Southeast Polk University: Fall Courses

All SEP University content and information is housed on the Southeast Polk Professional Development site.  The link to the SEP University Course Catalog may be found at the top of the SEP University page. 

Once you click on the link, you will see the courses that are currently available for the fall/winter session.  These courses are self-paced, online learning opportunities.

Each module* in a course is designed to take 1 hour to complete with an additional hour for planning and implementation. (*Please note that the course catalog refers to modules as 'points')   SEP University courses may consist of 1-4 modules. Participants may earn 1 credit if they take a combination of 6 modules.

• These modules may be taken beyond the contract day and are eligible for TQ funding*.

• These modules may be used as a part of building professional development.

• These modules may be used as a part of learning for collaboration teams.

*TQ funding only applies to modules taken outside of the school day.

We appreciate your ongoing commitment to learning. Please contact members of the Teaching and Learning team for any questions regarding Southeast Polk University.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated September 15 (Independence Day in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) and continues until October 15. The month also includes Mexico’s Independence Day (September 16) and Chile’s Independence Day (September 18). 

This year’s theme, “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together”, highlights the trailblazers who have led the way for future generations through their innovation, leadership, and unwavering dedication to progress in various fields, 

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates Americans who have ancestry in countries that speak Spanish, including Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain. It was started as a way to celebrate the contributions of Americans who have come to the United States from Spanish-speaking countries. Today's blog has ideas and resources from the Smithsonian Institute to help educate and celebrate Hispanic Heritage in our schools. 

What is Hispanic Heritage Month?

Why is Hispanic Heritage Month Important? 

How can we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?

District Professional Development: Friday, September 20th

We are looking forward to a day of professional learning next Friday, September 20th.  The day will be half district focus (AM), and half building focus (PM).  

For the district portion, all certified staff should report to the High School Auditorium at 8:00 AM.  We are honored to be hosting Chris Nikic and his dad, Nik Nikic.  Chris is not only a two-time ESPY award winner, but he also holds the distinction of being the first person with Down Syndrome to complete an Ironman and run all six global marathon majors. As a global ambassador for the Special Olympics and the Ironman group, Chris exemplifies the power of perseverance, demonstrating how the mindset of getting "1% better" every day can lead to extraordinary achievements.

Together, Chris and his father co-authored the book "1% Better: Reaching My Full Potential and How You Can Too." The book outlines their philosophy that achieving big things doesn’t happen overnight, but through consistent, small improvements over time. Much like training for sports, Chris dedicated himself daily to the writing process, and Nik was amazed at the cognitive growth Chris experienced through his commitment.

As we welcome Chris and Nik next week, their story reminds us of the importance of perseverance and incremental growth—principles that resonate deeply with our district’s mission. Just as Chris has applied the 1% better mindset to his athletic and personal success, we too can adopt this approach in our work to meet the achievement goals for ALL students. Every small improvement we make, every intentional effort we put in, brings us closer to creating lasting impact in the lives of our students.

We look forward to hearing their inspiring story and learning from their perspectives next Friday. Let's embrace this opportunity to reflect on how we can each make that 1% improvement every day—for ourselves, our students, and our district as a whole.

“My hope is that people realize that 1% Better is a lifestyle, one where we can all be successful because we measure success based on progress and not results. When it becomes a habit and part of your lifestyle, then anything is possible. Our hope is that it leads readers to believe they can achieve their goals and dreams.”

Nik Nikic

Engagement Course

As we continue to move into this school year, I want to let you know about a course that will be offered at Southeast Polk this fall.  The class "Creating a Resilient Classroom Environment: Trauma-Informed Instruction and Student Engagement Strategies for K-12 Teachers" is a hybrid course that you may register for if interested.

• The course will use the book "Confronting the Crisis of Engagement: Creating Focus and Resilience for Students, Staff, and Communities" and this book will be provided. 
• This course is available for 1 credit (license renewal or graduate) if interested.
• It is being offered as a blended course.  Much of the work in this course will occur online in Canvas.  Online course sessions will be held using Zoom.
• This course aligns with the district's Climate and Culture goal for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Below are the dates of the course:

• Prior to October 23: 2.5 hours asynchronous
• 10.23: Face to Face- 4:30 PM - 6:30 
• 10.29: Online- 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
• 11.6:   Online- 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
• 11.13:  Online- 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
• 11:20: Online- 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
• 12:11:  Online- 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

If you are interested in taking this course, please submit the form below.  This does not register you for the course, but indicates you are interested in taking the course. 

The form must be submitted by October 4th so we can get the books ordered.  Please note there is a capacity of 30 students for this class. 

Creating a Resilient Classroom Environment: Trauma-Informed Instruction and Student Engagement Strategies for K-12 Teachers