

Above: Joshua Crim

Crim graduated from Eastern High School, and is an alumnus of Northern Michigan University, where he played football. “The Board’s commitment to policy development, collaboration with stakeholders, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation plays a crucial role in creating a safe and supportive learning environment where all students can thrive,” Crim wrote in his application to the Board. “I am deeply passionate about serving our community and contributing to the continued growth and success of the Lansing School District.”

Above: Dan Nowiski

Nowiski earned his undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University where he graduated with honors, and earned a graduate degree in Arts and Religion from Graceland University Seminary. He is the Michigan Mission Center president for Community of Christ Church and provides administrative, mission, and spiritual leadership throughout the state. He has also been involved with the district's Parent Community Advisory Council (PCAC) and has a child enrolled in the district. “I would prioritize communication and open dialogue with the community, administrators, staff, students, parents, and others to move the district forward in pursuit of its mission, vision, and goals,” Nowiski wrote in his application.

Thank you both for your commitment to the Lansing School District!

Members of the Greater Lansing Optimist Club honored Amari Jimenez-Demoss, a senior at J.W. Sexton High School, for his first-place entry in the local level of the Optimist International Scholarship Essay Contest!

The Greater Lansing Optimist Club is part of Optimist International. Its members work to bring out the best in youth, their communities, and themselves. Greater Lansing Optimist Club members Dee Halstead (president), Mary Wahl (secretary), Elizabeth Johnson (essay chair), and Bill Wahl presented Amari with a medallion, certificate, and a $50 Visa gift card. Amari's winning essay focused on how optimism, preparation, perseverance, and family support helped him overcome obstacles as he worked to obtain his first job.

As a club-level winner, Amari's essay will advance to the Michigan district level, where entrants have the opportunity to earn one of three cash scholarships! Congratulations, Amari! We are so proud of you!

MHSAA All-State

Olivia DeLaCruz — Wrestling

All-Conference

Linda Burt — Bowling

Olivia DeLaCruz — Wrestling

Myles Edmond — Basketball

Souleymane Hisseine — Wrestling

Niragira Jacques — Wrestling

Antonio Leija-Navarro — Bowling

Honorable Mention

Marvin Bledsoe — Basketball

Lola Flores — Bowling

Lee Lerma — Wrestling

Leah Palacios — Girls Basketball

Kaleigh Pfeifer — Girls Basketball

Cayden Root — Wrestling

All-Academic (3.5+ GPA)

Daniel Arvizu — Swim

Neayla Burns — Cheer

Linda Burt — Bowling

Roman Cardenas — Swim

Olivia DeLaCruz — Wrestling

Julian Deines — Swim

Lola Flores — Bowling

Nautikah Garcia-Sams — Cheer

Antonio Leija-Navarro — Bowling

Sydney Leinbach — Swim

Cameron Minor — Basketball

Joshua Morris — Swim

Chidubem Osakwe — Girls Basketball

Kaleigh Pfeifer — Girls Basketball

Avery Reed — Swim

Elaina Secord — Bowling

Natalie Shipley — Bowling

Ben Smedly — Bowling

Beckett Stevens — Bowling

Peter Thelen — Swim

Ariel Vang — Bowling

Azaria Wilson — Girls Basketball

All Conference

Nizaji Davidson — Basketball

Yadira Sandoval-Santoyo — Wrestling

Antonio Williams — Wrestling

Honorable Mention

Cellyon Benning — Wrestling

Tevin Crawford — Wrestling

Irumva Dieu – Wrestling

Javari Funches – Basketball

Alawiya Mahamat — Girls Basketball

Marrion May-Cook — Basketball

Alayah Miller-Graham — Girls Basketball

All-Academic (3.5+ GPA)

Amadou Bouba — Wrestling

Tarrell Bryant — Basketball

Tevin Crawford — Wrestling

Keely Cross — Swimming

Help Djuma — Swimming

Crystal Dominguez — Swimming

Isaiah Fundunburks — Wrestling

Jesus Gonzalez-Torres — Swimming

Ella Gordon — Swimming

Maison Harshman — Swimming

Sydney Leinbach — Swimming

Channing Lewis — Girls Basketball

Logick Lyoya — Basketball

Abdel Aziz Mahamat — Swimming

Alawiya Mahamat — Girls Basketball

Ylani Roper — Girls Basketball

Emily Sandoval — Swimming

Rohullah Shafaq — Swimming

Neelmara Somfoo — Girls Basketball

Kayleigh Stone — Girls Basketball

Yonatan Tadesa — Wrestling

Anna Tello — Girls Basketball

Jaime Tran — Wrestling

All Conference

Dequarious Jones — Basketball

Ayan Kelley — Wrestling

Devon Hodges-Smith — Basketball

Keyshawn Summerville — Basketball

Kloey Weeks — Wrestling

Honorable Mention

Markese Murray — Basketball

Invy Stitt-Burton — Girls Basketball

Rocco Torrez — Wrestling

All-Academic (3.5+ GPA)

Kah’ Reice McKinney — Wrestling

Jah’ Reice Mckinney — Wrestling

Joseph Pizzo — Wrestling

Joshua Tucker — Wrestling

LEAF, Lansing Promise, and the Lansing School District are offering scholarships totaling $97,500 to graduating seniors enrolled in the Lansing School District! Scholarship money may be used for tuition, books, lab fees, technology (computer/laptop), and/or housing at all 4-year colleges and universities. The LEAF/Promise Scholarship Committee will consider students for scholarships unless otherwise stated in the information packet.

New for 2024: Lansing Promise recipients attending Lansing Community College will get a cash award to cover their college expenses not covered by the Promise Scholarship. All cash awards will be taxed and will require a W-9 submission.

SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS

• Earned a 3.0 GPA
• Submit a personal statement
• Submit two (2) letters of recommendation
• Submit an acceptance letter from an accredited college, university, or post-secondary program
• Submit a complete LEAF Scholarship Application

APPLICATION IS DUE BY FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2024.

🌟The MSU Science Festival is back with a lineup of over 200 FREE events taking place from April 1-30! Don't miss the return of fan-favorite events like the MSU STEAM Expo, Statewide Astronomy Night, Nights at the Museum, and many more – all more exciting than ever. Mark your calendars and get ready to join the fun! 🚀🔭

Visit sciencefestival.msu.edu to learn more about the incredible experiences awaiting you.

March 25-29 — No School | Spring Break

April 4 — Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | 519 W. Kalamazoo St.

April 11 — Half Day for High Schools (State Testing)

April 18 — Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | 519 Kalamazoo St.

April 24 — Parent Community Advisory Council Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | 519 W. Kalamazoo St.

Did you know that you can subscribe to our calendars?

Visit www.lansingschools.net/district/calendars, select the school(s) whose calendar you would like to subscribe to, and tap the tiny calendar at the top right. For more detailed instructions, click here.