October 15th Professional Learning: More Details

As we prepare for our professional learning tomorrow, today's blog will provide additional details for collaborative teams.  The information in last week's blog is also included.

• Doors to the high school will be open at 7:00 AM.  A light breakfast will be available, and registration will begin at 7:10 AM.  

• All participants will sign in at one of the registration tables in the HS commons.  They will be organized and marked by sections of the alphabet.

• The auditorium has been sectioned off so that buildings and collaborative teams may sit together.  A map of these sections is below.  They will also be marked in the auditorium. 

• We are excited and proud to host associates from Solution Tree.  Dress is casual, and you are encouraged to wear black and gold.  This might be a good day to show off our #1SEP shirts!

• We have some high quality sessions lined up, and time will be tight.  In order to be efficient with our day, please be seated with your collaborative teams in the auditorium promptly at the beginning of each session. 

• Thank you for not bringing laptops to tomorrow's event. Each participant will receive a binder with handouts of the presentations for notetaking as well as a professional book for reference.  This format will provide adequate space and allow the technology to run smoothly.

• Our goal for tomorrow's learning is to honor your commitment to collaborative teams and strengthen these efforts to further support our students. We are looking forward to the day!

(Blog repost from last week)

We are pleased to be partnering with Solution Tree next Friday to host a hybrid event.  This will include virtual presentations from Luis Ruiz, Mike Mattos, and Nicole Dimich.  We will also have onsite support from PLC associates Tim Brown and Scott Carr.  This day is designed to build on the foundations of collaborative teams and target our work around multi-tiered systems of support.  Outcomes will include creating practical and precise actions steps to implement critical components of MTSS--collective responsibility, concentrated instruction, convergent assessment and certain access.  Below are some key details to support the day.  

• Our day will run from 7:30 AM-3:30 PM. All certified staff will report to Southeast Polk High School.

• Registration with a light breakfast will begin at 7:10 AM in the HS Commons.

• Please report to your building/level registration table (they will be marked) to pick up your learning materials.

• Each participant will receive a bag with the book Taking Action: A Handbook for RTI at Work by Austin Buffum, Mike Mattos, and Janet Malone. The bag will also include a binder, handouts, and a PLC t-shirt.

• Please be seated with your collaborative team in the auditorium by 7:30 AM.

• If you are not able to arrive early for registration, you may pick up your learning materials during one of the scheduled breaks. 

• Because part of this day will be virtual, we want to make sure all technology runs smoothly.  Please do not bring your laptops to this session.  This will also allow for more room for collaborative teams to have space for reflection and planning. 

• Lunch is on your own.  You may want to consider bringing your lunch as our afternoon session will begin promptly at 12:15 PM. 

• Our learning day will conclude at 3:30 PM. Our next job-alike/grade level collaborations will allow time for additional planning and reflection among teams. 

We thank you for your work in collaborative teams.  This collective commitment across the district was recognized with the Model PLC District designation in 2020.  As one of only 18 districts at the time across the United States to earn this honor (this now stands at 24 districts), we are proud and excited to build on this work and continue our efforts to support all learners at Southeast Polk. We are looking forward to this day of professional learning.  

7:10-7:30 AM Registration and Breakfast

7:30-7:45 AM Welcome and Opening Comments

7:45-9:15 AM Luis F. Cruz-Redesigning Our Schools for All 
Students: Embracing the RTI at Work Process

9:15-9:30 AM Break

9:30-11:15 AM Mike Mattos-Focus! Ensuring Equity and Access
Through a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum

11:15-12:15 PM Lunch

12:15-1:45 PM Nicole Dimich-Assessment: Powerful Information to 
Increase Student Learning

1:45-2:00 PM Break

2:00-2:40 PM Mike Mattos-Eating the Elephant: Transforming Ideas 
Into Action

2:40-3:15 PM Preparing for Next Steps
Q and A with Onsite Associates

3:15-3:30 PM Closing Comments

Onsite Associates

Tim Brown, a consultant, has 30 years of experience in education. As principal of elementary, middle, and high schools in Missouri, he led each to become a successful professional learning community. These PLCs feature highly collaborative environments where clear goals, formative assessment, analyzing data, practicing differentiated instruction, and providing interventions and enrichment have resulted in increased student achievement.
Tim’s middle school was recognized as a Missouri Gold Star School. His last school, a high-poverty elementary school where 87 percent of students qualified for free or reduced lunch, was recognized as one of Missouri’s Most Improved Schools and as an Exemplary Practices School. In 2005, Tim was honored by his peers as Missouri’s Distinguished Elementary Principal. You may know Tim from our PLC Institutes as he is a regular emcee at our events. 

Scott Carr has more than 25 years of experience as an educator and administrator at the middle school level. He has been the principal at Heritage Middle School in Liberty, Missouri, since 2000. His school has operated as a professional learning community since 2003. During this time, the school made Missouri’s top 10 list on the state assessment in 2006. In 2007, the school was recognized as Outstanding School of the Year by the Missouri Center for School Reform.
Scott earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Missouri Parent Teacher Association for his work to improve parent involvement. He has worked as a Solution Tree PLC associate since 2008. As a principal, Scott has guided his school in technology integration through a one-to-one adoption. He has been trained in project-based learning and data teams and has a passion for makerspaces and STEAM education.