County Educators Meet in Teutopolis to Share Ideas

School officials from throughout Effingham County gathered at Teutopolis High School Tuesday night to discuss common goals and to share ideas to improve the educational product delivered locally.

Teutopolis Superintendent Matt Sturgeon opened the meeting representing the host district. Sturgeon led the meeting through district goal-setting, marketing and communications, the Effingham Regional Career Academy and other collaborate efforts, and staffing needs.

Some time was taken on marketing and communications, with representatives of each district talking about what's happening in their schools, but the discussion focused on the importance of "telling your story". 

ERCA was a focus, including the Exploring ERCA course underway this year. Dieterich board member Dan Niemerg asked whether exposure to career opportunities could expand to the junior high level. Effingham Unit 40 Superintendent Andy Johnson reviewed the "Teens with Tools" program offered this past summer in cooperation with Lake Land College as an option that could be extended by Lake Land to other districts.

There was some general discussion of the 1% sales tax in place in many counties, but not in Effingham County, as a source of additional revenue.

The group of educators plan to meet again around the first of March.