News and Notes:  News Release
August 26, 2011

Topeka: KLFA Receives United Teachers of Wichita Donation to Support Public Engagement Efforts

Kansas Learning First Alliance Chair Dr. Nancy Bolz, AdvancED Kansas Director, accepted a $3,000 donation from United Teachers of Wichita on behalf of the KLFA Educational Foundation at the 2011-12 kick-off meeting Aug. 26.  UTW President Larry Landwehr explained his organization was impressed with the KLFA effort to produce Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on behalf of Kansas public schools and wanted to support it.  To view the first of three planned PSAs, click here.  A second PSA has been started with hopes of a late fall roll out. 

Almost three dozen people from 19 of the 28 member organizations were in attendance. This marks the thirteenth school year education organizations, agencies and institutions have worked together to improve teaching and learning in Kansas under the KLFA banner.  It is the second year a Thursday night Webinar preceded the Friday meeting.  Kansas State Board of Education President David Dennis, R-Wichita, and Commissioner Dr. Diane DeBacker were the program’s featured speakers. They provided an update of the initiatives at the state and national level. To view Dr. DeBacker’s Prezi, click here. The state and national updates combined with the information from the Learning First Alliance meeting in Washington, D.C. Dr. Bolz attended in May provided direction for the work groups.

Most of the meeting was devoted to each work group refining its goals for the year. The three groups work toward improving student achievement; strengthening the professional learning of educators; and engaging the public in school improvement and student achievement efforts. To focus their work, three general goals offer guidance.  They are:

·         KLFA will broadly disseminate its work to influence practitioners.

·         KLFA will increase its visibility among policy makers. 

·         KLFA will strengthen and increase its organizational capacity.

Specifically, the goals identified were:

1. Community Engagement: identify potential possible partners and develop a delivery model with which to work with them; finish/develop the remaining two PSAs and develop a better Website; and develop more press materials for newspapers that is more balanced than much of what they receive.
2. Professional Learning: Provide Professional Learning Statistics for the PSAs; better coordinate member organizations’ conference connections; and develop connections between Professional Learning and educator evaluations.
3. Student Achievement: Support KSDE with its work in developing an understanding in the field of the Common Core Standards.

The meeting dates for the rest of the year are Oct. 27; Jan. 5, 2012; March 8, 2012; and May 10, 2012.  All the meetings will start at 10:00 a.m. and will be held at KASB.  KLFA will celebrate its 13th birthday at the January meeting.

Visit the KLFA Website at www.klfa.org for more information, including agendas for upcoming meetings as they are developed. Further, find “Kansas Learning First Alliance” on facebook and friend us!