Community Partnerships
A partner is an external group, organization, or individual who provides services or programming in the classroom to students in partnership with the District. This includes organizations such as Live Well Winona, Home and Community Options, Winona State University and Saint Mary's University to name a few.
Winona Area Public Schools is committed to developing and supporting the collaboration between WAPS and community organizations. These partnerships and collaborations are crucial to the success of our students.
We will continue to seek new partners, and renew collaboration with our current partners, to align programs and services and ensure that all students are college and career ready.
We look forward to working with you!
Student Teaching and Field Experience Requests
Winona Area Public Schools (WAPS) is honored to receive requests for student teaching and field experience placements. Our relationships with higher education institutions are highly valued, and the placements are mutually beneficial.
Please follow the process below to request placements to facilitate efficient and effective communication and placements. Kindly note WAPS accepts requests from coordinators and instructors. We cannot honor requests placed by students due to the sheer quantity of requests we receive.
Directions
- Please complete one form per division requested.
- Per form, kindly Include the entire group of students sharing similar requirements per division or program (course title, internship purpose, window of internship time, total hours, number and days a week, and time of day) The form allows for entering specific placement needs for each student, such as a specific teacher or content area request.
Kindly note
- The form must be approved before the activities start.
- Once the form is processed, you will be notified of the status of your request.
- Higher education institutions new to WAPS collaborations must submit Memorandums of Agreements to WAPS before requesting placements. Please contact the Director of Learning and Teaching, Kristie O’Brien, for these purposes: Kristie.obrien@winona.k12.mn.us
- The Higher Education Institution must provide the division with the student's field placement or student teaching requirements as well as expectations for the cooperating teachers.
Division or Program | Form Link | Contact |
---|---|---|
Birth through Age 3 | Birth - Age 3 Requests |
Wendy Hardward |
Early Childhood, Counseling & Social Work |
Early Childhood, Counseling & Social Work Requests |
Ann Riebel |
Elementary Schools
|
Elementary School Requests |
Emily Cassellius |
Winona Middle School (Grades 5-8) | WMS Requests | David Anderson Principal of Winona Middle School david.anderson@winona.k12.mn.us |
Winona Senior High School and Winona Area Learning Center (Grades 9-12)*
|
WSHS Requests | Nathan Warneke Assistant Principal of Winona Senior High School nathan.warneke@winona.k12.mn.us |
Please contact Kristie O'Brien, Director of Learning and Teaching, kristie.obrien@winona.k12.mn.us, with general questions about WAPS learning and teaching programs and practices, or regarding Memorandums of Agreement. |
Student Data Access Request
Winona Area Public Schools (WAPS) supports a realistic and quality educational learning opportunity for Student Teachers, Interns and Professionals (Student Teacher/Practicum/Intern) assigned to working in our district. To support a student teacher/practicum/intern to receive a quality experience in their placement, they often need access to the WAPS Google Domain and/or educational data and records in a manner realistic to their work in school districts/field.
We expect our student teacher/practicum/interns to follow the Code of Ethics/Conduct according to their respective governing Minnesota State Boards. For example, Minnesota Board of Teaching Code of Ethics states, “In accordance with the state and federal laws, a teacher shall disclose confidential information about individuals only when a compelling professional purpose is served or when required by law.” Additionally, each practicum/intern will be expected to follow their respective professional code of conduct.
FAQ
- What does an Approved Partnership mean?
- How is a Partnership different from Volunteering in the Classroom?
- If a community organization has the same program in multiple WAPS schools, does a separate program information form need to be completed for each school?
- Can the program start in the school before the contracting process is complete?
- Do I need a background check?
- Can I have access to student data?
- Do I need to have liability insurance?
- Is there an orientation?
What does an Approved Partnership mean?
Approved Partnerships are the district’s process for ensuring that common standards are consistently applied for all potential partners. To have an Approved Partnership means that you have established a formal relationship with the Winona Area Public Schools as either a provider of services or programming.
How is a Partnership different from Volunteering in the Classroom?
Classroom Volunteers help with specific events, such as a field trip or special project in the classroom, and are coordinated through the school’s PTA or the classroom teacher. Volunteers usually have a relationship with a child in the classroom (parent/guardian, sibling, grandparent, etc) but it is not required. If you are a community member and would like to volunteer please contact a school office or community education. Please visit our Volunteer website by clicking the following link: WAPS Volunteers If you are a pre-service teaching candidate you must work through your school for an approved partnership. Active participation in the class is mandatory; we do not provide observation experiences.
If a community organization has the same program in multiple WAPS schools, does a separate program information form need to be completed for each school?
Can the program start in the school before the contracting process is complete?
Do I need a background check?
Can I have access to student data?
You will not have direct access to student data; however, as you work with the staff and students, information of a confidential matter may be shared with you. The problems, abilities, grades/scores, relationships and confidences of students, their parents and the staff should never be discussed with anyone who does not have a professional right or need to know. Like teachers, volunteers are bound by a code of ethics to keep confidential matters within the school. The staff and students needs to know they can trust you. If you believe you will need access to student data due to the nature of the partnership please see the program/building administrator.
Do I need to have liability insurance?
Is there an orientation?
FAQ's About WAPS Security System
What is the RAPTOR system?
Why is WAPS using this system?
Safety of our students is our highest priority. Raptor will provide a consistent system to track visitors and volunteers while keeping away people who present a danger to students and staff members. The system quickly prints visitor badges that include a photo, the name of the visitor, time and date.