Diversified Student Populations Means Diversifying Methods of Classroom Delivery

Editor's Note: Mark Westpfahl is one of seven candidates running for a spot on the School District 199 School Board.

On Nov. 8, residents of Inver Grove Heights will go to the polls to elect four people to serve on the school board. This decision should not be taken lightly. With an operating budget of nearly $33 million dollars, the board has the responsibility to ensure that your tax dollars are being spent in the most effective and efficient way. I will help ensure that our board remains accountable for the policies that are being put in place, while bringing a unique perspective to the board.

One of the biggest issues the board will face over the next four years is an increasing population of diversity. As an educator in the St. Paul Public Schools, I have worked first hand with students who are classified as ELL, or English Language Learners. Nearly 70 percent of the students at one of my schools are classified as ELL. This means that although a student may speak English as their primary language, at least one parent at home speaks a different language as their main language. Inver Grove Heights ELL student population has been growing the past several years and we, as educators, need to provide educational experiences that will help them succeed in school. One of the largest issues the district will face in the next four years is how will we move forward to ensure that the educational needs of all of our students are being met?

As a board member, I will serve as a bridge between the administration and teachers, because I know the challenges that exist in the classroom in trying to meet these expectations. I will be able to use my experiences and share other viewpoints from colleagues to present a perspective on how change has been made, and also what has not worked as effectively, in one of the most diverse school districts in the state. I have first-hand experience in creating engaging lesson plans that focus on adaptation, which allows for students with different learning needs to understand and comprehend materials.

Inver Grove Heights schools have a different look than they did 30 years ago, but that should not stop us from meeting and exceeding the high standards we have set and will continue to set for our students. In addition, public education in general looks different from how it looked 30 years ago. There are certainly challenges that lay ahead of us as a district, which will force us to change or restructure certain ways we provide education. This is not a bad thing by any means. We have an opportunity to engage students in learning experiences that will help shape the foundation of their adult lives, but we need to start in our classrooms by giving students the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. Our education can’t stop with the our students. We need to adapt as a school district to provide opportunities for parents and families of our students so they can better prepare their children for the rigors of education. This can be achieved by any number of interventions.

One way we can provide a more meaningful educational experience and start to close the educational gap between different student groups is by embracing technology in our schools to deliver more effective and meaningful lessons and learning experiences. However, statistics will tell us that the ELL population in our schools is considered to be the least likely to afford newer technologies in their homes. By adopting a program in which students can rent laptops, iPods, iPads and other technologies, we are providing opportunities for students to enhance their educational needs at home, so they are more prepared to use and embrace technology in the school. Our curriculum is always evolving to allow teachers to use best practices and adapt to learner needs, so this is a logical step in the direction of our ever changing educational landscape. Technology is just one tool in our tool box that can help deliver our students to a more productive educational experience. 

For more information about Mark J. Westpfahl, please visit www.markjwestpfahl.com or email Mark at westp042@umn.edu.