October 2009

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Popularity of Advanced Placement Classes Continues to Grow Rapidly in Missouri

More than 16,000 Missouri high school students took more than 26,000 Advanced Placement tests last year (2008-09) – an increase of nearly 12 percent over the previous year in the number of students participating in the challenging “AP” program. 

This year’s increase continues a decade-long trend that has seen enrollment in Advanced Placement classes nearly triple since 1999.

State and national results for the Advanced Placement program and the SAT college-entry exam were released today by The College Board.  Missouri’s report, provided to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, confirms the steady expansion of the AP program in Missouri high schools.

Advanced Placement classes are sponsored by The College Board and are available in many high schools nationwide.  At the end of each course, students may take a common exam and qualify for college credit.  Students usually must earn a score of three or higher on a five-point scale to earn AP credit at a college or university.

Because many students elect to take AP multiple courses and multiple exams, it is possible for them to earn hours of  college credit while in high school, saving a significant amount in tuition expenses.

The number of African-American students who took AP exams spiked by nearly 30 percent last year (up 29.6% to 1,524), compared to the 9.9 percent increase among more than 12,500 white students who took at least one AP exam.

SAT Participation Drops

The College Board also publishes the SAT college-entry exam.   In Missouri, the number of students taking the SAT exam (public and private school graduates) declined to 3,153 last year – a drop of 9.5 percent.  By comparison, almost 47,000 high school graduates took the ACT exam last year in the Show-Me State.

According to the 2009 SAT results, Missouri high school graduates:

    * Posted an average score of 595 on the critical reading portion of the exam – one point higher than in 2008, and 94 points above the national average.

    * Scored 600 on the mathematics subtest - three points higher than last year for the state and 85 points above the national average.

    * Scored 584 on the writing subtest – the same as last year for the state and 91 points above the national average.

Washington Elementary Teacher is Named “History Teacher of the Year”

Shirley Hillhouse, a fourth-grade teacher at Labadie Elementary in the Washington School District, has been chosen as the Gilder Lehrman American History Teacher of the Year,

Mrs. Hillhouse was one of eight state finalists for the award which is sponsored nationally by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, based in New York City.

Joan Musbach, president of the Missouri Council for History Education, and Bill Gerling, social studies consultant for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, presented the award yesterday (Sept. 17) during an all-school assembly.  The honor includes a $1,000 award and an archive of history books for the school library.

During the student-led assembly, students acted as Presidents and First Ladies and quizzed Abraham Lincoln and two pretenders to determine the real identity of the President.

Mrs. Hillhouse has been an outstanding teacher in the district for the last 10 years. She presents the “big picture” to students, primarily through interactive and hands-on activities. Students conduct research and then act out the roles of Presidents and First Ladies in period clothing which she provides from her costume wardrobe. They also work cooperatively on current events that help them understand their role as informed and active citizens.  Her students consistently score at the top of the district’s quarterly assessments.

Mrs. Hillhouse also has her students involved in civic and humanitarian activities. Students have been involved in food drives for the needy, sewing an inspirational quilt for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and raising more than $1,000 to send mosquito nets to Africa to stop the spread of malaria.

Mrs. Hillhouse demonstrates to her students the qualities of a good citizen by being actively involved in her community. She serves on the board of Habitat for Humanity and on the Literacy Council of East-Central Missouri.  She directs a summer drama camp and is an adjunct professor at Missouri Baptist University.

Mrs. Hillhouse’s passion for history creates a love for the subject in her students.  “My goal is for the students to ‘catch’ my passion for the study of history, and as they develop an understanding of the past, it will motivate them to be responsible and informed citizens,” she stated in her philosophy of teaching.

Lee’s Summit Middle School Instructor is Missouri’s New Teacher of the Year

A Lee’s Summit teacher who “brings the world to her students” and helps them connect world history to their own lives has been selected as Missouri’s Teacher of the Year for 2009-10.

Susanne Mitko, is beginning her sixth year of teaching seventh-grade social studies at Bernard Campbell Middle School in the Lee’s Summit School District and has taught for a total of 18 years.  She was selected yesterday after a personal interview with a nine-member selection committee appointed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

In her current assignment, Ms. Mitko teaches the history of the Eastern Hemisphere, from Stone Age time to AD 1500, with a special emphasis on world religions and cultures.  She works with a wide range of students, from those with special needs to those preparing for International Baccalaureate studies.

“I am part salesman, part thespian and part cheerleader as I strive to spark my students’ interests and engage them in the world.  Social studies is the vehicle through which I teach children about our world and prepare them for their futures,” she wrote in her Teacher of the Year application.

She shares her personal travel experiences with students – including a trip to China – and helps them gain perspective from other cultures.  She uses current issues and world events to help students appreciate the impact of geography, culture and politics on history.

Ms. Mitko also likes to grab students’ interest with real-world problems and issues.  For example, she described the activities in her recent “Heroes” project:  “Students research a problem in Sub-Saharan Africa, find examples of individuals making a difference and then develop a call to action for the school community.  Students not only learn about a problem, but create solutions and become more empowered by their positive impact on the situation.”

Mitko tutors struggling students in after-school help sessions, and she mentors new and aspiring teachers.  She earned her master’s degree at Avila University in Kansas City (1998) and has maintained her relationship with Avila as an adjunct instructor for both graduate and undergraduate students.

Mitko’s colleagues describe her as a creative instructor who constantly finds imaginative ways to spark her students’ interest in learning ancient history – and who takes time to learn each of her student’s unique needs and strengths.

Her principal, Dr. Vicki Porter, observed that Mitko “sets clear goals, communicates high expectations, employs positive reinforcement, demonstrates enthusiasm, personalizes instruction and encourages student response.  Susanne turns routine classroom topics into exciting adventures.”

Before joining the Lee’s Summit School District, Ms. Mitko taught at Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Town in Omaha, Neb., for one year and at the Visitation School in Kansas City for 12 years.

She began college with the goal of becoming a lawyer, but shifted direction and chose to become a teacher.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in 1985 and her education degree in 1987 at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

The State Board of Education will honor Ms. Mitko and the five state finalists in the Teacher of the Year program at a Nov. 16 banquet in Jefferson City.  Each teacher will receive cash awards and other prizes.

Warren County R-III School District

Located in Warren County, the district is approximately 60 miles from downtown St. Louis. The district serves a large portion of the county, including the City of Warrenton. County unemployment is above state and national averages equaling 10.7% in June 2009, up from 6.4% the year before. Regional unemployment for the St. Louis metropolitan statistical area, in which most of its resident work, was up to 9.9% in June 2009 from 6.5% the year before due to losses in the manufacturing sector, consistent with state and national trends..
Due to disciplined financial management, the district was able to capture the benefits of the 2005 revision in the distribution formula to state aid and add to its operating reserves while providing competitive wage increases to teachers and managing enrollment growth. As a result, unreserved operating fund reserves, which are comprised of the Incidental and Teacher's Funds, experienced strong growth on a cash basis in fiscal 2008 to $3.5 million or 14.2% of spending from $912,214 or 9.2% of spending in fiscal 2003 during which the district experienced 3% annual growth in enrollment. As enrollment has stagnated since then dropping slightly to 3,002 students, the district is projecting fiscal 2009 unreserved fund balances to increase to $4.4 million or 16.9%. For fiscal 2010, the district is conservatively budgeting fund balances to remain stagnant due to weakening of Proposition C receipts which are derived from a state sales tax and other state level budgetary pressures which may affect the level of state aid for all districts. While strong reserves have positioned the district well to address contractions in its revenue base, the maintenance of financial flexibility will be contingent on the district's ability to continue its conservative budgeting practices and manage wage increases accordingly. The district anticipates enrollment to remain stable over the near term.

The district's tax base is stable and benefits from its proximity to St. Louis. Since 2002, the tax base experienced an 8% average annual growth assessed value (AV). Reflecting regional economic contractions, AV is expected to drop by approximately 1% in 2009 due to appeals by local motels.

Earlier this year, the district prudently restructured its debt program to accelerate amortization with 68.1% of principle retired in 10 years. The district's net direct debt is moderate equaling 3% of market value or $1,808 per capita; the district has no overlapping debt.