Have a safe and happy summer!

Join us for a FREE Lunch!

Dates:  June 3rd- July 26th, 2013

       (no lunches served July 4th or 5th)

Time:  11:30- 12:30 daily

Location:  Garfield Elementary 300 NW 7th

                 (Please enter west doors)

Contact: Kyleen Krehbiel, Food Service Director,

               (785)- 263- 2630

* Open to all children, ages 1-18

* No registration or identification is required

Mary Zey from Abilene Middle School wins 2013 Impact Award

Wichita, Kansas  April 24, 2013 

Learning Forward Kansas awarded Abilene Middle School math teacher Mary Zey the Impact Award. Mrs. Zey received this award at the Learning Forward Kansas annual luncheon during the Spring Leadership Conference.

Mrs. Zey received this award for transforming her classroom instruction through the use of technology. Over the last year, Mrs. Zey has composed an iBook that her students utilize through their iPads, which allow them to extend the range of the teacher well beyond the limitations of the walls of her classroom. By utilizing these iBooks, students are able to take their teacher home with them, and can observe demonstrations as many times as needed. Instructional time in class is now based on student pacing and needs, rather than a pre-set time for a lecture. 

Mrs. Zey says that an observer in her classroom would no longer see her lecturing to a class, except on rare occasions. “I am constantly moving from student to student, grading, questioning, prodding and pushing.” Classroom facilitation is individualized as each student is able to receive as much help as they need. Mrs. Zey says that the biggest impact on student performance this year has been that she can reach the student in “real time” and “teach each student from where they are, instead of teaching a whole class and hoping to ‘catch’ most of the students.” 

Kansas Staff Development Council was organized in 1988 to promote high quality professional development across the state of Kansas.  In 2011, to align itself with the national organization, Learning Forward, the name was changed to Learning Forward Kansas.  Each year Learning Forward Kansas recognizes exemplary educators, schools and districts for their efforts in impacting student achievement through professional learning.