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Page 12 www.turnerusd202.org The Turner February 2009
Mike Bixler
Spotlight on
a Turner
Graduate
Mike Bixler –
Turner USD #202,
Executive Director of
Business Services and
Maintenance Operations.
Mike Bixler grew up in Turner, attending Turner
schools through the entirety of his thirteen years
of k-12 education. He graduated from Turner High
School in 1978. He has been married to a Turner native, Charlotte
Bixler, for some 29 years (which is a testament, primarily,
to Charlotte’s tenacity). Mike and Charlotte have seen both
of their children—Amber and Quinn—excel in their schooling
experiences as they traversed through the Turner school
system, prior to graduating and moving on to post secondary
programs. Although Bixler left the Turner community to attend
college (he now holds a masters degree in public affairs
from Park University) and to build his career, at the beginning
of the 1997-98 school year, he returned to the Turner school
district as an employee—assuming the position of Director of
Transportation.
Bixler has excelled in most of his adult endeavors, and his
time as a Turner administrator has been exemplified by excellence.
As the Director of Transportation, Bixler reviewed a
complex bussing structure and found multiple ways of improving
the efficiency of the operation while achieving cost savings.
Additionally, as Transportation Director, Bixler improved
morale among the bus driving staff while, at the same time,
increased a sense of professionalism within its ranks.
Recognizing Bixler’s skills at system analysis and operational
management, he was selected to replace Dr. Harry Austin when
he moved from District Finance Officer to District Superintendent
for the 2002-03 school year. Since that time, Bixler has
served as Executive Director of Business Services and Maintenance
Operations. Bixler is highly regarded by district staff
with whom he works. He is also often complimented for his
financial management by state-level operatives with whom
he comes in contact and by agents of financial institutions
that serve the school district. By applying the same analytical
qualities that initially benefited the transportation system,
Bixler has contributed to improving the efficiency of the district
while increasing the financial standing of the district among
the financial community. Bixler is singularly responsible for
seeing the district’s bond rating raised twice, from a BBB to
an A-, and ultimately to an A rating. Bixler has incorporated
numerous capital savings actions that have resulted in cost
savings to the district. Former Superintendent, Bobby Allen,
had this to say about Bixler’s service to the district, “My
observations of Mike confirm that he is a highly articulate,
intelligent individual whose keen analytical and organizational
skills are very apparent in his incisive approach to issues and
problems.”
On the community front, Bixler has served on the Unified
Government’s Ethics Committee and on the Unified Government’s
Steering Committee for Revitalization. He has been an
adjunct professor for Park University. As both an undergraduate
student in public administration and a graduate student in
public affairs, Bixler has been a recipient of the Stanley Fisher
award for excellence.
As we train a spotlight on the exceptional accomplishments
of Turner High School graduates, no better example of
Turner excellence can be found than the school district’s own
Mike Bixler.
(Editor’s note: I was going to do a write-up about Turner Middle School SRA Justin Smitley’s impending
deployment to Iraq. But then, I got a copy of his thank you message to his TMS colleagues following an afterschool
reception they gave for him. He says it way better than I could have done. His message, verbatim,
follows. Justin’s last day at work in Turner—until his return in 2010—was January 23.)
TMS' Justin Smitley Says 'Thanks'
TMS –
Wow! How do I begin to thank you guys for the wonderful surprise
Thanks to Nurse Debby for being the major part in organizing
this. Thanks to Mr. Koonce for the kind words and thanks everyone
for the gifts, well wishes, prayers and hugs. It sincerely means a lot.
Shoot it’s the first time I got a standing ovation… did anyone record
that j/k. I do plan on keeping in touch as much as I can. That may
be very limited for a while but when I can I will be in contact.
It’s been a hard week so this was really uplifting. I am really going
miss this place and working with you guys. It’s so nice to see folks
that really care about students. Speaking of the students I will miss
them a lot, funny how you get attached to those little suckers. Middle
school is such an interesting time for them so it’s been a blast being
a part of their world.
As far as I know I’ll be back in March of 2010. Regardless of my
feelings on this war I am proud to serve and I know our servicemen/
women are already doing so with valor. For those who pray I’d ask
for your prayers. This has been a trying time for my family but it’s
been our faith in Christ that has gotten us through and provided
“the peace that surpasses all understanding.” It’s been a difficult
season but I know that whatever the outcome it will be for the good.
Thanks again.
Justin Smitley , TMS – SRA
Turner Instructional Coaches Improve
Student Learning by Supporting Teachers
Recent educational research
has solidified the long-held
belief that the most important
influence on student learning
is the quality of the teacher.
We now know without doubt
that a highly skilled teacher is
the most important factor in a
student’s opportunity to master
the district’s curriculum objectives
(standards). As accountability
structures delve deeper
and deeper into the causes and
effects of student learning, and
as teachers and administrators
are assigned increasingly high
standards for performance,
teachers’ instructional skills
become highlighted. It is well
established that professionals
in all fields of endeavor, including
teaching, must experience
ongoing training in order to
enhance their skills and to stay
in contact with new innovations
in the profession. In an effort to
aide teachers in their continuing
learning and skill advancement,
the Turner district initiated the
Instructional Coaching (IC)
program in 2004-05.
Beginning with a core of instructional
coaches at each of
the elementary schools, the IC
program provided training
for the coaches on
how best to support the
teachers in their respective
schools. Gradually,
since its inception,
coaches serving the secondary
schools, special
education, and instructional
technology have
been added to the IC
program. Through the
IC program, teachers are
afforded opportunities
to enhance their teaching
skills within their
respective schools. This
allows for their learning to be
most relevant to their teaching
assignment. It also allows for
occasions for teachers to train
collaboratively and to focus on
the performance of their students.
Local teacher training
emanating from the buildinglevel
instructional coaches is not
only more effective in several
ways, it can come at a reduced
cost to the school district.
Instructional coaches, to be
effective in their buildings, must
display leadership characteristics
along with a high level
of enthusiasm for achieving
high expectations and a deep
sensitivity for the variety of
needs of teachers and students.
Turner’s cadre of instructional
coaches are among the best in
the business. And most of their
colleagues will readily agree that
they are worth their weight in
gold to teachers and students in
their respective buildings.
Some of the instructional
coaches chose to accept an invitation
to write an essay for this
issue of The Turner. They will
be printed in conjunction with
other material from their respective
schools.
Turner Instructional Coaches: (l-r) Front Row: Damon Roberts
(Helping Teacher), Pam Reeves, Lynnette Hatfield,
Mary Jean Grindel, Peggy Hodges, Shawn Altman, Regina
DeMoss. Back Row: Dustin Jamison, Rena Duewel, Tim
McFarland, Nacolle Burke.