Superintendent spotlights robotics video, recognizes students and national board-certified teachers

Superintendent Kevin Pogoda (identified in the meeting materials as Superintendent Pogoda) used his report to share a strategic-spotlight video that features Tumwater Middle School science teacher Tony Harris and his robotics class, thanking the Black Hills video production team for the work.

Assistant Superintendent Megan Dawson described the district’s Portrait of a Graduate focus on the ‘‘curious and creative innovator’’ and highlighted the hands-on learning and engineering thinking in robotics class. Teacher Tony Harris described classroom activities and the iterative design process: "When a robot doesn't work the way it's been expecting it... students have to look at the hardware first... other times it might be a software issue and so they need to look at their program. Really wrestle with that ... and that's part of engineering," he said.

The superintendent also recognized Henry Shepherd, a Tumwater High School student selected for the Washington Aerospace Scholars summer residency, and noted the district had 36 nationally board-certified teachers this year. He congratulated George Bush Middle School and Tumwater High School on statewide recognition from the Washington State Board of Education for measurable progress among student groups.

No formal decisions were taken during the superintendent’s report; the presentation was informational and included congratulations to staff and students.