The Professional Development Insider is a newsletter published by the Colorado League of Charter Schools that will keep you informed about a variety of upcoming professional development opportunities for charter school leaders, teachers, board members and more. If you have any questions or feedback about this newsletter, or to register for any of the events, please contact Sarah Pearman at spearman@coloradoleague.org. |
| Colorado Charter Schools Conference |
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18th Annual Colorado Charter Schools Conference
"Lead. Innovate. Educate."
Hosted by the Colorado League of Charter Schools
Date: February 23-24, 2012
Location: Omni-Interlocken Resort, Broomfield
Description: The Colorado Charter Schools Conference is an opportunity to connect with, and learn from, charter school colleagues, peers, and experts both nationally and from Colorado. The conference includes over 60 breakout sessions on essential topics related to charter school operations and programming as well as plenty of time to network with other participants and presenters.
Registration: Click here for more information and to register. |
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Webinar: Provide Feedback on Changes to Licensure, Induction and Preparation in Colorado
Date: Tuesday, December 13
Times: (choose one) 11:00 AM-12:00 PM or 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Online
Description: The New Teacher Project (TNTP) is currently working with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and the Colorado Department of Higher Education (DHE) to align the state's systems of licensure, induction, and educator preparation with the new educator evaluation requirements that were enacted into law with S.B. 10-191. A critical piece of this work is ensuring the input of key audiences, such as charter school leaders, to guide our recommendations and inform our discussions.
Registration: Click preferred time above to register.
Engaging Classroom Assessments
Date: Monday, January 23 - Tuesday, January 24
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Colorado School Districts Self Insurance Pool, 6857 South Spruce Street, Centennial
Cost: League Members: $300 per person | Non-members: $400 per person. (Grant funds have been used to subsidize the cost of this training, which would normally cost $655/person.)
Audience: School Leaders and Teachers
Description: Use "Power" standards to develop meaningful performance assessments. This two-day seminar focuses on each participant's effective design, creation, and use of the performance assessments that are the foundation of powerful standards-based instructional and assessment tools. Performance assessments are a powerful teaching and learning tool that make differentiated instruction and assessment possible. Performance assessments reach all learners including special education, gifted and talented, below grade-level readers, as well as English-language learners. Training contingent upon 15 attendees minimum.
Put Me in, Coach!
Hosted by Quantum Learning
Date: Thursday, January 26 - Friday, January 27
Time: 8:15 AM - 3:45 PM
Location: The Pinnacle Charter School, 1001 W. 84th Ave. Federal Heights
Cost: $320 per person | $300 per person for groups of five or more
Audience: School leaders, master teachers, content and instructional coaches
Description: Quantum Learning's dynamic Put Me In, Coach! enhances the observation and coaching skills of those in instructional coaching, mentoring and tutoring roles. A synthesis of best science-based coaching practices, this course provides theory models and skills for improving teacher effectiveness and student achievement. Put Me In Coach! combines proven strategies and models from a variety of disciplines. Click here for more information.
Quantum Learning for Teachers
Hosted by Quantum Learning
Date: Monday, February 13 - Tuesday, February 14
Time: 8:30 AM - 3:45 PM
Location: The Pinnacle Charter School, 1001 W. 84th Ave. Federal Heights
Cost: $320 per person | $300 per person for groups of five or more
Audience: New teachers, elementary and secondary teachers and staff, principal/teacher teams, curriculum and instruction directors, grade level/subject area teachers as a team, district staff development directors
Description: Teachers trained in Quantum Learning methodologies learn both the 'why' and 'how' of creating effective learning environments for their students. Program participants develop a 'toolkit' of practical, research-based strategies and techniques within a framework of instructional and classroom best practices. The result: enhanced teaching effectiveness, increased student engagement and culture of student achievement. Click here for more information.
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| Student Information Systems |
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2nd Annual Colorado PowerSchool User's Conference
Presented by the Colorado League of Charter Schools
Date: Monday, January 30 - Tuesday, January 31
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Cherry Creek School Achievement Resource Center, 14188 E. Briarwood Ave., Centennial
Audience: Secretaries, registrars, counselors, principals, database administrators, data systems administrators
Cost: One Day Registration $150 | Two Day Registration $175
Description: Join PowerSchool users from all over the state for this one-of-a-kind user group event. Beginning, intermediate & advanced sessions will be offered and will also be configured by the PS user's role. Day one will focus on specific user roles (secretary/registers, counselors/principals) at the beginner and intermediate levels while day two will offer more advanced sessions for secretary/registers, counselors/principals, teachers/trainers and information system administers.
Registration: Click here for a session line-up and to register. |
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Federal E-Rate Funding Made Easy!
Hosted by The FundEd Consulting Group
Date: Wednesday, December 14
Time: 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Location: Webinar
Cost: Free
Description: In 1997, Congress created the Universal Service Fund which is designed to provide federal funds for the modernization of network technology for all schools and libraries in the United States, today this program is commonly referred to as E-Rate. Virtually all Colorado charter schools are eligible for these funds annually - but nearly 80% do not even apply. During this webinar, participants will learn more about the E-Rate Program and products and services that are eligible for funding under the program. In addition, the E-Rate application timeline will be reviewed. Attendees will receive a Checklist of E-Rate Eligible Technologies and a Discount Calculation Sheet of Priority Funding Levels.
Pikes Peak Leader Meeting
Hosted by the Colorado Department of Education
Date: Tuesday, January 3
Time: 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Cost: $10 (No shows will be billed!)
Location: James Irwin Charter School, 5525 Astrozon Boulevard, Colorado Springs
Description: Led by an experienced charter school administrator, these meetings focus on a text that varies from year to year, depending on the interests and needs of the group. Lunch provided. Please bring a personal check, business check or M.O. for registration cost. NO CASH. Registration: Click here to register. Deadline: January 1.
Business Manager Network Meeting
Date: Friday, January 27
Time: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Cost: $20 Per Person (No cash, please.)
Location: Hosted by COVA, held at DeVry University
1870 W. 122nd Avenue, Westminster
Description: Charter schools receive the most current and practical, experience-based technical information on topics pertinent to the business management of charter schools. Demonstrated success and best practices are shared openly among participants. CDE assembles an agenda for each meeting based on requests from participants and relevance to the business environment.
Registration: Click here to register. Deadline: January 25.
Authorizer's Meeting
Hosted by the Colorado Department of Education
Date: Wednesday, February 1
Time: 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Cost: No cost
Location: Cantril Training Room, Castle Rock
Description: Provides charter school authorizer training on the proposed quality standards, the charter application process, contracting, the charter renewal process, monitoring, oversight, charter replication, and charter school restart and turnaround models. Lunch provided.
Registration: Click here to register. Deadline: January 30.
Administrator Mentoring Cohort Meeting Hosted by the Colorado Department of Education Date: Friday, February 3 Time: 8:30 AM-2:00 PM Cost: $20 per person (no cash please) Location: SOAR @ Green Valley Ranch, 4800 Telluride St. Building 4, Denver Description: Designed to pair new charter school administrators with proven veterans who can mentor and come alongside new administrators during the difficult startup years of a new charter school. Registration: Click here to register. Deadline: February 1
North Area Regional Meeting
Hosted by the Colorado Department of Education
Date: Tuesday, February 7
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Cost: Pay for your own lunch at restaurant
Location: Panera, 425 Ken Pratt Blvd, Longmont
Description: Provides a venue for troubleshooting, networking, technical assistance, and discussion. Recognizing the geographic distribution of charter schools, CDE ensures the opportunity for online participation and webinar formats.Registration: Click here to register. Deadline: February 5. |
Colorado Charter Starter Webinar Series
The Colorado League of Charter Schools announces a free webinar series for new charter school developers. These 90 minute webinars are designed for people who are in the process of developing a charter school application; however, anyone is welcome to attend. Webinar access instructions will be sent at least one week prior to each webinar.
Alignment of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction
Date: Thursday, December 15
Employment Issues and Hiring a School Leader
Date: Thursday, January 19
Click here for a schedule of Colorado Charter Starter Webinars through May 2012.
Custom Performance Management Training for Boards
This training is customized in advance to best meet each school's individual needs. These trainings are delivered to individual school boards.
Cost: $600. This training has been pre-approved by CDE and is automatically funded if included in Start Up and Implementation grants.
Description: This half-day training is available for charter school board members to learn more about their role in monitoring the academic program and results at the school. This is a customized training that will provide boards with tools and resources to assist in the role of appropriate oversight and evaluation. The focus of this session is on understanding student performance data, key questions board members should know how to answer, and how boards can establish sound practices in providing academic performance oversight and monitoring. Other topics typically included are key school performance expectations and measures as well as state and authorizer performance expectations and measures.
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| Governance/Board Training |
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Board President's Council (Webinar)
Hosted by the Colorado Department of Education
Date: Friday, December 16
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location: Online
Description: Provides a venue for troubleshooting, networking, technical assistance, and discussion. Recognizing the geographic distribution of charter schools, CDE ensures the opportunity for online participation and webinar formats.
Registration: Click here to register. Deadline: December 14.
Online Board Training Modules
Fifteen Hours of Training (can be completed incrementally over time)Cost: Free training resource Description: This learning platform developed by the Colorado Department of Education's Schools of Choice Unit, the Colorado League of Charter Schools, and The Colorado Charter School Institute offers 30 learning modules that cover a comprehensive set of topics related to charter school governance and oversight. Board members can access these modules "on demand" -- progress during each online session is saved and the platform can be accessed at anytime. Once all of the modules are complete, a downloadable customized certificate is generated as evidence of completing the training series. These modules are a great precursor to the League's customized governance trainings designed for whole boards. Registration: Participate online at your leisure at: www.boardtrainingmodules.org.
Customized Charter School Governance Training
The League's charter school governance training packages are designed to address key issues related to charter school governance, and to support effective leadership and organizational planning. The League can customize any of these packages to best meet the needs of an individual charter school. For more information, visit http://www.coloradoleague.org/membership-and-services/professional-services/index.php |
| Special Education/Children with Disabilities |
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Parents Encouraging Parents
Hosted by the Exceptional Student Leadership Unit (ESLU) and Early Childhood Initiatives
Dates: February 2-4, 2012
Cost: No cost
Location: Colorado Springs
Description: Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP) Conferences are family-centered events designed to offer support, information, and education to parents and professionals. PEP promotes partnerships that are essential in supporting and including children with disabilities and their families in schools and the community. Click here for more information.
Registration: Click here to complete an application to attend. |
Click here to view the full community calendar which lists more upcoming League professional development opportunities. |
| Host a Training and Earn Free Registration |
The League is looking for schools willing to host training sessions in Denver, North Metro, Colorado Springs and on the Western Slope. Hosting schools will receive two complimentary reservations to the trainings and can select a date that works best for them. Computer labs are not needed for some of the training sessions and ideally host schools would have space to accommodate 30-40 individuals. If you are interested in hosting, please contact Sarah Pearman at spearman@coloradoleague.org or 303-989-5356, ext. 114. |
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