Does Inner-City Teaching Interest You?

Brett FullerCurriculum Specialist Health, Physical Education, Safe & Supportive SchoolsTrina SchuhPhysical Education Specialist Rufus King Middle YearsErika MinzlaffPhysical Education SpecialistCarson Academy

Milwaukee Demographics

• There are 166 schools within MPS. They include:– 113 Elementary schools (including K8s)– 8 schools serving grades 6-12 or K-12– 4 Middle schools– 23 High schools– 18 alternative schools

• Schools are a mix of traditional, charter, alternative and partnership schools. In addition, the district has Early Childhood programs and Head Start.

• Over 135 Physical Education Teachers

The Good news2011 MPS School YRBS

• 55% of middle school student watched 3 or more hours of TV on an average school day (down from 66% in 2001).

• 42.8% of high school students watched 3 or more hours of TV on an average school day (down from 52.3% in 2005, the first year the question was on the survey).

• 30.6% of high school students were physically active for at least 60 minutes per day on five or more days in the last seven (up from 24.4% in 2005, the first year the question was on the survey).

The Need in MPS 2011MPS School YRBS

• 68.3% OF Middle School children had 1 or more days of PE in the average week (down from 76.6% in 2003)

• 18.1% of Middle School children had daily PE (down from 29% in 2001)

• 41.4% of High School students had 1 or more days of PE in the average week (down from 59.4% in 2005)

• 23.6% of High School students had daily PE (down from 46.6% in 2005)

The Reality• Physical Education took a big hit in 2011-12 after

lay offs. Superintendent Thornton has reversed the trend, dedicating funds to Physical Education. (e.g. Elementary Schools without a Physical Education Specialist):– 2011-2012 school year 61 schools– 2012-2013 school year 16 schools

• Varying degree of equipment per school• Varying facilities • Parental support• MPS does not have a cohesive K-12 curriculum• Communication between elementary /middle/high

school PE Specialists is limited or non-existent

The Positives• In the 2013 – 2014 school year will see additional

PE positions added to MPS schools.• MPS has been fortunate enough to have received

5 PEP grants.• MPS is making a commitment to student

wellness:– Community Learning Center Focus on Wellness funding– FITNESSGRAM 9.0 adopted by MPS Board of School

Directors in June 2012– Making partnerships with the community around obesity

(Medical College of Wisconsin, UW-M, Petit National Ice Center, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, etc…)

Support Systems– Mentor for first year– New Teacher Support Seminars– Wellness and Prevention Office

• Brett Fuller• Dale Garman: District Adapted Physical

Education Specialist

– WPO Website: http://wellnessandpreventionoffice.org– Additional new teacher supports being developed with

business partners in Milwaukee

Human Resources

• Application Process– Online Application Process– www.milwaukee.k12.wi.us

Requirements• Minimum of Dual Certifications: Physical

Education/Health

Recommendations• Lifeguarding in addition to Water Safety Instructor

certification if you want to work in High School• Adapted Physical Education License• SPARK training experience• FITNESSGRAM

Placement

• Have your college contact Brett Fuller directly for all placements:– Student Teaching– Field Visits

Where am I Now?Dr. Benjamin Carson Academy of Science

- Approximately 500 Students- Head Start - 8th Grade

- 97% Free and Reduced Lunch- K-4 – 8th Grade have PE at least one time a week

What’s my story?Erika Minzlaff

• Attended this same presentation in 2009 at WHPE• University of Wisconsin Stevens Point

– Physical Education– Health Education– Adapted Physical Education

• Student Teaching– Humboldt Park

• K3-8th Grade• Approximately 600 students

– 39% White– 32% Asian– 20% Hispanic– 9% African-American

Year One“There is a first time for everything”

• My First Week– Everything was new– Overwhelming– Had not even started teaching

• Making Connections– With Students– With Parents– With Staff

Making it Count

• One child at a time

• Get involved– Extra duties– Committees– Coaching/Afterschool

Activities

• In the gym– Exposing the children to

new opportunities– It is not all about

basketball– Everything isn’t about

winning

The Path of Educationfor Trina Schuh

• What’s my story?• University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

– Education Program

• Student Teaching Experience– F.J. Gaenslen School

• Serves Approximately 600 students K4-8th • 39% of the student population has special needs• Sage School: Grades K5-3rd

Education Cont.– Riverside University High School

• Offers a rigorous university preparatory program– MPS’s largest and most inclusive AP program

• Serves Approximately 1600 students

• Taught 2 Sophomore Level Courses and 2 Adapted P.E. Courses

African-American 65.9%

Hispanic 15.1%

White 8.9%

Asian 6.8%

Native American 0.4%

Other 2.9%

Townsend Street School• Student Demographics

– Approximately 380 students

• K4-8th Grade Physical Education– K4-5th receive physical education once a week for 40 minutes– 6th -8th receive two 40 minute class periods every week

African-American

96.0%

Hispanic 0.5%

White 1.2%

Other 2.4%

Free-Meal 82.7%

Reduced Meal 8.3%

Not F/R Meal 9.0%

Rufus King International School-Grades 6-12

-Serves Approximately 1,900 students- With a strong focus on academics,

activities and diversity, Rufus King International School-High School Campus is the 2012 top-rated Wisconsin public high school (Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report). We offer a rigorous pre-university course of study which meets the needs of highly-motivated secondary students.

Alaska Native 0.2%

Asian or Pacific Islander 8.5%

Black not Hispanic 69%

Hispanic 5.6%

White not Hispanic 16.7%

Students with Disabilities 12.9%

Limited English Proficient 1.2%

Economically Disadvantaged

60.2%

Fantasy & Survival:The Stages a First Year Teacher Experiences

• Fantasy Stage– The notion that you are going to change the world!

• Straight from college --- we have been equipped with the “best practices”. We will be wonderful teachers --- right?

• Survival Stage– The first week of school --- reality strikes!– You will experience this stage for the first few years of

your career.– Mentors are essential during this stage

• Surrounding yourself with positive influences

• Mastery Level– When am I going to be a great teacher?

Team Concept

• The Importance of Camaraderie– As a Staff Member

• Learning Team, PBIS, School Softball Team, Sports Coordinator

– In the Classroom• Everyone is at different levels• No put downs• If you excel at this, help out another classmate• Team Challenges

– “I” vs. “WE

• Teaching in a low-income inner-city school can wear down the most energetic professional. It is imperative to recognize and genuinely appreciate every motivational factor that comes your way. I started the school year thinking and believing that “I” had to make a difference, and that “I” was solely responsible for the success of my students. “I” was wrong! “WE” make a difference in the lives of our students. “WE” work together to help the students become successful.Trina Schuh, June 2009

• “WE” represents students, staff, parents and the community. I cannot do it alone. Once I stopped focusing on “I”, improvement was made in all aspects of my life. I became a better teacher because I was now a “team player” in every essence. I felt cohesion as a staff member, and most importantly I felt the bond growing between myself and my students. Also, sources of motivation began flooding in, and I did not take them for granted. For example: smiles, hugs, good mornings, high fives, genuine apologies, and student successes became sources of motivation that carried me through the day and continue to do so. Creating a community in which everyone works together is the fundamental building block of success. It is not an easy task and requires a lot of hard work. The transition to a team-focused concept is proving to be a success for me. Always remember you do not work for MPS, you do not work for your administrators, you do not work for your students --- you work with them.

Trina Schuh, June 2009

Recommendations/Insight

• Journal/Daily Reflection Time• Support Systems• Don’t take Things Personally!• Balance in Your Life• Show Your Heart! ALWAYS

TRY YOUR BESTTO DO YOUR BEST TO BE YOUR BEST

Your Future (anywhere)

• Make yourself invaluable• Integration of curriculum• Personal relationships

Websites

 • Milwaukee Public School District:

Application http://www.teachmps.org/

 • Milwaukee Public School’s Webpage

http://mpsportal.milwaukee.k12.wi.us/portal/server.pt

 • Milwaukee Teachers’ Education

Associationhttp://www.mtea.org/

Question/Answer Time

Thank You for Your Dedication to Children

Brett FullerCurriculum Specialist: Health,

Physical Education, Safe and Supportive Schools

Milwaukee Public SchoolsWellness & Prevention Office5225 W. Vliet St., Room 265Milwaukee, WI 53208Phone: 414-475-8057Fax: 414-475-8455www.wellnessandpreventionoffice.org

Trina L. SchuhPhysical Education and Health

Teacher Rufus King International School - Middle

Years Campus 4950 N. 24th Street Milwaukee, WI 53209 (414) 616-5239

Erika MinzlaffPhysical Education TeacherDr. Benjamin Carson Academy of Science4920 W. Capitol DriveMilwaukee, WI 53216(414) 393-4800minzlae@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

Milwaukee Public SchoolsElementary Physical Education

MPS Active ClassroomsMPS Board of School Directors

Dr. Michael Bonds, PresidentLarry Miller, Vice PresidentMark Sain, District 1Jeff Spence, District 2Annie Woodward, District 4Dr. Peter Blewett, District 6David Voeltner, District 7Meagan Holman, District 8Terrence Falk, At-Large

Senior Team

Dr. Gregory Thornton, Superintendent

Naomi Gubernick, Chief of StaffDarienne Driver, Chief Innovation OfficerTina Flood, Executive Director, Curriculum and InstructionDr. Karen Jackson, Chief Human Resources OfficerMichelle Nate, Chief Operations OfficerGerald Pace, Esq., Chief Financial OfficerAnita Pietrykowski, Director, School AdministrationDenise Callaway, Communications & PartnershipsPatricia Gill, Executive Director, Family Services Sue Saller, Coordinator to the Superintendent