PEIMS Podcast: Catching Up with Kim Domke

In this episode of the PEIMS podcast, hosted by Gilmer ISD’s Karen Holyfield and OnData Suite’s Beth Naegeli, we welcome Kim Domke.

Kim is one of TASBO’s newest editions as a PEIMS policy & research associate.

This episode focuses on SPED changes, upgrades to September’s PEIMS Academy, and other PEIMS hot topics.

Transcript

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In this episode of the PEMS Podcast, hosted by Gilmer ISD's Karen Holyfield and on data suite Beth Nakley, we welcome Kim Dominic. Kim is one of TASPO's newest editions as a PEMES Policy and Research Associate. This episode focuses on SPET changes, upgrades to September's PEAMES Academy, and other PEMES-related topics. Welcome to TASPOCast. Hey everybody, I am so glad to be here today because I'm with two of my besties. I am so excited. I've got Beth Nakely here and Kim Domkey. So this is going to be a great podcast. I'm very excited. I am too, Karen. I am really happy to be here with Kim Domkey because I understand congratulations are in order. I am so excited

Welcome Kim to the TASBO Team

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that you've been hired by TASBO and have begun working with TASBO. I think it's so important that we have a PEMS voice there in their office. And so congratulations on that, Kim. We're thrilled to have you. And can you tell me a little bit about your role that you have there now? Yes, I am excited to be here with both of y'all as well. I uh started in January with TASBO as a PEAINS and Policy Research Associate. I am basically the PEAMES voice, as you stated. I am working on PEAMES Academy, making sure that our sessions are lined out and meet the needs of our members. I've done some management reviews in PEAENS. I've done one with Karen as well. And I'm a source for answers. So to anyone who asks PEAMES questions here, you can call in or email me, and I'll be happy to help you research or dig into something. And if you're not really wanting to put your name out there in an email to TEA, I'll help out and do some digging for you as well. And then, you know, I'm working on PEAMES online courses as well, trying to get some more of our PEMES courses online so that those that want to get through our certification program, those will be available for them as well. That's fabulous. I'm so happy to hear that. And I know I'm really looking forward to the PEMS Academy coming up in September. It'll be here before we know it. And so I know that we've got some changes in store there. So that's kind of exciting to have your input in that. I'm sure Jason appreciates any of your input in that area to help us with the PEMES Academy. So so excited to have you. I am sure the district PEMES coordinators appreciate you being that liaison to between them and TEA. It is really nice to have that, Kim, because I think I've already had to have you do that a couple of times. So, Kim, I know about your background, but why don't

Kim's Journey to PEIMS

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you tell everyone out there what your background is? Like what how did you start and what you did, where you've been, all that kind of fun stuff. Well, I graduated from college from Texas AM. And, you know, like any good college student trying to find their first job is trying to decide where I was gonna go and what I was gonna do. And my first interview was with a banker, and the banker asked me, like, why are you wanting to go into finance? And I said, Well, sounds like fun working with numbers. And he's like, and I told him, I said, I've also thought about being a teacher, you know, maybe going into education. And he said, you know, that was something I thought about at the time too. He said, I kind of wish I had gone the education route. It's like, hmm. So it made me start thinking, and I thought, well, I don't really know what I'm gonna do. I haven't necessarily found a job yet. So I went to SFA and did my postback teacher certification, became a teacher, taught for two years, decided teaching really wasn't my calling. And the PEMES coordinator role was opening in the district where I was at at the time. It was Midlothian and taught business courses. And so it was kind of a natural transition to go into technology and work in PEMS and to work with data. And it was kind of a love of both worlds. I could still be in education, I could still work with technology, I could still work with data, and then progress through there. I was 21 years with Midlothian, and then I finished up with Arlington in December after seven years there and sort of retired from Arlington to start with TASBO in January. I'm so excited. I really am thrilled that you're at TASBO. It's because I love TASPO, y'all know that. And I've made so many friends through there, but then to have somebody that I've been down in the trenches with, and now they're doing curriculum and all of that kind of policy and research stuff for us, I just I think that's incredible. It feels like a dream job, Karen. It feels like a dream job. Yes. And I know that Kim in the past too had been very active in the PEMS uh committee. So, you know, already knowing the folks that are involved in that and having been through the trenches and building courses and deciding what courses to have at our conferences and everything, that helps you out now with your role. Absolutely. TASBO was there for me from the very beginning. My first course in TASBO was in 2001. And since I was a small district, I also was not just doing PEAMES. I was also the purchasing person for technology. And so my very first course that I took with TASBO was in purchasing. And then I slowly, you know, of course, went through all the the PEMS courses as well and earned my certification. But it was there for me for what over 25 years now. So TASBO has been a great organization for me. Yeah. I know in getting certified, it has helped me in with employment opportunities as well. So that's always something that I like to talk about for any of those newbies out there that are trying to decide whether they want to get certified or not. It's it certainly is a benefit. That and the knowledge, I just I can't get over how much you learn in, you know, when you go to TASPO courses, when you go to PEMS Academy, to the Engage Conference, all of that. You just learn so much. You really, it's the why or the how of why you do your job, like what it's for, what it means, what the rules are behind it. And I really like that. Your software is great to show you how to apply that knowledge into the software, but Tasbow really gives you that this is why you're doing that. And it's that's just great. Cause then you start understanding and things make more sense. Absolutely. And then from yes, that's what I was just gonna say. The input from other districts to help you figure out the how behind it as well. And the networking, that's also amazing, too. I've I've made so many friends across the state, and it's just it's great. You can call them at any time, they're always willing to help you. So I love that. So thanks, Tasbow. Yeah, thanks. That's how I met both of these ladies. Yeah, that's how definitely we met all through TASPO. Yeah. What kind of things are you working on right now, Kim? Like what's the hot topics for you? Well, we definitely have PEMS Academy coming up in September. The really exciting thing about PEMES Academy

PEIMS Academy Update

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is that we've got a little bit different flexibility in the way that we're structuring that program this year. And so September 9th, 10th, and 11th. And on the 9th, we'll have uh you can either go to fundamentals if you're brand new into PEMS. We've also got a proficiency class for those that are a little past the beginner stage. And then we also have a course, accountability course that we're going to offer for those that are more advanced. So we've got three different paths on that first day, and then on the academy days, the second day of academy, we have a pick and choose session where we'll have multiple sessions that the attendees can choose what is most relevant to them. And so there's uh quite a few options that will be out there for them. So that's pretty exciting to have a little bit more available in that respect than just our canned agenda that we've had in the past. That's super. I I am really looking forward to that. Yeah, too. We're gonna have a lot of great speakers at that as well. I think it's gonna be phenomenal and so much information. But I like being able to choose what you want to do. That's really gonna be good, very beneficial, especially if you're a district that's bringing a lot of people. So you're not all in one thing, you can spread out and go to different things, and that's gonna be so true. And you're both presenting for the the sessions as well, right? Yes. Yeah. Our sessions set up on Data Suite's even gonna bring in an accountability person to discuss the accountability link to PEM. So we're excited about that as well. Have you had any conversations with folks regarding all the new sped changes? You know, I think there's a lot

SPED Changes

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of concern out there across the state about those changes, and I know we were all really concerned about making those deadlines. It was exciting to get the letter from TEA last week where they had mentioned that we have additional time now. And so half of our students have to be done by that first six weeks' attendance collection, and the other half of the students need to be done by the second attendance collection. I think that's the first part of December. So there's a little bit more time. I think there's even a grant for districts that want to obtain some help with getting the coding done this summer, which is pretty exciting. I know after having been in a large district, the thought of over coding all of our special education students, that's it's a huge undertaking and a big change for all of our DIAGs and SPED staff that are going to have to update all of that. So I know that's a big and it's of course going to affect us in a funding perspective, and that we don't necessarily know the impact of that just yet. So we'll be sending special education two ways next year to have that for comparison purposes. Yeah, I had no idea there was a grant available out there. That's amazing. That is the first time I've ever heard of these mandated changes actually putting money behind it for these districts. I know we used to struggle at our district when we had to call in staff to come work over the summer to quickly get data updated for various reasons. And so it seems to me like the tides are kind of turning a little bit in that in a positive way, and that TEA is starting to realize, and they may have already known this, but the emphasis now is on the fact that PEMS is so very important, and we do need to have things available in order for us to make that happen for the district. So kudos to them for that. I think that is another great point that you brought up with bringing on edfi and everything that that entail. I mean, it was it was confusing

Ed-Fi Benefits

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and there was a lot of change. But one of the best things that came out of that, actually, too. One, it made people really, really clean up data. I mean, our I think people's data now, district's data is is so much better than it's been in the past. And then also the importance of PEMES has come out of that because if it can be reported, it's probably most definitely gonna go through PEMES. And so people are really seeing that that is a big to-do. And so, you know, I'm excited. I'm getting a PEM specialist this year. So woo-woo, that's great. Yes. So Karen Jr. Yeah. No, that's great news. She's gonna be great, and she's gonna, you know, the first thing we did was sign her up for Tasbow and get her in courses. So she'll start that pretty soon, and she'll be at Peen's Academy as well. But just there is so much out there to report now. I mean, it's like everything in the kitchen sink. And so I think you've got to have more people looking at it. I think the days now of especially small districts where you just have one person looking at all this data, you're gonna have to have more now to that's the other overwhelming piece of it, Karen, is that there is so much from, you know, all year round of the number of collections that are taking place and the upcoming collections that are going to be added in, you know, having a specialist to come in, if you can somehow tag team some of them. I've seen some districts who are splitting out their PEMS submissions from the core collections, and then that way you can kind of tag team and have some availability to flex on those things to help out there. Yeah, to have more of like your subject matter expert maybe on the collections, but also have that other person that's working on the submissions know the important things, you know, in case they ever have to pinch hit. But I do also appreciate the fact that TEA is really pushing the information out to the other departments that are involved in some of these submissions and collections and emphasizing their role in it. In the past, everything was, oh, it's PEMS is reporting this, so it's PEM's responsibility to make sure the data is entered and all of those things. And now, because of the increase in the number of submissions and collections, some of those responsibilities are now being advertised out to like the SPED department as far as these SPED changes go. And that was encouraging. I was at Region 7

Other PEIMS topics

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a month or two ago when we had the big SPEDs training over that, and it was really fascinating because it was a collection of PEMS people from Region 7, but also special ed people. And so in the room, that's what you had as well. You had a lot of special ed directors and you had a lot of PEMS people in there, and great conversation came out of that. But I really appreciated the service center saying, you know, this is Fed data, you know, we need the SPED departments to be responsible for this. Now, how you divide up the workload, that's on your district. But they were very, very good about bringing that in that it's not it's PEMS reportable, but it's not PEMS data. I mean, it's we don't own that data, they do. They need to be looking over that. So it was nice to see that come together. And it was just great. Our region center also does another thing, I think, with TASBO, but it's usually over finance and the PEMS connection. Yes. And that's really interesting too. It always surprises me that there's PEMS people that don't know about the summary of finance and how important that is. And the same thing, a lot of people in finance don't realize what all PEMS does. The same with HR. So that's that's been really good. I'm glad that our Region Center is doing that, and I'm sure others are as well. I'm just here in East Texas, so we got Region 7 and they're pretty great. Um at our PEMS, yeah, I'm sorry, at our PEMS Academy on Data Suite's gonna have one of our sessions is gonna be all about finance and the PEMS connection on that last day. That's there's no doubt that the collaboration has to take place in all of the programs. And to your point, Beth, it was something that we've been asking for for quite some time from the PEMS role is to have more of the input going or the data going to the program areas from TEA to the program areas. And I've actually really seen a lot of that taking place. I mean, I've joined a lot of the calls, and if you've tried to join some of them at TEA, you maybe even experience some of what I have, is that if you're not right at the start time, they may be full because they've got such great information that they're sharing in those calls. They did, you know, one for special education, I've done one for pre-K. There's some really good ones for accountability. There's just such great sources of information on everything. Of course, it's all about fitting it in our schedule and the time dedicated to it too, because that's like I said, that goes back to that PEMS role of that timeline and how how compact it feels when you look at all of the things that are due throughout the year. Also, how they are recording those sessions as well. I find that if I sign up for them and can't make them, they follow up with the email saying, hey, the recording's out there. So never let your schedule dictate whether you sign up for those or not. Go ahead and sign up. And that way, if they do record it, you'll have that link to that recording session. So on Saturday nights when you have nothing to do, you can be listening, you know, to all the SPED changes coming up. Yeah, no, you're not kidding. That is great. And I love like just the different departments within TEA that are really starting to include PIMS as well, like the performance-based reporting. I get that email that they send out every Friday, and it is so full. It is chop full of information. Like you know everything. And then, like you said, there's more invitations now for PIMS to join those conversations and be in those webinars and see what's going on. And it's really good because you're getting not only are they getting a PEMS perspective, you're getting a perspective from what they're doing and how that all goes together because more and more PEMS is really meshing with everybody. I mean, just here in the district, there have been more meetings that I've had to go to or been asked to go to, not have to, I get to. But, you know, that's nice to have that input. But then I can also get input for them. But again, I think that came from Ed Fi and all the huge changes we've had over the last few years. There's no doubt that funding, accountability, and compliance are the three major areas where PEMS impacts you. And so I think that has led to more involvement from all of the teams involved, as you've been pointing out. Yeah, it's been great. Do we have any other hot topics out there? I think the other thing that, you know, we've got an attendance, you know, with our six weeks attendance collections, that's gonna be a bigger impact to everyone next year than it was probably this year, based off of when, you know, maybe the payments were made. So I think that there's gonna be a greater emphasis on not just getting it submitted, but making sure it's a hundred percent accurate since it's going to impact all of our payments. That's another big topic for next year to make sure that those collections are going. Everybody's involved that needs to be. And then, of course, you know, that all depends on having all of the other coding right. And that's, you know, I always tell everybody that my favorite report, maybe not a hundred percent favorite report, just because it's so much on it, is that student detail report. But the student detail report actually shows us everything for the student from a picture of the date they started a program to the date they changed a program. And so that impacts our funding. And so I always like to point out that that's a big report for everyone to stay on top of, you know, as they're going throughout their school year. I feel like Jamie Muffoletto a lot because she used to carry around that snapshot report that you can get on TEA's website. I love that thing, but my I think my favorite besides I do like the student detail, but I the first one I pull up no matter what is the disaggregation of PEMS data. That's what I was gonna say. Love that report. And I don't laugh, but I have been known to laminate it and have it up. And if people ask me a question, I'm like, oh, here you go. So I really like that. Awesome. One of the best. Anything else y'all can think of that we need to let people know? I know right now I'm knee deep in submission three, and then moving on to SPES and ECD ECDS, yeah, I think 3K, and all the other fun stuff. And summer's my favorite time because it's very limited staff and we get a lot done. My phone's not ringing off the hook, so I like this time of year. What about y'all? It used to be my favorite. I used to jokingly say, you know, here I work in the school district, but I was never so glad to get the kids out of my office, you know, when I was on a campus. You miss them, but you actually get to take a lunch hour during the summer and you get Fridays off usually. So those were big highlights. And I just loved having that 10-hour workday because I was probably working 10 hours anyway prior to the 10-hour workdays. And so it just helped you get it all done and and have that time span to work on your work. So I'm sure there's lots of folks now that have switched to those 10-hour days. So I hope you enjoy your Fridays off. I rarely got to take mine, but yeah. We we actually work a half day on Friday, so it's like eight hour days and then four on. But you know what? I like that. I don't mind. And like you said, I usually never take that Friday off anyway, but it's even better Friday afternoon because it's usually just me, and I'm okay with that because I can get so much done. So that's great. Then cannot wait for the PEMES Academy. I know we also have the summer PEMES conference. I'm not going to be able to attend that one, but on Data Suite, we'll be there. Heather's going to be there to have more conversations regarding the finance and summary of finance and that sort of thing. So please, everyone, if you have ever have any needs or questions, you can feel free to reach out to any of us. And now having the wonderful Kim Dompke as part of the TASBO staff, that really is an exciting addition to our TASBO connection because they always, you know, have been there for me. I'll call Esmer all the time, even, you know, about different things. And so having Kim now part of that. I think Kim, I've talked to you more now that you're part of TASBO than I did when you were at a district, even. So I'm sure great to have you with us. Kim and I are gonna be teaching a class together at the summer conference. So we're teaching the procedure manual, and that's gonna be fun. I don't know if Tasmo knows what they did putting us together, but we have a great time together. The secret is we'll be out. And then Karen, we followed up with Peams Proficiency at the in September, too. So oh, that's right. The dynamic demo again. So yeah, it'll be a great time. I'm really glad I got to spend this time with y'all, though it was a lot of fun. Thank you for letting me join y'all. If you have any questions on PEMs, please reach out to me or to Tess, but we're here for you. All right. Thanks, Kim. Thanks, Beth.