Neill Kimrey,
Instructional Technology Director for the NC Department of
Public Instruction, presented a technology news update for
Northwest RESA Superintendents on October 19, 2011. Many changes
were discussed along with implementation changes for teachers
and administrators expected within the upcoming months. Dr.
Sinclair gave an update regarding Northwest RESA activities and
training. Dr. Keith Eades, Regional 7 Lead for School
Transformation, NCDPI, spoke to those present and stressed that
he was there to help them, would continue to visit their
districts and could provide resources through the NC Department
of Public Instruction. He also asked for feedback to take back
with him regarding several issues involving the views of school
superintendents. Also addressing the group was a representative
from NCASA who shared many opportunities for school involvement
including Glee clubs and challenges. Mr. Jack Hoke gave a State
Advisory Board update and also asked for feedback from
Superintendents to assist in representing them. A roundtable
discussion followed and the next meeting was scheduled for
November 16, with guest speaker Dr. Lynne Johnson, Educator
Recruitment and Developmental Director from NCDPI.
Dr.
Joe Sinclair was a guest speaker at the 2011 Western Region Fall
Leadership Conference in Asheville, NC on September 27, 2011. Dr.
Sinclair along with Gladys Wiles, a fellow educator and distance
runner, shared fitness tips and ways to de-stress with those
attending. Dr. Sinclair answered a variety of questions, offered
nutrition advice, and covered proper attire and equipment needs for
anyone interested in creating a plan for personal fitness. Dr.
Sinclair has completed 40 marathons in one year, a human endurance
achievement that has been successfully accomplished by only a select
few.District/Charter PD Leadership Team Members attended this session to provide those who attended the Summer Institute Professional Development Leadership team an opportunity to work on their professional development roll out plan. Participants were asked to bring any or all members of their team that attended Summer Institute, as well as the Math teachers to continue to work on the Common Core State Standards roll out.
2010-2011 NWRESA News/Workshops/Activities
Back to NWRESA home page
RttT Calendar for NCDPI
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Northwest RESA News Updates Click on topic below 2011-2012 NWRESA News |
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Creative Reading Methods to Encourage Informational Text Comprehension |
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Target Audience: PreK-5 Teachers Presenter, Susie Wilde, served as lead writer in the NCDPI/NC Museum of Art project that produced the book What Can a Small Bird Be? She is an artist in residence with the NC Arts Council, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts for “Connecting Reading and Writing Methods through Story.” Through this program, Susie spent a week working with fourth graders last Sept. at Wittenburg Elementary in Alexander Co. Susie reviews children’s literature for newspapers as a freelance writer and offers literacy training through Meredith College’s Continuing Education program. Her workshop focused on Common Core State Standards which requires that informational text serve as 50 percent of reading in elementary schools. Teachers seeking creative ways to increase their students’ comprehension of informational text welcomed this child-centered approach. This hands-on seminar introduced useful strategies easy to implement and encouraging thought and discussion. Using engaging new non-fiction children’s books, teachers practiced techniques to aid retelling, distinguishing main idea and supporting details, and understanding how to link reading and writing experiences. Each participant received a packet that included materials and a bibliography of tested new non-fiction titles and opportunities to win free books. |
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Math 1
Common Core |
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Target Audience: 8th Grade and High School Math Teachers Presenter: Christy Propst, Instructional Coach, Burke Co. Schools In this session, teachers experienced activities and investigations applicable to NC Math 1 Standards. Teachers explored exponential growth and decay, graphical representations, mathematical models and geometric relationships such as surface area and volume. Teachers walked away with many activities and while designed with Math 1 in mind, these activities could easily be adapted to multiple levels and implemented in the classroom next year. Participants will receive additional web, print, and manipulative resources. Teachers will also look at cross curricular connections between math, science and literacy strategies. Please bring a battery charged laptop – the hotel has wireless internet connection only. (Be sure you know how to connect to wireless network other than your own school network). |
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Weaving the Strands Together: ELA Unit Planning From the Core |
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| ELA Teachers, Grades 6-8, enjoyed Martha Lamb, Curriculum Specialist, Catawba Co. Schools, who presented Weaving the Strands Together: ELA Unit Planning From the Core. Ms. Lamb told participants with new Standards and expectations for learning, creating new units may seem overwhelming to them. However, participants in this workshop learned methods for creating dynamic, thought-provoking units that embodied the Core Standards without completely abandoning novels and literature they love to teach. |
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Teaching from the Core: Lessons and Strategies for Middle Grades
English/Language Arts |
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ELA Teachers, Grades 6-8 enjoyed presenter Martha Lamb, Curriculum Specialist, Catawba Co. Schools, as they acquainted themselves with the ELA Common Core State Standards and getting ideas for teaching them to fidelity. Lessons that integrate multiple strands and standards were demonstrated along with teaching strategies that facilitated deep reading, writing, and thinking. |
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Science + Hands-on Activities + Multimedia Resources = Literacy and 21st
Century Skills for
K-5 Science Teachers |
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Dottie Hayes presented this exciting workshop for both K-5 Science Teachers (Monday, June 18, 2012) , and 6-12 Science Teachers (Tuesday, June 19, 2012) Teachers explored and evaluated multimedia instructional resources used to promote Literacy and 21st Century Skills for all learners. During this session, teachers had many hands-on activities, and were shown open source (a.k.a free) instructional resources and Web 2.0 tools to design lesson plans. Materials were provided for teachers to create a variety of sample models, used to help students understand the Interconnectedness of the NC Science Strands and Essential Standards. |
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Creativity is a 21st Century Skill |
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Presenters: Dottie Hayes and Dee Hanlin Although the projects focused on elementary standards, each project can be easily modified and adapted to use with higher grade levels. |
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K-8
Music and Integration |
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Tonya Allison from Yadkin CountySchools, presented to Music Educators Grades K-8, giving them new ways to engage students through music. Participants left motivated, with new lesson plans, and exciting new ways to integrate reading, poems, stories, etc., into lessons.
This workshop reviewed the close relationship of the NCSCOS to the newly adopted Common Core/Essential Standards of Music Education. Teachers participated in several hands-on cross-curricular, multi-grade level music lesson plans such as Marbling, Analyzing Song Lyrics, Sound Analysis and Australian Dream Weavers.
Explored were LEARN NC and the resources put together for Music Ed. The NCSCOS and the new Common Core/Essential Standards were compared. LEARN NC was explored to show it has simplified how to find other curriculum standards that music teachers can write into their lesson plans for cross curricular lessons. |
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Penny Freeland, 19-year veteran, art teacher with Yadkin County Schools, conducted a practical, fun-filled day with fellow art educators in Grades 6-8. She will inspired them with ideas and lessons galore, and connected to websites and opportunities for teachers to use in the classroom. Teachers were shown how to build their instructional repertoire with integrated lessons and instructions using the new “NC Essential Standards.” Each teacher was asked to bring three lesson plans that they taught, saved electronically, and including any pictures of examples. With this preparation done prior to the workshop, each participant received 1.0 Art or Reading CEU.· · Each lesson was expected to correlate to the new “NC Essential Standards.” and presenter Penny Freeland then burned a CD for each. Anyone wishing to contact Penny may do so at: penelope.freeland@yadkin.k12.nc.us Teachers experienced abbreviated art lessons, (about 10 minutes each); allowing them to go back to school with more than 100 new lessons that correlate with the new “NC Essential Standards,” as well as the examples to go with those lessons. This was definitely a day of training that teachers would enjoy! |
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Text Complexity, Informational Texts, Text Based Questions, OH MY! |
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  Date/Time:
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 (9:00-3:00)Presenter Lora Drum, Curriculum Specialist, Catawba Co. Schools presented to K-5 Classroom Teachers a session on Text Complexity, Informational Texts and Text-Based questions. Educators searching for some new teaching ideas in transitioning to the ELA Common Core Standards enjoyed a fun packed day of new ideas and strategies designed to help them make this transition. Ms. Drum explained just as any journey begins with a map, transitioning to the Common Core cannot be done all at once or all alone. Participants were able to take a journey along the “yellow brick road” and discover some practical ideas, along with some make-and-take materials to take back with them. Attendees received 0.5 Reading Renewal credit for their participation. |
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ELA Common Core
Process Support Session and the |
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This Process Support session provided Summer Institute Professional Development Leadership teams with an opportunity to work on the math professional development roll out plan. Participants continued to work on math Common Core State Standards roll out during this session. Educators earned 0.6 Math or Reading Credit for their participation. |
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ELA Common Core Professional Development Session
and the |
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On May 3, Teachers/Leaders Responsible for ELA PD along with Teachers/Leaders Responsible for Math PD attended a Professional Development session for ELA intended to guide participants through the work of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Participants received recommendations regarding key strategies for discussing Common Core ELA resources and planning for instruction. Participants also received specific strategies for making the professional learning community concept a powerful staff development approach for implementation of the Common Core ELA standards. Participants created text complexity placemats and were asked to bring an informational text commonly used at their grade level, along with one literary text. Educators earned 0.6 Math or Reading Credit for their participation. |
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Health
Care Professionals in an Educational World |
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This session was for the target audience of K-12 Principals and Assistant Principals and focused on assisting school administrators in leveraging the expertise of school psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists in the service of students with disabilities within their schools; including a discussion of the possibilities for integrated IEPs. Presenters addressed principals’ concerns regarding physicians and other providers who “prescribe” educational services, offered practical advice on clarifying roles, and discussed advantages of building relationships with professionals in the community. Participants earned 0.5 Administration credit. |
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Leadership Summit for Aspiring Superintendents and System Level
Administrators |
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Northwest RESA hosted a summit is for educators aspiring to hold district-level positions with the purpose of gaining practical knowledge and experience that may not be taught in graduate school programs. The summit was held on April 26, 2012 with the target audience of practicing administrators and Central Office Personnel. Those presenting for this summit were:Mr. Glenn Barger, Dr. Randy Bledsoe, Dr. Jeff Cox, Dr. Bill Gummerson, Dr. Stewart Hobbs, Dr. Wanda Hutchinson, Dr. Trish Johnson, Dr. Richard Jones, Dr. Alvin Proffit, Dr. Travis Reeves, and Dr. Barbara Todd. The panel of school superintendents
and other administrators discussed a variety of
topics including: The participants earned 0.5 Educational Leadership credit for their attendance. |
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Joanne
Honeycutt Address Northwest Superintendents |
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Leadership Academy for Aspiring Building Level Administrators |
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Northwest RESA, with the support of member superintendents, provided an academy for aspiring administrators who wish to have a variety of information about the role of a building-level administrator. A panel of practicing school
administrators were available to discuss a variety of topics
including: The Academy was held on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at no cost to NWRESA member LEAs with participants earning 0.5 Leadership credit. The esteemed panel of presenters included Nora Baker, Kelly Byrd-Johnson, Cary Cash, Dr. Bill Gummerson, Scottie Houston, Diana Jones, Dr. Kim Matthews, Sheila Richardson, Nan VanHoy, Jodi Weatherman, Dr. Pete Yount, and finance officials Kerry Crutchfield, Jan Zachary and David Johnson. |
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Examining the
Holocaust |
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Northwest RESA invited middle and high school social studies and language arts teachers to attend a multi-county Holocaust teacher workshop at the Holiday Inn Express in Wilkesboro. Featured speakers were Morris Glass, a survivor of the Auschwitz death camp, Hank Brodt who was imprisoned in several forced labor camps, or Alfred Schnog, whose family escaped from Nazi Germany on the morning after Kristalnacht. Holocaust scholar, Dr. Karl Schleunes, Chair of the History Dept. UNC-Greensboro and author of The Twisted Road to Auschwitz and Legislating the Holocaust: The Nuremburg Laws. This workshop was of particular interest to social studies teachers teaching American history or world history and sixth-grade teachers teaching about Eastern Europe as well as language arts teachers teaching the Diary of Anne Frank in the middle grades or Elie Wiesel's novel about the Holocaust, Night or other literature of the Holocaust at the high-school level. All workshop participants received copies of the resource guide The Holocaust: A North Carolina Teachers' Resource, published by the N.C. State Department of Public Instruction in cooperation with the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust. Participants received 0.6 Social Studies or Reading Credit. |
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K-12
Social Studies Professional Development Session |
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Four (4) participants from each LEA including their instructional leader, attended this two-day training session designed to assist Social Studies educators in developing their local curriculum around rigorous, meaningful and engaging units of instruction to support the new K-12 Social Studies Essential Standards. During this workshop, participants collaborated to design a sample unit that can be used to train other Social Studies educators in their district or school. Ultimately, this training session will help Social Studies educators make more informed decisions about what students should understand, know, and be able to do according to the NC Social Studies Essential Standards. Participants received 0.6 Social Studies Credit (per day). |
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District Level/Charter Team Fidelity Check 3.14.12
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On Wednesday, March 14, 2012, NCDPI conducted the District-Level and Charter Team Fidelity Check to decision-makers and team leaders (“drivers”) of each district/charter PD Leadership team who attended Summer Institute. The session was held to facilitate follow-up sessions with local leadership teams that will gather information on their progress with their implementation plan as well as provide continued support for their district leaders. Those attending received 0.6 credit. |
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K-12 Programs and Healthful Living Essential Standards Professional
Development |
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One participant per LEA from K-5 and 6-12 for Art and Healthful Living attended a day of professional development for Arts Education, Healthful Living, World Language and ESL on March 9, 2012.
Arts Education
leaders continued training on the NC Arts Education Essential
Standards, designed to provide more in-depth implementation
strategies in preparation for full implementation of the standards
in the 2012-13 school year. The newest instructional tools,
including graphic organizers were discussed that will assist with
implementation of the common clarifying objectives aligned with
social studies content, and other support tools. Opportunities for
collaboration and sharing of implementation strategies and plans
were provided. For
World Language and ESL,
the professional development focused on the sharing of information,
resources, and activities that can be used locally to help educators
teach and assess for proficiency in the classroom. Research-based
presentation materials, online training resources, and assessment
tools were discussed and program-specific adaptations explored. |
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K-12 Programs and Healthful Living Essential Standards Process Support |
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On March 8, 2012, Region 7 Professional Development Leads, Heather Mullins and Kimberly Simmons, provided instructional leaders and teachers in K-12 programs an opportunity to share resources, plan professional development, and create instructional tools and units to support implementation of the NC Essential Standards in K-12 Programs and Healthful Living. District/Charter PD Leadership Teams from Region 7 enjoyed an informative day of support. |
| The Northwest RESA Board of Directors met Wednesday, March 7, at the RESA offices in Wilkesboro. Dr. Sinclair gave updates on the NWRESA partnership with the NC Race to the Top Initiative while staff member Carla Leslie provided an informative presentation on past and upcoming training and events conducted by NWRESA. The 2012-13 budget was presented and approved and the board complimented each staff member for their work, dedication, and contributions toward education. |
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NCDPI - EC Division Principals and Assistant Principals gathered for this session highlighting the role of the LEA representative in facilitating meetings that engage parents appropriately. Important concepts included tips on IEP meeting facilitation, helping connect parents to resources, and coaching parents for effective advocacy. In addition, negotiation literature by Roger Fisher & Daniel Shapiro (directors of the Harvard Negotiation Project and authors of Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate) were used to consider the powerful emotions in play during IEP meetings and the opportunities to use those emotions to map out goals and services that are optimistic, ambitious, and also reasonable. Those attending received .5 renewal credit for their participation. |
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Teacher Effectiveness and New Accountability Model
2.29.12 |
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| This training was a repeat of the September 2011 session with the purpose of bringing together groups of teachers and leaders to learn about the State’s educator effectiveness initiatives, as well as provide feedback on proposed policies. Also discussed was the proposed new school accountability model, and why it is believed that it will lead to better outcomes for students in North Carolina. |
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Curriculum and Instruction Directors Receive Matrices |
| The Curriculum and Instruction Directors met at the Northwest RESA offices for their monthly meeting on February 24, 2012. Directors were presented the K-2 Assessment Bank, as well as the K-5 and Middle School Common Core and Essential Standards Matrices by Dee Hanlin, NWRESA Math Consultant, and Karen Lowe, NWRESA Library/Media consultant. The matrices were the culmination of months of work by the Northwest RESA team and were made available to the membership LEAs that Northwest RESA serves. |
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Northwest
RESA Welcomes Dr. Maria
Pitre-Martin, Director of K-12 Curriculum and Instruction, NCDPI |
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| Northwest RESA welcomed Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin,
Director of K-12 Curriculum and Instruction for the NC Department of
Public Instruction, to the Superintendent's Council meeting on
February 15, 2012. Dr. Martin provided a business/address card with
her contact information and noted that she also wanted to take any
questions/input the superintendents may have back to her department
for discussion. She indicated that she will also be sharing those
questions with Region 7 & 8 Professional Development leads Heather
Mullins, Kim Simmons and also with Keith Eads, and her superiors
and content colleagues at NCDPI. She spoke from a document provided
to the group outlining duties within the C & I Division at NCDPI,
then conducted an informal open discussion of issues. She addressed
the work ongoing in the curriculum department including high school
math and sequencing questions, indicating her department is at the
heart of the work right now for common core and math.
She asked everyone to continue to refer to Wiki spaces which has resources, information on IIS, more standards documents, and benchmarking tools. There are also links that connect to resources with other states including student data. |
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PLAN
Diagnostic Assessment Interpreting Data |
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| Principals,
Guidance, Data Coaches, and District
Curriculum and Instructional Leads gathered
for the PLAN Diagnostic Assessment Interpreting Data session on
February 15, 2012. Hosted by NCDPI, in
collaboration with ACT and the NWRESA, the
half-day session provided
guidance to district and school staff on how
to effectively interpret the PLAN student
report in order to communicate to students,
teachers, and parents areas for academic
improvement and career planning. Time
was also spent reviewing aggregate reports
that schools will be receiving. All information
presented supports the goal of improving student’s
college and career-readiness. |
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High School
Math Curriculum Alignment |
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| Dee Hanlin, NWRESA Math Consultant,
hosted a session designed to align the high school math curriculum.
Representatives from northwest districts already using programs such as Investigations, Math Connections, etc. were asked to bring what they had; thus, serving
as
a good starting point. The productive collaboration resulted
in getting much accomplished in a day which will better
serve membership LEAs in the Northwest RESA region.
Participants received .05 Math Language credit. |
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World Language
Essential
Standards Content Session |
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| World Language Teachers attending this session experienced an exciting day with Ann Marie Gunter, NCDPI K-12 World Language Consultant. The session provided a great opportunity for teachers to network and collaborate and focused on the sharing of information, resources, and activities that can be used locally to help educators teach and assess for proficiency in the classroom. Research-based presentation materials, online training resources, and assessment tools were discussed, and program-specific adaptations explored. Participants received .06 Foreign Language credit. |
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Curriculum & Instructor Council Meeting
1.27.12 |
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| Dee Hanlin, Chairperson for the Northwest RESA Curriculum and Director's Council, hosted the January 27, 2012 meeting with district curriculum leaders. Each director gave an update of where they are with the Race to the Top initiatives | |
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NCDPI -
Process Support Session for Science & Social
Studies |
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Up to 13 District/Charter PD Leadership Team Members per LEA were provided with time to synthesize the information presented on January 19. The morning consisted of working with grade-level/content-area groups to collaborate in order to create templates, curriculum maps, lesson/unit plans, or resource compilations. During the afternoon, participants had the opportunity to work with members of their LEAs or continue to work with their morning breakout groups. Each participant submitted a resource to be posted on the Region 7 regional wiki. |
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NCDPI - Science and Social Studies Professional Development Support |
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LEA's selected one participant from K-5 and one from 6-12 to
attend the professional development for
Science which focused on North Carolina’s Transition to the new
NC Science Essential Standards. This training was intended
to extend and
build upon the initial kick-off 2011 Summer Institutes.
The purpose of the follow-up training will be to delve deeper
into the Science Essential Standards by engaging in dialog
and activities assisting LEAs with refining and
implementing their transition plan to the new Science
Essential Standards. Participants earned a .6 Science renewal Credit
for this training. |
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What
Should a Common Core Math Classroom Look Like? |
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Dee Hanlin, Math Consultant for Northwest RESA, presented the "What Should a Common Core Math Classroom Look Like?", to Administrators, Assistant Principals, and Curriculum Coaches, on January 12, 2012 at the Holiday Inn in Wilkesboro, NC. The 8 Mathematical Practices were stressed as the “Rigor” element of the common core mathematics curriculum, as well as what lending their coherence across the K-12 curriculum means. Ms. Hanlin maintains that teaching familiar topics with traditional pedagogy will no longer meet this rigor and focus on College and Career Readiness. Therefore, her session was designed to immerse administrators in the 8 Practices through summarizing, critiquing a lesson, participating in a lesson from a student perspective, and ties to assessment. Each participant left with a “hands on” and “minds on” understanding of this new curriculum element, essential to Common Core Mathematics K-12 and earned 0.5 Math credit for their attendance. |
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State
Superintendent June Atkinson Speaks to
Superintendents |
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Northwest RESA welcomed State
Superintendent June Atkinson at its December meeting at the Holiday
Inn Express in Wilkesboro. Dr. Atkinson discussed a variety of
topics with Superintendents including the school calendar, feedback
regarding ideas relating to the North Carolina School for the Deaf,
teacher effectiveness, the accountability model, and feedback from
superintendents regarding common core and professional development.
The next meeting will be a joint session with Region 7 & 8
superintendents joining Dr. Atkinson in Marion, NC on January 18,
2012. |
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The monthly meeting of the NWRESA Principal's Council was held at the Holiday Inn Express on December 7th, with an attendance of eighteen principals. The guest speaker was Ms. JoAnne Honeycutt, CTE Director for NCDPI. Her one hour presentation included information about 1) Career and College Promise, 2) Work Keys, 3) CTE Essential Standards, and 4) the High School Accountability Model. Heather Mullins and Kim Simmons followed her presentation with a general update on DPI initiatives. |
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Dr. Lynne Johnson Speaks to
Superintendents |
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The Northwest RESA was pleased to welcome Lynne Johnson, Ed.D, Director of Educator Recruitment and Development for the NC Department of Public Instruction, as guest speaker for the November Superintendent's Council. Dr. Johnson shared many guiding tools as well as critical questions for professional development implementation. She also provided the top ten things to know about teacher effectiveness policies in North Carolina to superintendents and discussed the evaluation process. The planning phase document was made available, which included planning phase outline for priority 1,2,3 goals, key action steps to be taken, key stakeholders, resource implications, and networking capabilities. The professional development implementation guiding tool was also discussed, which included the following: What questions are addressed? How will information be gathered? What is measured or assessed? How will the information be used? Dr. Sinclair, as well as all Superintendents attending expressed to Dr. Johnson their appreciation for all that she and the department are doing to make education in North Carolina the best in the nation. |
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North Carolina SBA
Convention |
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On November 15th, 2011 Jack Hoke, Superintendent in Alexander County, was recognized at the North Carolina School Board's Association Convention as the Region 7 Superintendent of the Year. Mr. Hoke was among seven outstanding superintendents from around the state who were honored at this special event. Dr. Diane Frost, Superintendent of the Asheboro City School District, was chosen as the North Carolina Superintendent of the Year. Congratulations to Jack Hoke! |
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Years Later, ARMS Partnership Still Delivering |
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When Dee Hanlin, a Northwest RESA Math consultant (who is also a TI³ National Certified Instructor for Texas Instruments) completed her duties as Director of the Appalachian Region Math and Science Partnership in 2007, little did she know the far-reaching effect the partnership grant would have. Dee, along with Karen Lowe, ARMS project evaluator, listed among their goals for the 2004-2007 ARMS Partnership that the grant would have a lasting effect on teachers within the 7 school districts that participated. Not only did those teachers receive intensive training from skilled professionals throughout the nation, but each were also provided with TI calculators and other classroom peripherals, including the Navigator series, CBRs and CBLs. Today, Dee still gets reminded of just how much sustainability that project has when she hears from former participants. Sheila Brookshire, a Buncombe County Instructional Coach and Lead Math Teacher during the ARMS partnership, recently notified Dee that she was hoping for good news about a new grant she had submitted for new TI Inspires CX and Navigator to use in Buncombe’s low income schools as well as the 7th grade EC inclusion classes in those schools. An excited Ms. Brookshire notified Dee recently that Buncombe’s “grant proposal had been fully funded for $75,000!”, adding, “you (Dee), are indirectly responsible for that with the opportunities you provided for me!” Developing teacher leadership updates was another goal of the project for participants. Here are some examples:
Congratulations to Sheila Brookshire in Buncombe County and kudos to the other grant participants who demonstrate the great sustainability of the ARMS partnership! |
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Process Support
Session for English/Language Arts
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English/Language Arts Common
Core |
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This session targeted a
maximum of
4 teachers/leaders
per district responsible for professional development – K-2,
3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. |
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State Superintendent Calls
Regional Meeting |
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State Superintendent Dr. June Atkinson met with selected superintendents from the Northwest and Western school districts on November 8, 2011, in Marion, NC. The purpose of the meeting was to obtain feedback regarding recently proposed state initiatives that are presently being considered at the state level that affect all school districts. Dr. Atkinson heard from all superintendents in attendance and felt that the meeting produced positive results. |
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District-Level
and Charter Team Fidelity
Checks |
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NWRESA
Principal's Council |
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The Northwest Principal's Council met on Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Ms. Kelly-Byrd Johnson, Principal at East Bend Elementary School, Yadkin County Schools, serves as chairman of the council. Guests speakers from the NC Department of Public Instruction included Mr. Neil Kimrey, Instructional Technology Director and Mr. David Tillman, representing Exceptional Children. Mr. Kimrey shared a variety of technology updates and Mr. Tillman discussed issues regarding the Exceptional Children's Division. School administrators attending the session were very interested in these and other topics. The next scheduled principal's council meeting will be December 7, 2011. |
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Common Core
and Essential Standards Updates (Phase II) |
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This training,
intended for school-based administrators, focused on instructional
leadership for rolling-out the new standards. The half-day session included opportunities for collaboration, an update on assessment, a look
at available resources, and activities designed to assist administrators
in knowing next steps for building-level implementation. This session
was facilitated by Regional PD Leads and Regional Leads. |
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Curriculum & Instruction Director's Meeting
10.21.11 |
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Deanna Hanlin, NWRESA consultant, coordinated the October meeting for the Curriculum & Instruction Directors council on October 21, 2011, held at the Northwest RESA offices in Wilkesboro. A conference call with James M. Kroening, Lead Testing/Accountability Consultant for the NC Department of Public Instruction, provided a means for attendees to get answers to their questions regarding testing and accountability changes. A roundtable discussion followed with a variety of issues being discussed. The next C & I Director's meeting will be November 18, 2011. |
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NWRESA – K-2 Assessment Writing |
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Dee Hanlin, Math Consultant for Northwest RESA, coordinated this session for K-2 Teachers and Curriculum Coaches to come together and write Common Core Assessment items for grades K-2. With some school districts having already moved into Common Core this school year at K-2, others will need new assessments next year. Unsure of what the state will provide for K-2 and rather than each LEA doing all the work, Northwest RESA decided to get representatives from their LEAs together – sharing both the work and the end product. Different groups worked on K-math, 1st math, 2nd Math, K- ELA, 1st – ELA, and 2nd –ELA. Districts already using programs such as Investigations, Math Connections, Letter Land, etc. were asked to bring what they had; thus, serving as a good starting point. The productive collaboration resulted in getting much accomplished in a day which will better serve membership LEAs in the Northwest RESA region. |
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| Members of the NWRESA Board of Directors heard updates and were given information regarding the training and activities of the NWRESA staff during recent months. Dr. Sinclair discussed a variety of topics including the RESA's role in North Carolina's Race to the Top Initiative. | |
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Teacher Effectiveness/New Accountability Model
Meeting |
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Lynne Johnson, Director of Educator Recruitment and Development, along with Jennifer Preston, Top Project Coordinator for Teacher and Leader Effectiveness and Eliz Colbert, Lead Professional Development Consultant, presented to the Educator Effectiveness Focus Group at the Northwest RESA offices on September 28, 2011. Region 7 Leads Heather Mullins and Kim Simmons also were in attendance. The purpose of this training was to bring together groups of teachers and leaders to learn about the State’s educator effectiveness initiatives, as well as provide feedback on proposed policies. The proposed new school accountability model was discussed and why it is believed it will lead to better outcomes for students in North Carolina. |
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Dr. Sinclair presents for Western Region Fall Leadership
Conference |
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Curriculum & Instruction Directors
Receive NCDPI Updates |
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Process Support |
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Math |
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Professional Development
for Mathematics was held at the Northwest RESA offices and focused
on specific content from each of the 4 grade bands. Content
lessons were modeled with participants being the students.
After debriefing the mathematics participants examined the
lesson structure used. Connections were made to Van de Walle’s
Before, During, and After Lesson Plan. Additional connections
to the Common Core State Standards For Mathematical Practice, 21st
Century Skills, New Teacher Evaluation Standards, Universal Design
for Learning, Professional Learning Communities, English Language
Learners, and Exceptional Children were emphasized. |
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Common
Core and Essential Standards |
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| Principal Common Core/Essential Standards Professional Development was presented September 8, 2011. This training, intended for school-based administrators, focused on instructional leadership for rolling-out the new standards. The half-day sessions included opportunities for collaboration, an update on assessment, a look at available resources, and activities designed to assist administrators in knowing next steps for building-level implementation. This session was facilitated by Regional PD Lead Keith Eades and Regional 7 Leads, Heather Mullins and Kim Simmons. |
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Teacher
Evaluation Process PD/Support |
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Heather Mullins and Kim Simmons, NCDPI Professional Development
Leads for Region 7, conducted this training to a large number of
administrators on September 7. The training was designed to
provide principals and assistant principals with a conceptual
perspective of each of the NC Professional Teaching Standards. Participants explored how to:
An Affinity Diagram was discussed whereas individually administrators were asked to consider the challenges/issues in using the tool with fidelity. The Principal's responsibility to manage, know, identify, ensure and supervise was focused upon as well as the process overview for the NC Educator Evaluation Process: Step 1 - Training and orientation, Step 2 - Self Assessment and Goal Setting/Pre-Conference, Step 3 - Observation Cycle, Administrative and peer, Step 4 - Summary Evaluation and Goal Setting. The NC Professional Teaching Standards were discussed:
At the end of the training, participants were able to:
•Online manual for principals http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/profdev/training/online-evaluation/principal-directions.pdf •Online manual for teachers http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/profdev/training/online-evaluation/teacher.pdf•Online manual for superintendents http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/profdev/training/online-evaluation/superintendent.pdfCoaching document 1, Coaching document2 Coaching document 3 Coaching document 4 Coaching document 5 Other resources may be found at: Wiki: www.rt3region7.wikispaces.com Blog: www.mullinshe.wordpress.com |
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Curriculum and Instruction Directors Meet |
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August 26, 2011 - The first Curriculum & Instruction Director's meeting of school year 2011-12 took place at the Northwest RESA offices in Wilkesboro, NC with Guests Heather Mullins and Kim Simmons, NCDPI Professional Development Leads for Region 7 and Elaine Boysworth from Lincoln County, in attendance. Each director discussed how their district is planning and implementing plans for the Common Core and Essential Standards. Dee Hanlin, NWRESA consultant, announced that she, along with NWRESA consultant Karen Lowe, are developing curriculum alignment documents to assist with the implementation of the common core strategies and will make this available to all NWRESA members. |
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Northwest RESA Scores Outstanding PD Leads in Heather Mullins and Kim Simmons |
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Meet Your PD Leads! Heather Mullins, Professional Development Lead – Region 7
Contact Information Heather Mullins, Professional Development Consultant, Region 7 heather.mullins@dpi.nc.gov 828.244.8759 Kimberly Simmons, Professional Development Consultant, Region 7 kimberly.simmons@dpi.nc.gov 828. 406.9237 Wiki: www.rt3region7.wikispaces.comBlog: www.mullinshe.wordpress.com |
Heather Mullins has taught, led, and served the teachers and
students of North Carolina for over 16 years. She is a National
Board Certified Teacher who taught for twelve years as a high school
English teacher. During her tenure in the classroom, Heather
provided professional development to English teachers around the
state. She also served for four years as a Curriculum Specialist
where she served as a mentor, professional development coordinator,
and consultant for district administrators, principals, and
teachers. She has provided professional development for the
Northwest RESA for many years on topics such as: The Vertical
Alignment Process, The Paideia Method, Clear Learning Targets and
Essential Questions, Vocabulary and Literacy Strategies, The Power
of Formative Assessment, The Hero’s Journey, and Sheltered
Instructional Strategies. Heather also served as an adjunct
professor in the College of Education at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
She is currently working with the Department of Public Instruction
as a professional development consultant for region 7. Heather has
a graduate degree in Academically and Intellectually Gifted
Education from the University of North Carolina - Charlotte and an
undergraduate degree in English Education from Western Carolina
University where she was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow.
For the past 17 years, Kimberly Simmons has
served the Northwest Region as a teacher and administrator. She
taught middle school language arts and social studies before
beginning work in administration in 2003. Having served as an
administrator at both the elementary and middle school levels, she
developed a passion for empowering teachers and students through
implementing the work of Bill Daggett. Her focus on rigor,
relevance, and relationships helped her build a culture of trust and
security with her teachers, students, and community. In 2007, while
serving as assistant principal at Ashe County Middle School,
Kimberly presented at the 2007 Model Schools Conference in
Washington, D.C., sponsored by Bill Daggett. In addition to serving
as a teacher and principal, Kimberly also trained teachers
throughout the Eastern United States in Middle School Success. She
also served as a Teacher Academy trainer and provided mentor
training to teachers across North Carolina. Kimberly was the Ashe
County Principal of the Year in 2009-10 and 2010-11. She is
currently working with the Department of Public Instruction as a
professional development consultant for region 7. Kimberly has a
master’s degree in School Administration from Appalachian State
University and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in middle
school education from Appalachian State University.
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The NWRESA has been awarded a three year Title V Grant to provide professional services in the area of Health Education. Member systems which are also participating include Alleghany, Ashe, and Caldwell Counties. The Northwest RESA will assist NC Healthy Schools in implementing several key activities funded through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), by providing professional services, quality staff development, and support for our educational community in order to make a positive difference in student learning in those selected LEAs. |
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Ann McColl Addresses Superintendent's Council |
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August
17, 2011 - The first Superintendent's
Council meeting of school year 2011-12 took place at the Northwest
RESA offices in Wilkesboro, NC, with guest speaker Ann W. McColl,
the Legislative Director for the North Carolina State Board of
Education. Ms. McColl discussed a number of legislative items with
the large number of school superintendents present and provided
insight as to the upcoming legislative agenda. Dr. Keith Eades,
Region 7 & 8 Lead and School Transformation Representative for the
Department of Public Instruction also gave an update on the upcoming
common core training. Other information was shared by Mr. Jack
Hoke, Superintendent of Alexander County Schools who serves on the
State Superintendent's Committee.
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Principals
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Principal Common Core/Essential
Standards Professional Development Keith Eades, the NC Department of Public Instruction Regional 7 Lead for District & School Transformation, along with Heather Mullins and Kimberly Simmons, Professional Development Leads for Region 7, conducted these sessions focusing on the administrator's role in implementing the Common Core State Standards. The presenters defined the Common Core and Essential Standards content, practices, and assessment processes which included terminology and distinctions from the current Standard Course of Study. They also outlined the benefits and challenges within the context of school leadership. Also addressed were issues and items which require principals' attention and focus, leadership practices and processes for meeting teacher needs, and management structures that support implementation. Those included:: Department head/grade leader focus on instructional leadership, ensuring opportunities for effective functioning of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and shared decision-making and distributed leadership. Additionally, transitions and implementation planning along with a timeline were discussed as well as collaborating with and utilizing district implementation teams for interface with school staff. The use of DPI staff/resources/tools to support school faculties and staffs was explained. |
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Get Out (Outside That Is!): Introduction to Using GPS Devices |
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March 24, 2010 - Gina Barrier,
Western Outreach Coordinator, The Science House, NC State University
asked participants to reflect on the following questions: Are you tired of
doing the same old thing in your classes? Are you ready to spice things
up and try something new? How would you like having GPS devices brought
to your classroom when you requested them? |
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Creative Ideas, Instructional Strategies and Hands-On Learning Projects |
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| March 23, 2010 - Jennifer Beck, Jane Bradley, Dottie Hayes and Heather Puhl, Instructional Coaches, Burke Co. Schools presented visual, spatial and kinesthetic activities used to tap into the creative side of learning for teachers and students. Fun art-based projects to promote higher order thinking and increase vocabulary skills were shown how easily they can be used to adapt to fit any content area. Presenters demonstrated a variety of hands-on projects to inspire participants and get their creative wheels turning. Teachers were asked to bring EOG/EOC sample questions, textbooks, vocabulary word lists and copies of their NCSCS Goals and Objectives in order to design unique projects for their students. |
| March 11, 2010 - Karen Lowe, Media and Grantwriter Consultant, NWRESA, conducted this workshop as an introduction to grant-writing, covering the basics of submitting a grant proposal including: Components of a grant proposal, gathering needed data and documentation, tips for writing a basic proposal, and introduction to funding sources. This workshop was designed for those with little to no experience in grant-writing who wanted to learn how to get started. |
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Numeration – Teaching the Concept of Number in the Primary Grades |
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| January 29, 2010 - Michelle Wise Capen, Math Teacher, Caldwell County Schools showed participants how to connect memorization of math facts with a concept of number in grades K-2. Using a combination of math games, hands on activities and story problems, this workshop helped teachers assist students in gaining a strong concept of “how much” and “how many” – otherwise known as Numeration! Participants learned how to identify math misunderstandings in young learners and how to create early interventions using research based methods. |
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January 27, 2010 - Deanna Hanlin, NWRESA Consultant and Sheree Sloop, Creative Memories Consultant presented this make-it-take-it workshop beginning with a personal word wall book, using words that are significant to you, new words you’ve learned in your personal or professional growth, etc. Participants were shown by creating their own personal “word wall,” how it would give unique ideas for ongoing projects for students. Participants
brainstormed prior to the workshop to come up with their word lists for each letter of the alphabet – keeping a
word journal. Connections were made to the new Rubric for
Evaluating NC Teachers and the NC Professional Teaching
Standards. Presenters, Dee and Sheree, got the participants
started, then they could spend the day working their own personal
book.
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January 26, 27, 2010 - John Caldwell, NWRESA Consultant, and Principals’ Evaluation Instrument Trainer conducted this two-day training as an in-depth study of the five standards including clinical observations (videos) using the evaluation rubric. The new instrument is to be implemented in all systems during 2010-2011 school year. Full implementation to be completed by July 1, 2011. |
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December 15, 2009 - Martha Turner and Julie Little, Teachers, Blue Ridge Elementary, Ashe County, presented activities in this session designed to enhance students’ reasoning and overall understanding of mathematical concepts. These problem based lessons provided an overview of the 2009 Essential Standards in mathematics with an emphasis on fractions. Participants were given various activities that develop number sense, explore fractional representations, and relate fraction and decimal concepts. |
 December
9, 2009
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Vae Hamilton, Artist, taught teachers how to
explore new
dimensions and freedom in their art work.
This workshop introduced new and experimental ways of
using paint and collage with water-based acrylics. Participants
explored the use of various design formats and the ways they aid in
creating paintings with good composition. Participants worked from
transparent to opaque with color and value, and explored the use of
watercolor and acrylic application, gel mediums and gesso. They
also employed transfers, texture techniques, computer generated
images, stamping, “found” materials, and make “road rust”. The
techniques used were child and adult friendly. The day included several demos and time for participants to work. Vae has been teaching workshops in the Southeast for 15+ years and 13 years at ASU. Her current work is displayed at Carlton Gallery in Banner Elk and Seven Sister’s in Black Mountain. Vae has worked with Katherine Chang Liu, Wolf Kahn, Carrie Brown, Ernesto Velardi, Carol Barnes and Fran Larsen and has attended the prestigious Springmaid Mills Watermedia workshops for 15 years. She is featured in Gerald Brommer’s book, “Collage Techniques” and created the cover art for “Branches, Volume 10”, receiving the 2001 “Editors Choice Award”. Her paintings appeared on the cover of “Art of Wellbeing” Magazine, fall 2002. She placed and was published in the National Ohio Grand Exhibition 2000. Hamilton is a member of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society and the Society of Layerists in Multimedia. |
| December 3 & 4, 2009 - John Caldwell, Principals’ Evaluation Trainer and NWRESA Consultant conducted this two-day session for newly appointed principals, superintendents and/or principal evaluators. This training reviewed the seven standards and the evaluation process of the North Carolina Executive Evaluation for principals. |
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Implementing Inquiry Based Instruction in the Math Classroom |
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| December 2, 2009 - Teachers who attended this workshop learned how to turn that natural inquisitiveness of students into a positive, valuable learning experience. This workshop gave objective and specific ideas for implementing inquiry-based instruction into the math classroom. Participants created lessons that can be used in the classroom to foster inquiry-based instruction. |
| December 1. 2009 -- Heather Mullins and Jennifer Griffin, Curriculum Specialists, Hickory Public Schools presented to District-level administrators, school-level administrators, and teacher leaders on how to plan effectively for district-wide alignment and curriculum mapping using research-based strategies. A step by step process, examples, and resources were shared. Methods of facilitation and specific potential roadblocks were also addressed. |
| November 30, 2009 - In this workshop participants learned from Lora Drum, Curriculum Specialist, Catawba County Schools. many creative ways to make their classrooms HOT! Through Higher Order Thinking skills and strategies, students will stretched their thinking and became more engaged in learning. Ideas and ways to help make your students become better critical thinkers and problem solvers were explored. This workshop proved to be a day filled with ideas for teachers to take back and utilize in their classroom. |
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November 18, 2009 - Presenter Heather Mullins, Curriculum Specialist, Hickory Public Schools, cited that Wiggins (2007) defines an essential question as, “…important, vital, at the heart of the matter – the essence of the issue.” Overarching essential questions requires students to use prior knowledge, new information and individual research/experiences to formulate a response. Overarching essential questions require students to apply, evaluate, judge, and create. Participants explored how to move from “stepping-stone questions” to overarching, high-quality essential questions as well as the relationship between essential questions and clear learning targets. Teachers brought a unit outline or materials to develop materials on site. |
| November 17, 2009 - Alycen Wilson, Math Curriculum Specialist, Catawba County Schools introduced ways for teachers to keep students engaged in math instruction. New strategies were discovered to keep students active and involved, while meeting the individual needs of all students. Teachers left with ideas of how to manage small group instruction while keeping the other students engaged and on task. This was a make-and-take workshop with grade level specific activities ready for implementation. |
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Joan Huffman, Retired Instructional Coach, Wilkes County Schools and currently a Professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University, demonstrated to teachers ways to improve their students’ comprehension skills. Participants learned comprehension strategies to make students stars in reading. Strategies included summarizing, comparing and contrasting, main ideas, learning logs, and literacy skills. |
| Books R 4 Boys | |
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November 10, 2009 - Tericia Summers, Instructional Facilitator, Caldwell County Schools and Bobbi Faulkner, Draughn High School, Burke County Schools presented ways to engage and entice boys in literacy giving them choices in reading materials and their teacher choosing to embrace their home literacy practices. This workshop was designed to provide Grades 6-12, ELA teachers with surefire strategies for engaging reluctant male (and female) readers. Strategies included reading young adult novels that embrace positive male archetypes, bringing in local male role models to share reading experiences and reading to the class (firemen, policemen, local politicians, etc.), and reading multigenre novels that develop plot through chat room sessions, emails, texts, conversations, etc. ( Sharon Draper’s Romiette and Julio was used as the literary model). Other strategies included introducing the classics through alternate genres such as the graphic novel and comic books, using class blogs to foster discussion (and to augment classroom journals), using reader’s autobiographies to help students explore their lives as readers, including when (and if) they stopped liking to read, and using the learning log as a tool in the language arts classroom. Teachers were asked to bring in their most engaging literacy units, preferably those that embrace 21st century technology, to share. |
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Literacy and
Science: Connections That Spark! |
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Interpreting 101
- What You Need to Know Addressed were the various settings, expectations and opportunities available to potential interpreters (i.e. educational, community, religious, etc.). This training was not intended to teach persons how to interpret information, but rather how to take the information and needed skills to become a working professional. Topics discussed were state requirements, national certification, roles and responsibilities, ethical dilemmas, and the RID Code of Professional Conduct. Also addressed were the EIPA and NIC certifications. The course benefited persons seeking to become an interpreter, interpreter supervisors/coordinators as well as those desiring to increase their awareness of the role and responsibilities of interpreters. Upon completion, participants obtained the knowledge needed to begin or further their professional development as an interpreter. NCRID is an Approved RID CMP Sponsor for Continuing Education Activities. This Professional Studies program was offered for .5 CEUs at the selected Content Knowledge Level. |
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November 4, 2009 - Presenters Heather Mullins, Curriculum Specialist, and Donna Murray, Instructional Technology Specialist, Hickory-City Schools provided participants with over forty strategies and just enough theory for application on the topics of facilitating vocabulary instruction and fostering adolescent literacy for students in grades 6-12. Technology tools, sheltered strategies, research-based literacy and vocabulary strategies were presented. Participants received copies of the strategies as well as examples of how they can be used in class. Teachers used their laptops to explore the resources presented. |
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| Presented by Lora Drum, Curriculum Specialist, Catawba County Schools | |
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October 1, 2009 - This session “dished up” a plateful of ideas for turning students into Verbivores (a species that lives off words.)Participants collected “recipes” to help their students become vocabulary connoisseurs and shown ways to fill students’ gigantic appetites with words, leaving them hungry for more. This session also offered opportunities for differentiating vocabulary instruction. Creative ideas and activities were shared to engage and motivate students in developing and expanding their vocabularies. Participants were provided with strategies to integrate vocabulary instruction throughout their curriculum. |
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The Mountain Valley Partnership Project has begun its final year of Math Investigations instruction for hundreds of participants from Alleghany, Ashe, Elkin City, Hickory City, Wilkes and Yadkin County Schools. Deanna Hanlin, Director of the 3-year MVP grant, says that the primary goal of the project is to increase student achievement in elementary mathematics as measured by End-of-Grade tests, increase teacher mathematics content knowledge, and develop a sustainable partnership with the mathematics departments higher education, seven school districts, and the Northwest Regional Education Service Alliance in Wilkesboro, NC. Investigations in Number, Data and Space will be implemented during the project as a standards-based curriculum to enhance the ability of elementary teachers to understand and use the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Professional development will also be provided to administrators to develop instructional leadership in mathematics, understand the role of teacher learning and observing in a standards-based mathematics classroom. |
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September 24, 2009 - “ALL ABOARD!” Lora Drum, Title I/ESL/Language Arts Curriculum Specialist for Catawba County Schools, took her participants on a fast-paced ride through a literacy adventure. This hands-on workshop offered participants multiple strategies for differentiating instruction designed to excite and motivate students in reading, writing and vocabulary development. Participants created many make-and-take samples to use in their classrooms. |
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Angela Garcia, ESL Teacher, NBCT, St. Stephens HS, Catawba County Schools, gave an information session that began with an overview of the WIDA standards and the WIDA Standards Resource Guide. This document is a valuable resource as educators begin to incorporate the standards into daily classroom activity. Participants gained an understanding of the meaning of the standards as applied to educating English language learners in North Carolina. A copy of the WIDA Consortium Resource Guide was provided for each participant. Participants also worked in grade-level cluster groups and practiced using the standards to create learning objectives for ELLs and discussed ways to bring the standards into their classroom practices. |
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July 6-10, 2009 |
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July 6-10, 2009 - The Integrated Math 5-day training
provided an overview of the Core-Plus Mathematics
curriculum with sessions modeling classroom instruction and providing
hands-on experience with the materials. Discussions included assessment strategies, facilitation of collaborative-learning groups,
and program implementation and participants experienced using
graphing calculators and CPMP-Tools software with the curriculum.
Instructors also shared pacing guides correlated to the NCSCS for
Integrated Math. A student text and single manipulative kit was also
provided to all participants. |
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July 22-23, July 28, & August 4, 2009 |
Essential 21st Century Leadership Skills for Assistant Principals |
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This four-day leadership training featured three outstanding educators in North Carolina, Linda Suggs, Ric Vandett and John Caldwell. Mrs. Suggs has served as the Legislative Director for the NC Department of Public Instruction and also served as Human Resources Director for Wake County Schools. Dr. Vandett has served in many important administrative roles and most recently has served as Superintendent of the Hickory City School System. John Caldwell has served as a NWRESA Consultant and is a trainer for the Principals’ Executive Evaluation, the NC Teacher Evaluation Process and is a mentor trainer. Among the topics discussed: How to work with politics at the local and state levels, working with School Boards, the importance of contacting legislators and elected officials, why spending time looking for the right person to hire; how to find good applicants; and essential administrative skills necessary for success. Also discussed, what do 21st Century skills look like in the classroom using mathematics as a framework? A special reference was made to the new NC Teacher Evaluation Process. |
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Participants of the popular “Art and Mathematics of Quiltmaking” workshops requested an encore! So, for all of our artist and mathematicians, NWRESA offered “Quiltbooking,” integrating the arts of scrapbooking and quiltmaking. Participants received an 8x8 coverset and materials to make 6 quilt/picture pages. They also learned to make templates for the blocks to be made of fabric by adding ¼ inch seam allowances. Lots of precision measurement was needed as these art forms were combined. Participants brought their creativity and some photos - while being supplied with other needed materials for an enjoyable day of skills application. |
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A distinguished panel of North Carolina School Superintendents including Dr. Marty Hemric, Watauga County Schools, Dr. Ric Vandett, Hickory City Schools, Dr. Don Martin, Winston Salem School Superintendent along with Dr. Joe Sinclair, NWRESA Executive Director, addressed a large group of Principals with questions concerning the budget crisis during the recent Principals Council meeting. |
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NWRESA Consultant Dee Hanlin and co-presenter Sheree Sloop |
| Art and Mathematics teachers participated in an
encore of the popular “Art and Mathematics of Quiltmaking” workshop.
All artists and mathematicians we not disappointed as NWRESA
Consultant Dee Hanlin and co-presenter Sheree Sloop offered the art
of “Quiltbooking,” integrating the arts of scrapbooking and
quiltmaking.
Participants received an 8x8 coverset and materials to make 6 quilt/picture pages and also learned to make templates for the blocks to be made of fabric by adding ¼ inch seam allowances. Lots of precision measurement is needed as we combine these art forms. |
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Carol Sutherland, K-5 Language Arts Consultant, NCDPI |
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Carolyn Southerland, K-5 Language Arts Consultant, NCDPI, presented an informative workshop entitled "Comprehension "What?" which allowed teachers to gather important and unique ways to help students comprehend written text. This technical assistance session included ways to motivate students to read and become independent life long readers. Good literature selections were discussed and correlated to strategies that students use when learning to comprehend text. Participants learned good strategies to help students with comprehension and also have fun with “Make and Take” activities. |
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Principals' Evaluation Training |
Dr. June Atkinson, NC State School Superintendent |
| North Carolina State School Superintendent, Dr. June Atkinson, recently attended the Northwest RESA Superintendent's Council meeting and responded to many questions superintendents had regarding how the stimulus money may be used for education within their school districts. Retiring Hickory City Schools' superintendent, Ric Vandett, was also honored with a surprise birthday cake for his 64th birthday. | |
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Karen Lowe addresses Math Investigations Content
Groups on how to pursue grant opportunities. |
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| Dr. Betty Long from Appalachian State University, along with co-presenters Tina Higgins, Wilkes County Instructional Coach, and Cynthia Townsend, have conducted 6 sessions for teachers participating in the Math Investigations Content groups. The Green and Yellow content groups are made up of 30 teachers randomly selected from Grades 3-5 who are already participating in the Mountain Valley Partnership Project. The content group sessions focus on how the training connects from one grade level to another. |
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Dr. Cliff Mansfield, retired chemist and teacher with WS Forsyth County Schools, presented an informative workshop on March 19, 2009. Cliff is a long-time weather buff, and recent attendee at the National Weather Service Training School. Participants explored activities available from the American Meteorological Society and NOAA for teaching weather and left this training with fun, hands-on exercises to promote interest and understanding of the weather. |
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Patricia Chalmers and Phyllis Blue, DPI Language Arts Consultants, addressed content area teachers in Grades 5-9 as well as Literacy Coaches and Administrators, during their Writing Across the Curriculum workshop held February 19, 2009. NWRESA hosted the regional workshop sponsored by the NC Department of Public Instruction. The workshop was designed to help teachers in all content areas, grades 5-9, with learning how to incorporate writing into their teaching of the SCOS. Strategies were provided to encourage students to develop as writers. Teachers were given a document that guided through the development of the writing process in all disciplines. |
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Patricia Chalmers and Phyllis Blue |
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During the final Curriculum and Instructions Directors meeting for the current school term, Northwest RESA bid farewell to Directors Marsha Woodard, Gail Ford, and Susan Pollpeter, all of whom are retiring. |
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| LULU - We Miss You! | |
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Leadership Summit for Aspiring Superintendents and System Level Administrators |
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The two-day summit was held for educators aspiring to hold district-level positions. The purpose of the summit was to gain practical knowledge and experience not taught in graduate school programs. Panels of superintendents and other administrators were featured discussing such the following topics:
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Stephen Martin, Director of Elementary Education for Caldwell
County Schools, recently expressed his appreciation to
NWRESA consultant, Deanna Hanlin:
Dee: I wanted to take a moment
and share with you a comment I heard today while visiting with a
5th grade teacher who attended your workshop in October. She
said that before the workshop, she had recently taught
quadrilaterals to her students. Many did not "get it." She came
back to school and told the class to scrap their recent work and
they were starting over. She used the "quad squad" and the
students all did wonderfully. She said it "clicked" with them
all and it was great! She teaches at Hudson Elementary School.
She has already shared with her fellow 4th and 3rd grade
teachers at HES about how meaningful, practical, and useful the
activities were that you taught at the 5th grade session. She
encouraged them to go to the upcoming sessions as well. |
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NWRESA has one of the most active regional Principals Advisory Councils in North Carolina. The council meets on a monthly basis during the regular school year. |
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DPI Roundtable Advisory Panel Meets at NWRESA |
| 2008-09 Leadership Academy for Practicing “Building-Level” Administrators Begins |
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Dr. Joe Sinclair has assembled an expert panel
consisting of Linda Suggs, Cathy Tomon, Deborah Jones, Hank Hurd,
Steve Moree, and various panels of NWRESA Superintendents to assist
principals in meeting the following mandate: Topics will include: Interviewing Skills for Administrators, Nurturing Your Employees, Politics in Education, The Principal’s Role in Teacher Retention, Effective Resource Management, Instructional Leadership and Monitoring, and Data Driven Decision Making. Participants will also have related reading and one page summary to be submitted before November 20th. The Academy will consist of seven sessions and will conclude in March, 2009 |
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"Spelling,
Phonics, and Word Sorts, Oh My!" |
| “Middle School Science Behind CSI: The Case of the Missing Champion” |
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October 2, 2008 - This unique hands-on workshop used a case study of a crime scene to explore the science behind various forensic techniques. The Case of the Missing Champion provided a crime scene and clues to the disappearance of a championship dog. Forensic techniques of fingerprint analysis, blood spatter patterns, hair and fur microscopic analysis, and chemical analysis of ink types and drug types were used to solve the case.
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| “Integration of Mathematics and Science: Developing Student Understanding of Important Measurement Concepts” |
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October 1, 2008 - Tim Hawig, Presenter and teacher from Hickory City Schools, conducted this workshop that demonstrated how measurement, as a curriculum strand, is common to both the NC mathematics and science curricula and serves as an ideal strand for integration of content. In his workshop, he introduced student-appropriate activities to unpack important measurement concepts, develop measurement vocabulary and definitions; and consider issues of accuracy and precision of measurements. Special attention was given to building on students’ everyday experiences with given attributes (e.g., mass and weight). |
| Mountain Valley Partnership Begins Year 2 of Math Investigations Training |
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| The Mountain Valley Partnership Project kicked off its second year of Math Investigations instruction for hundreds of participants from Alleghany, Ashe, Catawba, Elkin City, Hickory City, Wilkes and Yadkin County Schools. Deanna Hanlin, Director of the 3-year MVP grant, says that the primary goal of the project is to increase student achievement in elementary mathematics as measured by End-of-Grade tests, increase teacher mathematics content knowledge, and develop a sustainable partnership with the mathematics departments higher education, seven school districts, and the Northwest Regional Education Service Alliance in Wilkesboro, NC. Investigations in Number, Data and Space will be implemented during the project as a standards-based curriculum to enhance the ability of elementary teachers to understand and use the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Professional development will also be provided to administrators to develop instructional leadership in mathematics, understand the role of teacher learning and observing in a standards-based mathematics classroom. |
| NC Principals' Evaluation Instrument and Process Training |
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September 19, 2008 - NC Principal's Evaluation Trainer John Caldwell conducted an additional session for principals in September. The session was to present the North Carolina School Executive Standards which were developed as a guide for principals and assistant principals as they continually reflect upon and improve their effectiveness as leaders throughout all of the stages of their careers. These standards are to serve as an important tool for principals and assistant principals as they consider their growth and development as executives leading schools in the 21st century.
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July 31, 2008- Mindy Essic, Art Teacher, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, returned to present the popular Visual Journaling workshop on July 31, 2008. Participants who may aspiring to be an artist were introduced to the scope of visual journaling, a way for artists, non-artists, students, teachers or anyone to combine both visual and written elements for creative processing. Ms. Essic pointed out that both Leonardo da Vinci and Frida Kahlo were visual journalists and kept sketches and notes as a way to record, plan, reflect, explore and create. She demonstrated how the same creative process can be used across the curriculum with math, science, art, social studies, literacy, or just to sketch and journal for fun. Teachers were shown ways to incorporate visual journaling by sharing their own journals and explorations with various art materials. Participants learned to use collage, drawing, painting, writing, mixed media, printmaking and related tools to embellish their journals. Poetry, guided imagery and “getting started with a sketchbook,” were a few topics that were explored. As Ms. Essic concluded, "Anyone can visually journal through written and visual personal expression." |
| Northwest RESA Hosts Executive Evaluation Training Sessions | |
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NWRESA welcomed hundreds of principals to Wilkesboro for the Executive Evaluation Training during June and July 2008. The training was mandated by the Department of Public Instruction and to meet the new NC Standards required for School Executives. In addition to the summer sessions, NWRESA consultant John Caldwell will present a two-day session (a repeat of the summer training for superintendents/evaluators and principals), on September 18 and 19, 2008 at the Holiday Inn express in Wilkesboro. This training will review the seven standards and the evaluation process for the new instrument. |
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North Carolina Standards
for School Executives As Approved by the State Board of Education December 7, 2006
Public education’s changed mission dictates the need for a new type of
school leader – an executive instead of an administrator. No longer are
school leaders just maintaining the status quo by managing complex
operations, but just like their colleagues in business, they must be
able to create schools as organizations that can learn and change
quickly if they are to improve performance. Schools need executives who
are adept at creating systems for change and at building relationships
with and across staff that not only tap into the collective knowledge
and insight they possess but powerful relationships that also stir their
passions for their work with children. Out of these relationships the
executive must create among staff a common shared understanding for the
purpose of the work of the school, its values that direct its action,
and commitment and ownership of a set of beliefs and goals that focus
everyone’s decision making. The staff’s common understanding of the
school’s identity empowers them to seek and build powerful alliances and
partnerships with students, parents and community stakeholders in order
to enhance their ability to produce increased student achievement. The
successful work of the new executive will only be realized in the
creation of a culture in which leadership is distributed and encouraged
with teachers, which consists of open, honest communication, which is
focused on the use of data, teamwork, research-based best practices, and
which uses modern tools to drive ethical and principled, goal-oriented
action. This culture of disciplined thought and action is rooted in the
ability of the relationships among all stakeholders to build a trusting,
transparent environment that reduces all stakeholders’ sense of
vulnerability as they address the challenges of transformational change.
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Knowing effective reading strategies builds confidence and enhances reading comprehension. Mardy Brown, K-12 Language Arts Consultant for the Northwest RESA, presented a workshop filled with helpful strategies, interesting selections, and valuable resources. This well-paced workshop provided helpful ideas to motivate students. Participants shared the following comments:
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Artists and non-artists alike were given the opportunity to explore visual journaling with practicing art teacher, Mindy Essic of Winston Salem, North Carolina. Mindy provided an inspiring, hands-on day using cross-curricular strategies to enhance learning. Participants found a wonderful modality to enrich their teaching and enhance student learning.
Mindy will return July 31, 2008 to repeat an initial visual journaling workshop and again September 26, 2008 to do a follow-up training. Watch for registrations on the Northwest RESA website. (www.nwresa.org)
Read what teachers had to say about their day::
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July 26, 2007
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2007-2008 Practicing Leadership Academy Begins
Dr. Joe Sinclair, Director of NWRESA, welcomed
over 40 school officials to the 2007-2008 Leadership Academy for Practicing
Administrators which began on July 26, 2007 and will continue
through March 2008 at the Holiday Inn in Wilkesboro. Some of the top educators in North
Carolina are on tap to present and the purpose is geared toward providing school
administrators with ideas and strategies designed to benefit them
professionally. At the conclusion of the Academy, participants
will have earned 54 hours of intense instruction and 5.4 renewal
credits. This satisfies the new mandate:
"Effective July 1,
2007, school administrators shall earn at least five renewal credits
during each renewal cycle that focus on the principal’s role in teacher
effectiveness, teacher evaluations, teacher support programs, teacher
leadership, teacher empowerment, and teacher retention.”
(GS 115C-12(9)a)
In addition to Linda Suggs and Jack Hoke, other important topics pertaining to teacher recruitment and retention will be presented by some of the top state leaders in education including Hank Hurd, Doris Jones, Gordon Millspaugh, Steve Moree and Alisa McLean. During the 2006-2007 school year, the first Leadership Academy, which was also organized by the NWRESA, produced very positive results. Due to the high demand and limited space availability for the second academy, registration had to be limited. |
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A popular session for K-2 teachers has been “Literacy in a Bag.” This “Make and Take” workshop gave teachers the opportunity to create high-interest, book bag activities to integrate into the curriculum. Workshop presenter, Tori Wise, T.O.Y. for Moore Magnet School in Winston Salem, NC is currently teaching kindergarten. The workshop has been a favorite and repeats have been requested. |
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Strategic Reading in 3-5
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“Reading, Writing,
and Social Studies” |
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As Mardy Brown, Language Arts Consultant shared, “It is not very often that you have the chance to have a real author spend the day with you to share the makings of a novel!” Polio and leprosy instilled great fear and tangled emotions for many during troubled times. However, President Roosevelt focused on his abilities rather than his disabilities as he confronted the challenges of polio. Students face many obstacles today. Much can be learned as both teachers and students examine President Roosevelt’s remarkable life. An integration of themes took place throughout the day. A luau took place in the afternoon! Participants sampled an array of Hawaiian goodies! What a delightful day with Joyce!
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Just Say
Poetry |
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Participants made the following comments: · “I received wonderful ideas and am not afraid to write poetry with my students! · I wish this had been a two-day workshop instead of one!” · “I got more than I ever expected…new ideas, literature, and wonderful presenters!”
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Deanna "Dee" Hanlin is Northwest RESA's Math Consultant and a Texas Instruments T³ National Instructor. We congratulate her for the many math contributions she has made to educators throughout North Carolina!
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Leadership in the 21st Century |
Dr. Alisa R. McLean presents at the |
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Alisa
R. McLean, M.Ed., with the Center for School Leadership Development,
Principals' Executive Program at UNC Chapel Hill, presented at the
Practicing Leadership Academy on October 9, 2007. Dr. McLean shared with
principals the importance of leadership, leadership skills, and having
essential leadership characteristics. She also discussed types of
leadership as well as leadership in North Carolina. Principals focused
on the difference between management and leadership. "Leaders", said Dr.
McLean, "can step 'out of the box' - know how to think about boundaries,
and the basic assumptions which support them. It is not the 'big
picture', but the ' picture behind the picture' that is essential to the
exercise of leadership."
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Hands
-On Science Experiences: Efficacy in Selection, Design and
Assessment Dottie Hayes, a teacher with Hickory City Schools, presented this informative workshop on November 2. Participants learned ways to allow their students to experience science through real world connections. Each increased their awareness of science content relative to the North Carolina SCOS by integrating the unifying themes of the National Science Standards into lesson plans. Participants designed a learning sequence including identification of learning targets, selection of the best investigations and various forms of assessment. |
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Fall Media Workshop |
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Karen Lowe, Media Consultant for NWRESA, organized and offered free of charge to membership schools, an annual day of staff development for media coordinators and other media personnel. The event was held at the John A. Walker Community Center on the campus of Wilkes Community College.
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Highlights from the Milkin' the Mornin' and Squeezin' the Afternoon with Deborah Dees, a National Board Certified Teacher from Fayetteville, NC |
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Ms. Dees focused on how a teacher's instructional “time” is an extremely, precious commodity! The workshop showed, not "told" how to effectively and creatively manage, integrate, and deliver instruction that is rigorous and relevant while forming academic and social relationships! Participants experienced: The Magnificent Morning Graph, The Morning Meeting, Conversation Logs, Morning Routines that SET UP successful days, “Ditties” for everything, Probes, Author’s Chair, Learning Centers, and many other effective tips. |
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Experts from Ward
Scientific led teams of
math and science teachers as well as members of the local law enforcement through a
fascinating day of investigating forensic science on July 11, 2007.
Presentation techniques allowed participants to follow
the path/trajectory of a bullet from weapon to victim or surface using
30, 45, 60, and 90 degree angles. Using simulated blood from Ward
Scientific, participants learned how to safely and realistically demonstrate blood spatter
analysis techniques to their students. allowing them to investigate
the relationship between the height blood is dropped from and the
diameter of the drop on impact. Students will also learn to recognize
vertical blood drops on a variety of different textured surfaces and
differentiate between high and medium velocity spatter such as from a
gun shot or blunt force trauma. |
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Participants of this unique workshop were treated to a historical background of quilt making and shown skills one requires for precision measurement and an understanding of geometry concepts. Candy St. Laurence, a quilt teacher and appraiser with a degree in Art History along with Dee Hanlin from the NWRESA staff, provided participants with an activity-filled day creating paper fabric quilts, designing tessellations, learning facts and folk tales about quilting, exploring many literature connections, from picture books to novels and making connections to the NC Standard Course of Study for mathematics, grades 3-8. Due to a heavy response, a second workshop is in the planning. |
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The Partnership for 21st
Century Skills |
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The Lenoir Rhyne School of Education, the Northwest RESA, and the Center for Inquiry-based Learning have partnered to provide an enrichment program for educators in northwest North Carolina. This opportunity will soon be offered to NWRESA members. Now that science is tested in grades 5 and 8, many North Carolina school districts are thinking about improving science teaching in their schools. Upgrading science system-wide is expensive and complicated. It’s hard for teachers and administrators to learn enough early in the process when they need to make hard decisions. To help districts get started, the Center for Inquiry-based Learning (CIBL) provides professional development and temporary use of science kits to help teachers and administrators get their feet wet before investing large amounts of time and money. With a $5.3M grant from the National Science Foundation and large-scale corporate support, CIBL is helping more than a dozen school districts, some of which are now fully implemented. CIBL is offering a half-day session to orient curriculum specialists in the NWRESA to the issues, concerns, and successful strategies from their experience since 2000. An informative meeting was held on January 7, 2008 on the campus of Lenoir Rhyne College for all K-8 Curriculum Directors and Science Coordinators. The Center for Inquiry-based Learning is a group of scientists and science educators who are developing programs to assist teachers in the use of multi-disciplinary, hands-on, minds-on discovery methods for teaching science. During the program on January 7, the CIBL staff will demonstrate how to enrich science instruction by making science more accessible and interesting to students of varying skill levels and educational backgrounds. |
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Dear Dr. Sinclair: I would like to extend to you the appreciation of USA TODAY Education for helping us develop a new Math and Science Professional Development program. The pilot program that we have implemented through the Northwest Regional Educational Service Alliance (NWRESA) for North Carolina teachers will benefit educators and students across the country. We have already received requests from Miami Dade School District, Arlington School District in Virginia, and Los Angeles School District in California for this program. It has been helpful to have two professional experts assist us in the development, review and implementation of the program. Both Deanna Hanlin and Martha Brown who work at NWRESA have been instrumental in the development of the USA TODAY Education Math and Science Professional Development. This program will assist teachers who are required to teach reading across the curriculum. We are grateful for the support of NWRESA in developing and piloting this important program. There will continue to be a national and state focus on improving instruction in math and science. Due to your support and efforts USA TODAY will continue to be an important partner in improving students’ performance. I look forward to continuing to work with you and your staff. Sincerely,
Joyce L. Winterton, Ph.D. |
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A three-year
instructional grant submitted by the Northwest RESA has been funded.
Deanna K. Hanlin will serve as Director of the project entitled
"The Mountain Valley Partnership for Elementary Mathematics"
(MVP). MVP is a partnership formed between three institutions of higher
education (Appalachian State University, Catawba Valley Community
College and Surry Community College), seven school districts (Ashe,
Alleghany, Catawba, Elkin City, Hickory City, Wilkes and Yadkin), and
the Northwest RESA for the purpose of providing staff development to
teachers in standards-based mathematics curriculum so that students will
ultimately achieve better on end-of-grade tests. |
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Deanna
Hanlin announced that the ARMS grant would fund training for membership
LEA's at a rate of $2250 per registered participant to attend the
Science Safety Training. Linda Stroud of
Science & Safety Consulting Services conducted the two intense science
safety trainings with Level 1 being held in Raleigh and Level 2 in Wilkesboro
during July 2007. |
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Visual Literacy: News Photos, Comics, Political Cartoons and More |
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Sandra Cook, Certified Reading Teacher and Newspaper in Education Instructor, NC Press Foundation, and Jock Lauterer, Lecturer, UNC-Chapel Hill (with support from Carole Ireland, W-S Journal entertained participants who explored the meaning and significance of photography in communication and discuss the ethics of photojournalism with Jock Lauterer, a professional photographer and lecturer at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at UNC-Chapel Hill. Participants learned how to analyze news photos, comics, political cartoons, ads and other graphic content found in newspapers and received print and web-based curricula to support their use of those features in the classroom. Participants were shown how varied content in a newspaper could be used to appeal to students with different interests and abilities to allow them build on what they know. It was shown how thoughtful analysis of a newspaper’s visual elements encourages and requires reading and writing as well as integrates different subjects. |
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AIMS Workshops Benefit
Hundreds of Teachers |
| Kay Kent Returns for K-2 Math and Science Sessions | |
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Kay
Kent, an nationally certified AIMS Instructor, returned for a 2-day
session to benefit teachers in K-2 (one day Science/one day Math).
Participants received science training that addressed Life, Earth and
Physical Science and engaged in hands-on activities to help student's
gain conceptual understanding. NC Science goals were also addressed. |
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To help “spark an interest” in science, Dottie Hayes, Hickory City, and Mardy Brown, NWRESA, co-presented “Science Matters: Action Science and Literacy” on June 13, 2007. This interactive, hands-on session provided the opportunity for teachers to explore various stations and to conduct investigations. The workshops were made possible by the ARMS grant. |
 
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Can one turn a tired, old, discarded book into a “work of art?” Heidi Wicker, Art Specialist and NC Elementary Art T.O.Y. helped teachers do just that! Altered books are currently displayed in art museums across the United States. The results from this session were worth “showcasing!”
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Having the necessary skills to read analytically is critical. Mardy Brown has conducted numerous sessions both on-site and regionally with “Strategies for Success with Critical Stance.” She will present this training for the Burke Staff Development Day on August 15, 2007 and the Hickory Staff Development Day on August 21, 2007. This training will allow participants to explore author’s craft through strategic reading strategies using various genres and real-world selections. |
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JASON participants at ASU How does the JASON Professional Development program improve instructional practices and increase teachers’ science and math content knowledge? Teachers get results! & become skilled and confident instructors through the JASON curriculum. A recent SRI International evaluation showed teachers participating in the annual JASON professional development program reported significant gains in classroom inquiry practice, expanded teaching techniques, access to new resources, increased comfort with the Internet, and increased confidence in themselves as teachers. JASON can help you meet your science and math instructional goals! To learn more visit www.jason.org |
 NASA recommends Mysteries of Earth and Mars curriculum as “outstanding.” As part of the Appalachian Region Math and Science Partnership,
Project Director Deanna Hanlin joined with Appalachian
State University in presenting the second year JASON curriculum
entitled "Mysteries of Earth and Mars".
Over 100 attended NWRESA's JASON
Workshop at ASU conducted by Dr. Rob Sanders, an Assistant Professor
in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies. Dr.
Sanders, along with 10 assistants, provided the day-long training
which included 10 break-out sessions: It's Alive!, Properties of Salt and Freshwater,
Extreme Adaptations, Safe Landing, Take Off!, The Facts of Friction,
Get the Signature!, Modeling Martian Craters, Martians Among Us, and
Team JASON online. A NASA review panel that includes five educators and two scientists recommended the Mysteries of Earth and Mars curriculum with an overall rating of “outstanding”, the highest rating possible. Research conducted by the Center for Children and Technology (CCT) indicates that “JASON students consistently scored above average and out performed non-JASON students.” |
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Nationally Known Speaker Presents for NWRESA
Classroom Management examined a wide array of student behavioral problems. Dr. Tate's presentation covered student's behavior patterns when traveling from one classroom to another and exhibiting different behaviors depending upon teacher expectations and management techniques. While we know that not all brains are the same, Dr. Tate suggests, there are teachers who consistently meet the needs of various brains in a well-managed, proactive classroom. Participants learned the secrets of how to maximize instructional time and minimize disruptions by being introduced to a variety of ways to help with managing students including: Establishing rituals and routines for a well-managed, proactive classroom environment; developing a classroom management plan which addresses unique student needs; Learning strategies for managing students who provide teachers with exceptional behavioral challenges, e.g., learned helplessness, attention deficit disorders, oppositional disorders, and conduct disorders. |
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APPALACHIAN REGION
MATH AND SCIENCE PARTNERSHIP GRANT The Northwest Regional Educational Service Alliance provided its expertise toward identifying and assisting the number of middle school mathematics and science teachers who did not meet the Federal guideline requirement as being highly qualified, which became a key concern for North Carolina school districts attempting to meet the No Child Left Behind legislation. Thus, evolved the creation of the Appalachian Region Math & Science Partnership, a regional union consisting of 13 school districts, two universities and the Northwest Regional Educational Service Alliance, established exclusively to meet the needs of teachers who may lack full certification in the area of math or science. Over a three year period, the ARMS partnership has provided scholarships and support to middle grade teachers who will complete a rigorous program of university courses and other teacher enhancement activities that has resulted in a masters degree, full certification, or both. The Partnership assisted participants to achieve their expectations by having the ARMS mentors provide sustainable, professional staff development at the local level and support for the ARMS scholars and other mathematics and science teachers in their schools. Participants of the Appalachian Region Math & Science grant received training from nationally known instructors, grant-writing workshop opportunities and thousands of dollars worth of equipment and educational materials. In addition, the ARMS project has been of significant benefit to the local economy by purchasing much of the equipment and materials from local businesses as well as hosting dozens of workshops/trainings at its facility and in turn, encouraging participants to shop, dine and purchase gas while participating through the past 3 years. The Appalachian Region Math Science (ARMS) Partnership was a 3-year project and focused on the improvement of math and science instruction at the middle school level. Training for "highly-qualified" middle school math and science teachers began in the summer of 2005 and continued through June 2007. |
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