April 30, 2014
Spring has firmly arrived with some warm and some wild weather! We want to share with you reflections from recent SRI affiliate events, how SRI can support your seminars and institutes, and important volunteer opportunities.
Spring Symposium on Collaborative Learning – April 18, Tucson, AZ
This year’s Arizona Spring Symposium, hosted by City Professional Development Center in Tucson, AZ, focused on developing STEM-related learning activities and assessments across the curriculum to increase critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation in our schools and classrooms. Keynote speaker, DaNel Hogan, Director of the STEMAZing Project, provided an overview of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and shared her vast network of helpful and accessible STEM tools and resources. The day was designed to maximize participant learning so that participants became resources for each other by practicing careful listening, giving skillful feedback, and engaging in meaningful discussions.
Participants left with new resources and ideas for incorporating STEM learning into their curriculum and classrooms, learned together in protocol and feedback sessions, and connected with one another during a pair-walk before lunch. It was a wonderful day of learning in an inspiring environment.
8th Annual COSEBOC Gathering of Leaders – April 23-25, 2014, Jackson, MS
Kari Thierer, SRI Organizational Director, and several other SRI affiliates participated in the COSEBOC Gathering of Leaders last week. SRI is a partner organization of COSEBOC and offered some facilitation support during the ‘For Principal’s Only’ session, and a workshop on creating a learning community in the classroom. Kari spent the flight home trying to find the words to name why this was such a powerful conference. For her full reflection, please click here.
“First and foremost, this conference was a celebration of boys and young men of color. Each day started like a party to celebrate the young men. Youth were present and active participants, they held the space, they sang, they spoke, they performed. One of the first parts of the opening was the processional of young men. The Jackson State University Drum Line led this processional – people stood, clapped, and gave their undivided attention to the procession of young men as they came into the room, and stood on stage. We stood first in celebration of the youth we gathered to talk about serving long before we went to workshops or discussed the many ways we, as educators, need to do a better job.
Every staff meeting, professional development, conference, etc. should hold the theme of celebration with youth at the center. We cannot afford to lose the focus on the young people we are serving. It is hard work, and there is so much more to be done, but there is also celebration. Ron Walker, Executive Director of COSEBOC, adds this motto – “It isn’t a moment, it’s a movement.” What a great time to be a part of a network that focuses on serving students, and how honored and privileged I feel to represent SRI and bring new tools and resources to amazing educators!”
How SRI can support your summer seminars, institutes, and events?
Part of SRI’s mission is to impact education on a global level. To achieve this, it is essential that we know where the work of transformational learning communities is taking place, and by whom. This allows us to track the impact our work is having on teachers, students, and schools nationally and internationally, and is one of the ways we expand our network of educators.
We want to promote your professional learning sessions on our website, invite your participants to join our national organization, and support your efforts to grow this work in your local setting. In order to do this, we need you to:
- Tell us about your local professional development sessions. We’ll post them on our website, even if they are not open to outside participants.
- Send us your participant lists so we can connect your local participants to the national organization.
New this year, SRI is now offering on-line registration forms to anyone whose event is posted on our website. This is a free service, so take advantage of our technology and infrastructure to make your event even better! For an administrative fee, SRI also offers full management support of our affiliate’s seminars where we handle the registration, invoicing, and payments.
We know that amazing work is happening around the globe and we want to be able to support you and those you bring into this work. Thank you for your dedication to students by helping adults learn in the collaborative and reflective practices we know make a difference!
Please share this work with your colleagues.
For more information, please contact Heidi Vosekas at heidi@schoolreforminitiative.org.
Volunteer Opportunities for SRI Affiliate
What an amazing response from last week’s call for volunteers! If you have an interest in the organizational development of SRI, we are still seeking volunteers for the following workgroups:
1. National Level Work for SRI
2. Regional Support Networks
3. Experienced Facilitator Support
4. SRI Board Election Nominating Committee
5. SRI Materials
As you read through the descriptions, if there is one that interests you, please email Kari (kthierer@schoolreforminitiative.org). There are a variety of opportunities available, with a range of time commitments.
We are looking to create workgroups that represent the diversity in our organization with many voices providing thoughtful feedback. Regardless of your level of experience or duration of involvement with SRI, your support is critical to our continued growth. Please consider joining one of these workgroups. All are welcome.
On behalf of the School Reform Initiative,
Kari Thierer, Heidi Vosekas, Chris Jones
