Teacher faces new year, tough demands
By the numbers
Adams Elementary School, by the numbers in 2011-12, according to the Department of Public Instruction:
436
September 2011 enrollment. Adams is the largest of the Janesville School District's 12 elementary schools.
56
Percent of students considered low-income, based on families that qualify for free or reduced-price meals, slightly higher than the district average. This compares with 23 percent 10 years ago.
23.4
Percent of students who are members of racial or ethnic minorities, up from 8.6 percent 10 years ago.
92.2
Percent of students considered proficient in English, compared with 100 percent 10 years ago.
94
Attendance percentage, which has changed little in 10 years and is close to the district average.
81.9
Percentage of students in grades 3-5 who scored as "proficient" or "advanced" in math on state tests.
85.5
Percentage of students in grades 3-5 who scored as "proficient" or "advanced" in reading on state tests.
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In the last few minutes before the day starts, fifth-grade teacher Amanda Werner attends to some final details.
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In Werner’s class, students will use the smart board to help with attendance. Students also are given a variety of simple jobs that engage them and encourage them to help in the classroom community.
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Adams Elementary School staff members, including fifth-grade teacher Amanda Werner, greeted their students on the playground Wednesday morning with open arms and bubbles. The students in Werner’s class represent the full spectrum of Janesville residents, offering yet another challenge for her this school year.
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Amanda Werner begins the process of acclimating this year’s class to the new school year at Adams Elementary School. Much of the first day was spent going over rules for the classroom and getting acquainted with each other.
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It isn’t always fun and games at school—even early in the year. Amanda Werner listens to one of her students during the first day of classes at Adams Elementary School.
Editor's note: This is the first in a nine-month series about local education in the 21st century. Today, we introduce Amanda Werner, a fifth-grade teacher at Janesville's Adams Elementary School. Gazette reporter Frank Schultz will spend time in Werner's classroom throughout the school year and write about the challenges and changes of a modern classroom.
The students in this class are the faces of a changing Janesville. In 20 years, they will be caring for our sick, working in our factories, running our businesses or running for city council. How well they learn will affect Janesville for decades.
Teacher Amanda Werner was explaining the meaning of "characteristics" Wednesday.
"Can you think of one characteristic of mine?" she asked.
Fifth-grader Rayshon Heredia raised his hand.
"Happy," he said.
Werner was indeed cheerful most of the time Wednesday, the first day of classes at Adams Elementary School and the rest of Janesville's elementary schools.
Tuesday was devoted to orientation for parents and students.
Wednesday, Werner and other teachers greeted students by blowing bubbles at them as they lined up on the playground. A girl who is new to the school had tears in her eyes. Werner comforted her, and the girl seemed to adjust as the day progressed.
Werner and teachers like her are charged with taking care of the community's children but also preparing them for the demands of living and working in the 21st century.
The Gazette today begins a yearlong series of articles on Werner's class and how the school is doing its job.
Part of that job is improving test scores at a time when poverty locally has risen to levels not imagined a decade ago.
Teachers also must contend with differences of culture, which are much more pronounced today than at the turn of the century.
Werner told the students she was excited that they would be the example to show the community how kids are learning.
"I'm a little nervous on the first day of school, too," she told the kids. "But we're going to have a great day."
Werner started teaching three years ago. She walked into a situation where the school board and administration were pushing for higher test scores while facing constraints on spending.
District officials point to success stories, but they have a long way to go before reaching their goal of being the best school district in the state.
Poverty is a fact, district leaders say, but it is not an excuse for poor performance.
"I see all changes as being a step in the right direction. I don't think the district is changing just for change's sake," Werner said.
"I think it probably does add a little pressure because I'm a bit of a perfectionist and want to make sure I'm doing all I can do, but it's a good thing," Werner said.
Wednesday looked nothing like Werner's original career. The Janesville native graduated with a business degree from UW-Madison in 1995 and worked at advertising agencies in Indianapolis and Madison for four years.
She got married in 1996 to a classmate from Craig High School, Greg Werner. They had three children. She stayed at home for several years. When her youngest entered kindergarten, Werner went back to school to get her teaching license.
She enjoyed advertising but wanted a more family-friendly schedule.
"I work just as hard now as I did then, but the payoff—there's a much greater sense of purpose for me, so the hours are worth it," she said.
Werner spends a couple hours each night preparing for the days ahead, working past the hours she is required to be in school.
"I don't think I could do this job in my contracted hours, but I think that's pretty normal," she said.
She had planned to be a high school business teacher, but she worked part-time as an aide at Madison Elementary School while getting her license. That changed her heart.
"I fell in love with the kids in elementary school. That's where I want to be," she said.
Thirteen girls and eight boys entered Werner's classroom Wednesday. Werner spent most of the day getting them acquainted with each other.
She pointed to two signs at the front of the classroom, which spelled out the goals of the day: "Build a community" and "Learn classroom procedures."
The only academics Wednesday were the start of a writing project and a tutorial in a Facebook-like writing software called Edmodo.
Educational technology and discipline are two of the topics The Gazette will address in this series.
Werner had very few and very minor discipline problems Wednesday. All it took was a stern look, and kids settled down.
"It's what we call the honeymoon period," veteran teacher Karen Biege said at lunchtime.
Most of the day revolved around Werner's rules for her classroom and getting-to-know-you exercises.
"I can't wait to dig into the curriculum, but we have to do this stuff first," Werner said.
Werner said teaching will be much more efficient after the kids know what's expected and what the rules are and are comfortable with each other.
Business leaders have been telling educators that the modern workplace requires collaboration, and educators are responding, teaching students to work in groups. That was evident in Werner's classroom Wednesday.
Werner learned about her students, and they learned about each other as they worked in groups of three, four or five.
Werner knew about the kids before they arrived. The school collects information on each student and passes it from grade to grade.
Thinking about them gave Werner restless sleep Tuesday night.
"You just think, 'How am I going to meet the needs of all these kids?' But when they get in front of you, they become people, and they're not on a spreadsheet. I think they're going to be great. I'm very excited for the year."
Sep 6, 2012 at 9:14 p.m.
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I personally think Ms. Werner looks great. If she would have came in with ripped up jeans, a shirt with the sleeves cut off and flip flops my opinion would be different. It looks as if the Gazette was planning this article and Ms. Werner wore the shirt to promote/repersent the school. I wish her the best with her experience in the Janesville school district........
Sep 6, 2012 at 9:13 p.m.
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GAZETTE STAFF....PLEASE DISABLE THE COMMENTS!!!! You of all should know what is about to happen in these comments and it is unfair to Mrs. Werner and any of her students and parents that happen to read this here!! This is a great opportunity that The Gazette is also involved in and I would HOPE that you want this project to remain positive! DO NOT ALLOW this to be ruined by these comments!! The very 1st article and look what most of these comments are about...nothing positive or related to this project!! DISABLE THE COMMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sep 6, 2012 at 8:57 p.m.
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Folks - This series and story is about how changing demographics is affecting education and how the district is facing those challenges. To read some of the name calling (done anonymously of course) is disgusting. This teacher and principal have VOLUNTEERED to have their work scrutinized and publicized by the Gazette. That takes courage! We should honor and praise that. Hats off to Ms. Werner, Ms. Parks and all of Adams school for what they are doing.
Sincerely,
Bill Sodemann
Sep 6, 2012 at 8:45 p.m.
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Still up huh Gazette staff? I am sure this great teacher is loving life right now while being bashed continiually on your website. You are promoting this by leaving it up here. Tell me again you are not a biased newspaper please. Let this woman feel like crap tomorrow when she returns to work while the drunk driver that has been picked up 15 times isn't allowed a single comment. Disgusting
Sep 6, 2012 at 8:22 p.m.
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A t-shirt? We're ragging on this teacher about a T-SHIRT? As long as the teacher's attire fits within the school dress code (and everyone at the school should be expected to follow it, both students and staff), I could care less what they wear. I'm more concerned with what and how my child is learning. And as for Ms. Werner, I think she looks approachable and friendly.
nicksmom: t-shirts, shorts and tennis shoes.....did your kids look like slobs at school, too?
Sep 6, 2012 at 8:21 p.m.
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Where in the article does it say this teacher was complaining about having to work two more hours each night? It doesn't. It was just stating a fact. Sounds like a dedicated teacher to me.
Sep 6, 2012 at 8:15 p.m.
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I have no problem with staff members wearing a school related t-shirt on the first day of school, especially on a day that was 90 degrees, and most schools, do not have air con....Plus, someone wearing ill-fitting, mismatched, or old suits or business clothes looks worse than a clean and simple tshirt and skirt as seen in this photo. If someone is wearing non-school related tshirts on a daily basis, then I think there should be a conversation about professionalism...but this was ONE day! She sounds like a fantastic addition to our school district and look forward to seeing more about her.
Sep 6, 2012 at 7:01 p.m.
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Really complaining about a t-shirt where we should worry about keeping good teachers, qualified teachers, teachers who care in the classroom. Complaining about every petty thing is pushing these wonderful teachers out of the profession. These people are teaching the future of our country. These are the kids that will be taking care of you in the future as nurses and doctors. So lets complain about what their teacher is wearing, not the important stuff...get out of the middle school mentality and treat others how you want to be treated yourself
Sep 6, 2012 at 6:50 p.m.
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this sounds like a nice lady to me. I don't mind the t shirt, but t shirts are by their nature a little sloppy and casual, it would be nice if the school provided other options, such as buttons, caps, etc.
But what caught my eye is the number of children only 21, did I catch that correctly? Where are those overcrowded classrooms the unions were talking about.. as for working after hours, I always worked on school stuff at home when I was a day care teacher and ran a school age child care program nobody ever wring their hands over me.
Sep 6, 2012 at 5:39 p.m.
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Good grief, get a clue. Most schools have their teachers wear the school shirts on the first few days of class, especially for the younger children. What insane people out there.
Sep 6, 2012 at 5:39 p.m.
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Dress for Success is just a distant memory.
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What is meant by unified? Isn't the teacher the authority figure and not 'equal' to the students?
Sep 6, 2012 at 5:29 p.m.
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I have looked at the pictures over and over, and I see no shorts (a white skirt, yes) and I can't see her shoes....
Many schools have their staff wear School shirts on the first day. First of all, it helps the parents and students identify the adults that work at the school. Secondly, it shows the parents and students that their school will be a unified place.
Kudos to this teacher for entering into the wonderful world of teaching....it is a profession that I am proud to represent.
Sep 6, 2012 at 4:57 p.m.
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Not to worry, nicksmom, et al. If your guv has his way, the kids will all soon have to show up in welding outfits anyway. I love your depth. Keep being classy....
Sep 6, 2012 at 4:56 p.m.
Sep 6, 2012 at 4:46 p.m.
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What would you prefer she wore? It looks to me like she is promoting the school and dressed for fun. Even "business attire" has gotten pretty casual.
Sep 6, 2012 at 4:32 p.m.
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Right on nicksmom. I agree w very little(nothing) you post but you got this one. Substance means nothing if you ain't got the style. Our kids NEED to learn at an early age that it's mostly about how you look and not perform.
Sep 6, 2012 at 4:27 p.m.
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Look for the union label.
Sep 6, 2012 at 4:22 p.m.
Sep 6, 2012 at 4:19 p.m.
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How many hours do we expect teachers to work off the clock? Is this ever factored into what they are paid? Should we expect teachers to work off the clock? If you are an hourly worker would or do you work off the clock?
I don't work for free for any employer. If I do they may think I don't value my labor or my time. I value my time more then I value there business. Thats why they pay me overtime.
Sep 6, 2012 at 4:09 p.m.
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Looking forward to this series. My daughter had Mrs Werner last year and thrived in her classroom. She is an outstanding and caring teacher. Always challenging the students and keeping learning fun. Best of luck in the new school year!