This blog is the first in a new monthly series in which NEE will be sharing the accomplishments, creativity, and good news of our partner districts based on schools’ social media activities. Our hope is to spread positivity and bring even more attention to the amazing work happening in NEE schools. While it will be nearly impossible to share every event and highlight, we will do our best to spotlight achievements throughout the network. 

Graphic with spotlights and social media icons with the words "Social NEE-dia School Spotlight"

As we move through the winter months, it is nice to recognize the wonderful things taking place in NEE school districts.  Academic and sporting activities abound, graduates are selecting their colleges or career paths of choice, classrooms are full of new and interesting opportunities for students, and school leaders are displaying their talents notifying patrons of snow days. 

NEE understands the commitment teachers, advisors, and students show as they participate in activities such as academic meets, speech and debate tournaments, FBLA events, and music competitions.  Congratulations to all those who represent their schools in these and other areas as well. 

Student-athletes in NEE schools are also involved in winter sports.  Hats off to all those who compete in and coach events including basketball, wrestling, bowling, and archery.   

As always, it is very interesting to see the many great activities that are taking place in classrooms throughout the NEE landscape.  It is great to see creativity highlighted as teachers promote critical thinking in their classrooms.  We hope our member schools continue to “tell their story” as they share wonderful classroom activities through social media.  

It is also great to see so many students solidifying future plans.  Congratulations to the graduating seniors who have made plans to continue their education at colleges or universities, enlist in various branches of the armed forces, or move directly into careers.  Congratulations also to those who will be assuming new roles in educational leadership.  NEE looks forward to working with these new superintendents, assistant superintendents, and building principals.       

Finally, a big “shout out” to those school leaders who have informed and entertained us with their “Snow Day” announcements on January 25.  While most may prefer not to cancel school, it is great that so many share their talents (and FUN) with others. We want to highlight a few of the creative snow day announcements from NEE schools, as seen on Facebook: 

  • Mountain Grove Superintendent Jim Dickey continues to wow us with his musical talents, taking popular songs and changing the lyrics into snow day announcements. January 25’s snow day announcement featured the tune of Adele’s “Go Easy on Me.”   
  • “Get on your horse!” Houston’s administrative team put on a show with “a little snow on their boots” to announce a recent snow day.  
  • Dunklin Superintendent Clint Freeman was left “Home Alone” in this snow day announcement, an idea from several Dunklin High School students.  
  • Bunker administrators (ahem, we mean “Rubber Duck” and “Pig Pen”) took their snow day announcement to the roads, “10-4.” 

What fun! We enjoyed seeing your creativity and we know your school communities loved these announcements, too!  

And, just when we thought the inclement weather was behind us, we found out about a new kind of “snow day” in Missouri – a “red” snow day, if you will. Here are a couple of featured no-school announcements to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win on the day of the Super Bowl parade. 

  • Lee’s Summit R-7 enlisted the help of Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to announce no school on February 15. 
  • For Clinton Schools, the decision to cancel school came down to whether Assistant Superintendent Christian Meier would catch a 40-yard pass from Superintendent Brian Wishard. It almost looked like a play from #15 to #87, as Meier caught the pass – no school. 

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.