With spring upon us and the school year in the homestretch, we begin to reflect on achievements from the past year. Most obvious are the following:
Cumulative ACT scores still rising
Our cumulative ACT scores have risen each year the past four years. We strongly believe we have shifted the culture around this test and learning in general with our student population.
Going from an average score of 17.9 to a score of 20.4 over the course of four years is nothing short of exemplary. Our staff and students deserve a lot of credit. Student learning and achievement is a major pillar of our strategic plan.
The Board of Education continues to receive regular updates about how this work is done and the achievement of our students.
We now have more than 40 dual-credit courses.
We have also set goals within our strategic plan to increase the number of dual-credit courses at Kiel High School. We now have more than 40, plus a robust eSchool for learners who prefer that type of education.
The 40 courses we offer range from technical education to agricultural to math and language arts to arts. Students can take a class at Kiel High School and receive high school and college credit for the course at the same time.
In addition to single classes that can be taken for credit, we have several programs students can take to obtain certificates and degrees. A few include a welding certificate, a web development certificate and a two-year associate of arts degree.
Some of students are leaving high school with 40-60 or more college or technical school credits. As a district, we do not promote only one option (four-year degree, direct entry into the workforce or a technical college degree) — we believe students should choose their path and we should provide them those paths.
Ensuring a positive student experience for all
We also believe we must strongly support our students with disabilities to ensure a positive experience for all students.
We work exceptionally hard to ensure all are supported and valued and opportunities are robust.
Connecting with local businesses
We also have strategic plan goals around connecting with local businesses. In fact, we have a group of about a dozen large businesses our students tour every year.
We want to ensure students know and see there is a lot to offer and a lot of opportunities in the Kiel area. If your business would like to connect more with our schools and students, reach out to me.
By the time our students graduate high school, they will all have toured each of our 12 big business partners in the area and will have a large knowledge base regarding how each business operates.
Thanks to our staff
We recently celebrated “Staff Appreciation Week.” During that week, we tried to show our staff how much we value them by providing breakfasts, lunches, little gifts, notes and more. All Board of Education members took part in this throughout the week, along with parent-teacher organizations, local businesses and students.
Our teachers and support staff are the glue that keeps us together and the engine that makes our schools and district function at a high level. We should all be grateful for their work and say “thank you” every chance we get.
Our administrative assistants and central office members are the people who do the behind-the-scenes work to make sure our teachers feel supported so they can be successful. We should be thanking these wonderful and hard-working people every chance we get.
Spring sports are underway; check them out
Don’t forget that spring sports are underway, with practices, meets and events happening nearly every day.
We encourage you to attend as many as you can; the schedule is on the school district website. Tickets are not limited; these events are generally outdoors.
While some school districts have seen declines in participation in sports, the Kiel district has not. Our continued solid participation numbers can be attributed to the work of our coaches and Athletic Department staff.
May is a month of concerts
The month of May is generally known as “concert month,” which means we have many concerts and performances that fill our stage at the Performing Arts Center.
This facility is used daily and continues to produce incredible performances, thanks to our talented students and instructors, as well as the space we have to use.
I encourage everyone to attend at least a couple of performances each year and see what the space that was approved roughly five years ago has allowed our students and community to accomplish.
Community partners help ensure kids are taken care of
We also feel exceptionally great during this time because we have worked hard to ensure no one goes without food and other basic essentials in our schools and community.
Without consistent business support, this could not happen; many behind-the-scenes donors are providing learning materials, food, clothing and more to ensure our community remains strong and our students are taken care of.
We say “thank you” to these people at our school board meetings.
Infrastructure a big part of our success
Finally, I must mention a big part of our ability to find success for our students is that the infrastructure around them continues to be strong.
Our city leadership continues to add opportunities and has been a great partner.
Our police and fire departments continue to keep us safe and partner with our schools.
Our local citizen groups, like the Kiel Lions and Optimists, and the Food Pantry, continue to support kids every day.
Our businesses support in any way they can.
I am sure I am missing a bunch of people and organizations who work behind the scenes, so thank you to everyone who supports our kids and community!
Have a wonderful spring, and reach out if you ever need anything or would like to be even more connected to our schools.
Dr. Brad Ebert is the district administrator for the Kiel Area School District. Follow the district on X: @Kielareaschools.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Spotlight on Kiel Schools: Celebrating ACT scores & more as year winds down
Reporting by Dr. Brad Ebert / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
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