This is a continuation of a monthly series from the Network for Educator Effectiveness. We share the accomplishments, creativity, and good news of our partner districts based on schools’ social media activity. Our hope is to spread positivity and bring even more attention to the amazing work happening in NEE schools. 

This time of year is always busy. First of all, April has several important dates that schools recognize and celebrate, including the following:

  • National Volunteer Month (April 1-30)
  • Assistant Principals’ Week (April 1-5) 
  • Arbor Day (April 5) 
  • National Library Week (April 7-13) 
  • Patriots Day (April 19) 
  • National School Bus Drivers’ Day (April 23) 
  • Administrative Professionals Day (April 24)

Activities abound in our NEE member schools as we gear up for the end of the school year. Before we graduate into 2024-25, let’s take a closer look at the pursuits of teachers and students throughout the NEE districts.

  • Nothing quite says “spring” like baby chicks. Students at Stover had an EGG-cellent time watching them hatch, dry in an incubator, and playing with them on the floor. 
  • Christopher Elliott, vocal director from Fulton, fulfilled his promise to shave his head if all choirs received exemplary ratings at the MSHSAA Large Ensemble Festival. The motivation clearly worked!
  • Congratulations to some new Missouri State Champs! Marena Tellman from Eldon was the top female archer at the recent 2024 Missouri NASP competition with a score of 292 out of 300. In team competition, archers from Blair Oaks were the state high school champions.
  • Slime Day at Carl Junction! Teachers couldn’t escape the green goo as the game night champs drenched them in slime!
  • Students from Ava and Stockton recently visited Springfield, MO, to attend Build My Future, a construction showcase where students learned about potential career opportunities in the industry.  
  • Fourth graders from Arapahoe-Holbrook traveled back in time and learned about pioneer living as they visited the Stuhr Museum in Grand Island, NE. 
  • High schoolers from Hayti went to Memphis to take in the Broadway musical WICKED. What an awesome opportunity for that group! 
  • NEE schools observed the solar eclipse on April 8, some of them in the path of totality. Students from South Callaway, Affton, Gideon, Superior Public Schools, Confluence Academies, Archie, Sikeston, and Gainesville all shared the moment with similar poses. 
  • If you are an animal lover, you’ll like the way Grain Valley celebrated National Pet Day with their therapy dogs. 
  • Flowers are a big part of springtime. FFA students at Mountain Grove and Houston had a greenhouse full of wonderful colors ready for their annual plant sale.  
  • Students from Liberty and Excelsior Springs recently participated in the Kansas City Home Builders Association Parade of Playhouses at Union Station. Be sure to click the posts to check out their houses. 
  • At Green Ridge, students of golf coach Matthew Doane stayed engaged in their science classroom with a little extra incentive during Masters week.
  • Schools could not function smoothly without their administrative assistants. Fox C-6, Richmond, Southern Valley, Pleasant View, Richards, Bismarck, and many others recently recognized the contributions of these essential partners in education.  
  • Coach George Yates from Fulton introduced Gaga Ball to his students at Bush Elementary. What is Gaga Ball, you might ask? Click the link to check it out! 

There was so much going on in our member schools during April, and it was great to put a spotlight on some of these activities. While we can’t highlight everything, we do want to recognize all of our outstanding schools for the work administrators, teachers, support staff, and students are doing each and every day. Watch for our next blog coming in May as we celebrate the conclusion of another successful year in our NEE schools. 

The Network for Educator Effectiveness (NEE) is a simple yet powerful comprehensive system for educator evaluation that helps educators grow, students learn, and schools improve. Developed by preK-12 practitioners and experts at the University of Missouri, NEE brings together classroom observation, student feedback, teacher curriculum planning, and professional development as measures of effectiveness in a secure online portal designed to promote educator growth and development.