The Resource Hub

Exclusive News for Our Valued Members and Partners

September 30, 2014

Principles for Principals Opens In Two Weeks

EducationPlus has partnered with the International Center for Leadership in Education for

a seven-session program called Principles for Principals. Up to three cohorts of principals and assistant principals will be created to accommodate geographic considerations of those participating. Below are the dates and themes.

Dr. Sue Szachowicz of the International Center for Leadership in Education
addresses assistant principals and principals

Creating a Culture of High Academic Expectations, October 14
Establishing Structures and Communicating a Shared Vision, November 11
Leading Change for Rigorous & Relevant Learning, December 9
Developing and Implementing Rigorous & Relevant Instruction, January 21
Facilitating Data-Driven Decision Making, February 11
Leading Professional Dialogue to Support Rigor & Relevance, March 4
Sustaining a Culture of Instructional Excellence, May 6

All sessions will be facilitated by a representative from the International Center for Leadership in Education; participants must enroll is all sessions in the ongoing academy. Online registration is open.

CharacterPlus Student Summit

CharacterPlus hosted eight high school teams on September 30 to create a social media campaign to fight cyber bullying. They created the hashtag #StartsWithUs for use on social media to promote good things happening in their schools and combat cyber bullying.

The students will return to their home schools to create positive experiences that foster inclusion, acceptance and joy among their peers. They will return in February to share their results with each other and present at the METC Conference. View the video above to see the participating students promote their new social media hashtag. Participating schools included:

Bayless High School
Belleville East High School
Belleville West High School
Fox High School
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Lafayette High School (Rockwood)
Lindbergh High School
Mehlville High School

CharacterPlus partnered with the St. Louis Rams and St. Charles City & County Library District for this initiative.

EducationPlus Foundational Staff Development

Foundational employees include your district's paraprofessionals, nurses, custodians and clerical workers. Employees in these groups play a foundational role in creating safe, clean, healthy and positive work environments. They deserve high-quality, responsive professional development.

Spring superintendent and PD director surveys ranked these areas among the top professional development needs. EducationPlus is listening and taking action to help answer the question: how can we help support and empower foundational staff? We are hosting sessions this fall to brainstorm professional development activities for these groups. District leaders and all school employees with an interest in supporting our district foundational staff are invited. The custodial group met September 24, and here's what is coming up:

Nursing: October 17, 7:45 - 9 am

Paraprofessional: October 21, 7:45 - 9 am

Clerical: October 24, 7:45 - 9 am

For more information about EducationPlus professional development for foundational staff, please contact Drew Schwartz, director of learning and career advancement.

MSD Offers Staff Development on Pollution Awareness

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District wants to partner with St. Louis area educators in grades four through twelve on stormwater pollution awareness and education using the nonpoint source EnviroScape model. The EnviroScape model is the leading teaching tool that water educators have for portraying the complexity and importance of water quality practices. The model also enhances water education curriculum and provides students more information about STEM careers.

To reach more schools and students throughout the area, MSD is offering to loan out EnviroScape models to schools for use in their classrooms and train educators how to use them at no cost. A free workshop will be offered Tuesday October 14, 9-10:30 am at the MSD training auditorium located at 10 East Grand Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63147. For more information or to RSVP, contact rabieh@stlmsd.com.

Tech for Schools Administrators' Workshop

EducationPlus is proud to sponsor and co-host the EdSurge St. Louis Tech for Schools Summit. This Summit brings together teachers, administrators and companies for honest conversations about ed tech challenges and opportunities. The Administrators' Workshop takes place at Ritenour High School on October 17 and will feature lunch and an afternoon of valuable perspectives on technology and a look at some of the most innovative products for schools. Topics for the workshop include:

Data, Data, Everywhere: Learn how to put data to use in making technology purchasing decisions that align with local LEA priorities.
Building Great Partnerships: EdSurge will share how administrators can learn what they need to know about ed tech products to make effective purchasing decisions.
Hands-On Sessions and Exploratory Breaks: Learn more about participating companies' products and get more detail on the tools that would work best for your school.

To register for this free day of learning, click here.

Central Institute for the Deaf Offers Workshops and Webinars

Learn.cid.edu is for educators, speech-language pathologists, audiologists and other professionals who help children who are deaf and hard of hearing develop listening and spoken language.