Alpena News editorial
Alpena Public Schools students struggling with the pandemic-forced transition to online learning will get an extra hand, APS Assistant Superintendent of K-12 Curriculum Meaghan Gauthier recently told her school board’s Curriculum and Technology Committee.
That’s because the district opted into The Graduation Alliance’s Engage Michigan program, which will “reach our kids who are not successful at engaging at school right now during the pandemic, whether that be kids who aren’t attending (in-person classes) or kids who have course failures,” Gauthier said.
The program gives kids an academic coach to answer questions, connect them with resources, and develop a plan to successfully finish the school year.
cnelson@thealpenanews.com
News Photo by Crystal Nelson
Alpena Public Schools Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Meaghan Gauthier on Monday addresses the board of education about a newly proposed project based learning course.
ALPENA The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education will allow the development of a newly proposed history course to continue and will make a final determination at a future date about whether students will be able take the class next year.
The Perspectives of Democracy course was proposed to the board’s Curriculum and Finance Committee earlier this month, where two of the committee’s three members had concerns with the course.
Eric Lawson
ALPENA After the name of a proposed history course was changed because Alpena High School teachers thought it might sound too political, the Alpena Public Schools Board of Education may require final approval before the course is offered to students.
The board’s Curriculum and Technology Committee reviewed the proposed course last week, and two school board trustees voiced concerns.
The course, Perspectives of Democracy, is being designed by Alpena High School teachers Bill Bright and Amy Brownridge, with the help of an instructional coach. The course would focus on how democracy works, why it works, and what it means to be an American citizen in today’s world, according to APS Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Meaghan Gauthier.
cnelson@thealpenanews.com
Courtesy Photo
Alpena Public Schools teacher Melissa Jarema helps students while masked in a classroom in this photo provided by Alpena Public Schools.
ALPENA Alpena Public Schools will participate in a program to help students struggling with the transition to online learning.
Assistant Superintendent of K-12 Curriculum Meaghan Gauthier on Tuesday told her school board’s Curriculum and Technology Committee the district was able to opt in to The Graduation Alliance’s Engage Michigan program, a state program to provide extra support for students.
“The purpose of it right now is to reach our kids who are not successful at engaging at school right now during the pandemic, whether that be kids who aren’t attending (in-person classes) or kids who have course failures,” she said.