January 20, 2026
Safety Update: Swatting Hoax
Alpena Public Schools was recently targeted by a fraudulent "swatting" call. This automated hoax made non-specific threats toward a high school as part of a malicious nationwide trend. Local law enforcement immediately determined there was no danger, and because the call occurred while buildings were empty, there was no disruption to school schedules.
While this was a false alarm, we continue to treat every report with caution. Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Michigan’s confidential OK2SAY program by calling 855-565-2729 or texting 652729
Strategic Plan Deep Dive: Implementation Fidelity Visits
As I shared in my September 14, 2025, Superintendent Update, Teacher Clarity and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) are two core strategies we are using to meet our Academics and Programs goal to "Design and Deliver High-Quality Instruction to Maximize Student Achievement."
To measure the level of implementation, we conduct Implementation Fidelity Visits. These visits are structured to tell us how closely our daily classroom practices align with our district-wide instructional model.
How a Fidelity Visit Works
These visits are not individual teacher evaluations; they are a team-based study of how our instructional system is functioning.
The Team: A group of four, typically consisting of administrators, teachers, and instructional coaches, visits a classroom together for 20 minutes.
The Process: Each member captures individual data points independently. Afterward, the group meets to reach a collaborative response on what was observed.
The Goal: This "calibrates" our vision. It ensures that a principal, a teacher, and a coach all share the same understanding of high-quality instruction.
Measuring Teacher Clarity
We know instruction is hitting the mark when any student in the classroom can answer three key questions:
What am I learning today? (Learning Intentions)
How will I know that I’ve learned it? (Success Criteria)
Why am I learning this? (Relevance)
Seeing the Big Picture: The Mosaic Effect
I often describe these 20-minute snapshots as tesserae, the tiny individual tiles that make up a larger mosaic.
The Individual Tile: A single visit doesn't show the whole picture. If a team doesn't observe a specific practice during those 20 minutes, it simply means it wasn't captured in that specific "tile."
The Full Mosaic: When we step back and look at hundreds of tiles, we have documented over 550 individual data points to date, and are beginning to see the larger image.
By looking at this "system view" rather than individual classrooms, we can see where our instructional model is thriving and where we need to provide more collective support and resources.
Looking Ahead
We are currently in the baseline data collection phase, establishing a starting point to understand our current position. While 550 data points are a significant milestone, we are only now beginning to see the first signs of trends. As I shared in our Board Workshop on January 12, 2026, we will continue to gather this data through the winter. This ensures that when we discuss adjustments to our professional focus in the spring, those decisions are based on a complete and accurate picture.
Our goal remains steadfast: To design and deliver high-quality instruction to maximize student achievement.
The Snow Day that Never Was
The day before our winter break, which was originally scheduled as a school day, will now be counted as a "snow day."
While the forecast for the day was concerning, our early morning road checks showed no signs of inclement weather, leading us to remain open. We fully respect a parent's right to choose what is best for their child's safety; however, because many families chose to keep students home, our attendance reached only 67%, falling short of the state-mandated 75% requirement.
This situation highlights the difficult "conundrum" the district faces. Even when we choose to keep school open, individual family decisions can prevent the day from counting toward our instructional requirements. We thank you for your understanding as we navigate these challenges to ensure our instructional days are recorded appropriately.