Twas The Hour Before Holiday Dismissal...

As you head into the three week break, I would like to wish you a holiday season filled with everything that is important to you. May you take the time to relax, laugh, unwind, reflect, enjoy and be thankful for the gifts in your life. Hug the ones you love!  

In looking ahead to 2016, I have a few items that may be of interest to you.




Are you interested in earning a MA or other continuing education credits? Here are a few programs for your consideration:

University of Northern Iowa (UNI) MAE Global Cohort

This global cohort option may be of interest to you.  AISC has experienced a very positive partnership with UNI over the years. Many of you will remember former UNI student teachers, Courtney Petersen, Mary Mysnyk and Erin Meyer.  Our own Ms. Anna Vanhorn is also an UNI Alum.  If you are interested in the UNI Program, you can contact. Dr. Leigh Martin at leigh.martin@uni.edu.


ECIS International Teacher Certificate Program
Another program designed specifically for International Teachers is the ECIS International Teacher Certificate Program.  Details about this program are available here.


University of Kentucky - Graduate Certificate in Inclusive Education
Dr. Lee Ann Jung, a friend of NESA and professor at the University of Kentucky, has started a certificate program in Inclusive Education.  Check here if you are interested in the details.

Professional Learning Opportunities in 2016...

Does this image look familiar to you? It is the link to our professional learning section on the Staff Portal Course in Moodle.  We keep this updated regularly with upcoming professional learning options. Make sure you check it out.

Upcoming Professional Development:

To help support you in your professional learning, we have several upcoming sessions I would like to tell you about:

• Making Thinking Visible
• There was an incredible response to the survey for a Making Thinking Visible book study. We were so delighted that over 30 teachers responded to the initial survey. With so many people registered, Clayton has enlisted the help of Walter and Lauren!  They will be leading two groups that
  will be personalized (based on the results of the survey) for those of you who are beginning the MTV work and those who are more familiar with the work and want to dig deeper. More details to come from Clayton, Walter and Lauren.
• Mark Church will be joining us the week of February 8th.
• Literacy – In the upcoming months, Andrea will be offering the following sessions:
• Effective Feedback in Literacy- the art of conferring in the Writers Workshop.
• Guided Reading- implementing small group instruction to teach skills and strategies at specific reading stages.
• Writing Strategy Groups- effectively differentiating instruction using student data.
• RTI and Differentiation
• Last month our LRC Team, Instructional Coaches and EAL Coordinators had an opportunity to meet with consultant Jodi O'Meara. Jodi will be returning to AISC the week of January 18th to continue her work with us.
• EAL Audit Review
• In May 2012, Dr. Gini Rojas conducted an EAL program review. Dr. Rojas will be visiting us on March 2nd - 4th to review (and celebrate) our progress since her first visit.

What type of professional learning
would you like to see offered in
Spring 2016?
Is there something you would like to lead?
Let me know!  You can leave a comment directly on the blog or send me an email.

Speaking of leading... a huge THANK YOU to all of the presenters at Mini NESA!  You demonstrated courage and confidence (not to mention creativity) in your presentations. Teachers are still talking about all they learned from you.  NESA has just informed us that we will be proudly represented at the Spring Educators Conference by Walter Basnight and Hilary Barron.  WAY TO GO!

AISC Proudly Represented in NESA NEWS!

1. Check out the most recent edition of NESA NEWS.  You will recognize many of the faces on the pages.  The publication also has a wealth of information about the upcoming Winter Training Institute and the Spring Educator Conference.  These are both great professional learning opportunities that may interest you.

Congratulations to Alan!  He has been committed to
developing the Middle School Principals' Network
and thanks to his hard work, AISC will be hosting
the first NESA Middle School Network Conference
on March 4th and 5th.