Your "Human" Resource

March 2024

During the Spring season, as the temperature begins to warm up and flowers start to bloom, many school tasks need to be completed before the year's end. From district professionals completing different evaluations to the beginning of contract negotiations for some of the WWCS collective bargaining groups, a lot takes place during this time of the school year. With the many projects and initiatives throughout the district, as an HR department, we will continue to find opportunities to recognize our talented personnel across our community. Please be on the lookout for some of the exciting celebrations we have for WWCS employees!

If you plan on retiring by the end of the 2023-2024 school year and would like to be honored at the May 20th Board Meeting, please email Kari Matyscik at Matysck@wwcsd.net at your earliest convenience, so we can ensure you are sent an invitation.

Thank you,

Dr. Alex Ofili

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources

Ted Booker serves the Wayne-Westland Community School District as the Early Middle College Coordinator, and he has recently stepped up to serve as a School Counselor at Wayne-Westland Innovative Academy. With a background in nurturing academic potential and guiding students towards their aspirations, this dual role provides him with many opportunities to support student success.

Juggling dual responsibilities, Ted navigates the intricacies of Wayne-Westland Early College programming while also providing essential counseling services to students at WWIA. Balancing these roles requires not only exceptional organizational skills but also boundless empathy.

In the realm of Early Middle College coordination, Ted coordinates the student experience from college application to navigating challenges with professors. His personalized guidance and unwavering support empower students to envision a future beyond their current situation.

Transitioning into the role of a counselor at the Innovation Academy, Ted became an advocate for students facing diverse challenges. Whether it's navigating personal struggles, academic hurdles, or societal pressures, he offers a compassionate ear and practical solutions.

To serve in this dual capacity, Ted has embodied the spirit of service and has actively sought information to ensure he fulfills the responsibilities of both roles. He continues to perform all tasks associated with the Early College role. Additionally, he has learned the essential components of the technology systems that support school counseling at WWCSD and has worked to establish new professional relationships necessary for the work at WWIA.

Ted's quiet humility belies the influence he wields, shaping the futures of our learners. He is a testament of unwavering dedication and belief in the transformative power of a personalized educational experience.

Jacinda Sumara, Executive Director of Technology

William D. Ford has an unsung hero named Dan Calhoun who is one of the most valuable team players in the building. He does impeccable "behind the scenes" work and is dedicated to ensuring safety, integrity and equity at all times for both staff and students. Dan has a positive attitude and takes on any challenge with ease. He also helps to fill the building with laughter and connectedness through his kind gestures and practical jokes. Our career technical center is incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated leader like Dan Calhoun.

Stephanie Bigelow, Principal

The challenge of discerning whether a piece of text was generated by ChatGPT or authored by a human presents an intriguing dilemma in the era of advanced AI. Here are some key considerations for navigating this challenge:

• Contextual Understanding: Human generated content often demonstrates a deeper understanding of context, emotion, and nuance compared to AI-generated text. Look for subtle cues that suggest human insight or personal experience.

• Complexity and Depth: Human writers often inject their unique perspectives, opinions, and insights into their writing, resulting in more nuanced and sophisticated content. Analyze the depth of knowledge and complexity of ideas presented in the text.

• Language Patterns: While AI models like ChatGPT strive for natural language generation, they may exhibit certain patterns or idiosyncrasies that differ from human writing. Pay attention to repetitive phrases, unnatural word choices, or stylistic inconsistencies.

• Emotional Intelligence: Human communication is often imbued with emotional intelligence, empathy, and authenticity. Evaluate the emotional tone and resonance of the text to gauge its human or AI origin.

• Unpredictability: AI-generated text may occasionally produce unexpected or nonsensical responses, especially when prompted with unconventional or abstract input. Consider the coherence and relevance of the text within the given context.

• External Verification: When in doubt, seek external verification or corroborating evidence to validate the authenticity of the text. This could involve consulting additional sources, conducting fact-checking, or seeking input from human experts.

Ultimately, distinguishing between human-authored and AI-generated content requires a discerning eye and a nuanced understanding of language and communication. As AI technology continues to advance, the line between human and machine-generated content may become increasingly blurred, underscoring the importance of critical thinking and skepticism in our digital interactions. Now, you decide: Did I write this, or was it AI-generated?

Julie Rogers

Human Resources Director

The Human Resources department continues to update practices and procedures to streamline our processes and become more efficient. In the upcoming months, you will see several forms being moved to InformedK12. Forms in InformedK12 simplify completing the form, routing forms for approval, and ultimately communicating out changes based on forms throughout our organization. Some of the forms Human Resources will be creating in InformedK12 include the volunteer application form, employee change form, and a recommendation for hire form. As you use our new forms, please share your feedback with us, as we are always looking for ways to improve and become more efficient.

Peggy Powers

Human Resources Director

Partnering with MESSA comes with numerous benefits, including access to a wide range of free programs. As a MESSA member, you may not be aware of a particular program that is available to you at no cost. The program is called Ovia Health, which is a mobile app designed to support members with planning, pregnancy, and parenting. With three different modes, it offers comprehensive assistance to help you navigate these important life stages.

Angelle Allen

Benefits Coordinator

April is Stress Awareness Month—a timely reminder to prioritize mental health and well-being. In the midst of academic demands and daily responsibilities, it's crucial for both students and staff to take moments throughout the day to reset and practice mindfulness.

Remember to take some breaks. Step outside, take a few deep breaths, or engage in a quick mindfulness exercise. Your well-being is paramount, and these small breaks can make a significant difference in managing stress. Allow these moments to rejuvenate your mind, so you can have a focused and productive study session.

Remember, your mental health matters, and taking proactive steps to manage stress is a sign of strength. If you or someone you know needs support, Care Solace is available 24/7/365 for confidential mental health care coordination:

• Call: 888-515-0595 (Multilingual support available)
• Visit: www.caresolace.com/wwcsd

Take the time you need, practice mindfulness, and thrive.

Throughout the year, we will focus on different educational law topics relevant to our daily work. This monthly resource will focus on working after retirement.

• Student Teachers - Teachers, if you are interested in mentoring a student teacher in the upcoming 2024/2025 school year, please complete this survey.

• Building and Central Office Administrators must complete the Informed K12 Absence form for absence approval. Teachers, Secretaries, and Paraprofessionals will continue to use Red Rover.

• Instructional Coaches, MTSS Interventionists, and any fully grant-funded staff cannot be pulled to sub for teachers. No EXCEPTIONS will be made.

• Principals and Supervisors, please retrieve building badges from all exiting staff, including Champions, Bright Futures, MCAN, etc.

• Educators with credentials expiring June 30, 2024, log into the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) to update account information. Staff are recommended to work with HR to ensure they are ready for the 2024-2025 academic year! Log into MOECS to check the status of a credential and professional learning prior to certificate renewal.

• Retiring?

  If you plan on retiring by the end of the 2023-2024 school year and would like to be honored at the May 20th Board meeting, please email Kari Matyscik at Matysck@wwcsd.net. We will make sure you are sent an invitation.

  
  

Position: Director of Maintenance

Years in WWCS: 10 years

Did You Know: Geno has worked in the school system for over 34.5 years. He started as a custodian back in 1989 and slowly worked his way up the ladder. Along the way, he received his Master Electricians license during his 20 year career at Plymouth Canton Schools. He has been with Wayne-Westland for 10 years and has recently been made the Director of Maintenance & Operations. He considers his coworkers family and feels blessed to be surrounded by so many talented people.

Spending time with his wife Kim, and daughter Amber, is the most important thing in his life. Well, he does love golf, and that is a really close second. He enjoys working outside around his house and in his garage as soon as he gets home and loves to play in the yard with his 8 year old goddaughter Beatrix.

What does the future hold for him? Walking many beaches and traveling this amazing country to see all it has to offer, never looking back, only forward.

Noteworthy Contributions: Geno has been a fixture in the Buildings & Grounds department for many years; he has earned the respect of his colleagues because of his solid work ethic and knowledge base as a B&G professional. Mr. Montayne plays a pivotal role in the daily operations of WWCS. He will continue to lead in his space as we enhance district practices and complete district projects.