Pana schools are looking for ways to improve the experience for all, both in the classroom and on the field.  Building on a positive culture and climate has been a focus for administrators in the early weeks of the new school year.  The perfect opportunity to act on this may be now, with homecoming on the horizon.  They are also looking to invest in their sports facilities, especially on the heels of recent successes from multiple teams of theirs. 

Jessica Miller is the superintendent of the Pana school district.  She says she visits classrooms and speaks with administrators about school culture.  This initiative has inspired some activities and other methods the schools have used to boost morale and the overall climate. 

The school district is in talks to build a new softball field.  It would be west of the elementary school and across the street from the baseball field.  The work is part of an overall project to concentrate their athletics facilities.

The talks regarding the softball field come after a milestone accomplishment from the junior high school’s softball team.  They became the first team from PJHS in any sport to win the regional and sectional titles and reach the state tournament in a given season. 

Back to the classroom, Miller says students at Pana schools are performing well when it comes to literacy, but the district would still like to see it improve.  As such, students will enjoy an early dismissal today while teachers take part in professional development sessions.  The purpose is to collaborate with experts and discuss strategies to improve outcomes. 

More information on Pana CUSD #8 is available at www.panaschools.com.

Jessica Miller appeared as a guest on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.