Staff Newsletter
Superintendent's Corner
Amazing Albert Lea Staff,
I was listening to Principal Dibble doing a segment on Classic Rock Power 96- Tiger Talk and he stated our seniors have 5 weeks remaining in their learning journey; what a bittersweet moment for us to reflect on. Each of our students are on their own journey and WE continue to provide them with what they need to move forward.
I would like to congratulate each of our Teacher of the Year finalists. Each of the seven represent the excellence of our entire staff. Standing ovation to Ms. Wendy Greenfield for being named by the committee for Teacher of the Year. Too often a day goes by without the recognition of appreciation, gratitude or validation. Let me state now: THANK YOU to each of you for all you continue to do for our students and caregivers. You are and will continue to have everlasting impacts on our young scholars.
Let’s continue to finish strong together.
Warm regards,
Ron
Human Resources
Congratulations again to all 2024 finalists and nominees!
CEUs & Relicensure Committee
The final Relicensure Committee meeting of the year is scheduled for May 13th. If your license is expiring at the end of June and you still need to complete CEU requirements, you must submit them to Laura Bottema at the district office before May 13th to obtain approval.
All clock hours have been submitted to PELSB for license staff. To access your clock hour details, please see instructions below. Once you get logged in, you will be able to review your accumulated hours and see what requirements you still need to fulfill.
1. Visit the PELSB website.
2. Navigate to the "Current Educators" tab.
3. Select "Renew my License"
4. Click on "The Online Licensing System."
5. Log in to your account.
Employee of the Month
Do you know a colleague who should be recognized for their outstanding work? You can nominate a colleague for the April Employee of the Month by submitting your nomination here.
Welcome to Albert Lea Area Schools!
Sabra Kogel
Southwest Middle School
Sabrina Nihiser
Halverson Elementary
Bridget Sabinish
Halverson Elementary
Monthy Knowledge Hub
Academics and Accountability
Technology Tips
Give your Google Drive a touch of personalization by color-coding your folders.
A. Right-click on the folder you want to color-code.
B. Select "Organize >".
C. Choose a color to apply.
Once you've applied a color, it will tint the folder icon in your Google Drive view. Remember, colors are only visible to you and apply to folders, not files. Stay organized and add a splash of color to your digital workspace today!
Special Services
April is Occupational Therapy Month
April is National Occupational Therapy Month, that provides us an opportunity to highlight the crucial role that occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) play in supporting students' success. OTs in schools help children with a wide range of needs, including sensory processing difficulties, fine motor skills development, social skills, and activities of daily living. They collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to create inclusive environments and develop strategies that promote students' independence and participation in classroom activities and school life. This month serves as a time to recognize and appreciate their dedication and contributions to the educational community.
Thank you to Anne Collier, Jill Rockers, and Joni Bidne.
Business Office
Every year, the business office staff attends Region V's Spring conference hosted at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Austin. During this year's event, the staff delved into sessions covering diverse subjects such as ESST (Earned Sick and Safe Time) presented by the Minnesota Department of Labor, FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) presented by the U.S. Department of Labor, UFARS (Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards) updates offered by the Minnesota Department of Education, alongside numerous other informative topics helpful for their business office roles.
To commemorate National Volunteer Month in April, a dedicated team at Brookside is gearing up to coordinate the annual Adopt a Highway Spring Cleanup scheduled for May. We warmly encourage you to spare just an hour of your time to lend a hand and showcase our community's school pride. For further information, please feel free to contact Shelby Stephenson at 507-379-4814 or shelby.stephenson@alschools.org.
As the annual benefit open enrollment draws near, now is the moment to ponder any adjustments you may wish to consider. Should you have specific inquiries or nuanced questions that require clarification before the time comes for making your decisions, feel free to get in touch with Kaley Grisim by phone (507-379-4813) or by e-mail (kaley.grisim@alschools.org).
Updated insurance rates for the new year have been distributed to each bargaining unit. If you haven't received a copy yet, please don't hesitate to contact either your unit's lead or Kaley Grisim for assistance.
Stay tuned for further updates later this month on our Annual Open Enrollment beginning May 1st!
REMINDER: Medsurety has relocated to a new office building. Kindly update your records accordingly for mailing reimbursement requests or requested receipts to their new address at 4350 Baker Road, Suite 350, Minnetonka, MN 55343
Community Education
Discover Limitless Learning Opportunities with Community Education!
There is still time to use your $10 District Discount! Whether you're eager to explore a new hobby, enhance your professional skills, or simply engage in personal growth, our range of courses has something for everyone. Gather. Discover. Grow. with Community Education this spring!
- Rock Gym hours are Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00-9:00pm. Preregister here.
- Upcoming trip: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum on Wednesday, June 12th. Deadline to sign up is Tuesday, June 4th.
We are currently looking for individuals to teach classes this summer with Community Education. The mission of Community Education is to provide life-long learning and enrichment opportunities for all ages. To be an instructor all you need is an area of interest or experience that you would be willing to share with others. Does this sound like something that would be of interest to you? Send an email to albertleacommunityed@alschools.org.
- Congratulations to our 6 Experiential Education staff members continuing their education by completing their CWI (Climbing Wall Instructor) certification through the PCIA (Professional Climbing Instructors Association)!! A huge shout out to their instructor Adam Thom and to Allen Wiberg, the owner of Midwest Mountain Guides for coming in last week to provide them with this certification opportunity!
Change of Address or New Phone Number?
Did you recently move or get a new phone number? Click here to complete the Staff Change of Information form.
Albert Lea Area Schools
507.379.4800