Dr. Grant Wiggins’ opening keynote is on how the Common Core State Standards signal a serious rethinking of what it means to read for deep comprehension, write with control of logic and evidence, and solve complex mathematical problems. He will also review the Next Generation Assessments. Participants will then attend three predetermined breakout sessions over the first two days.

The third day will have an ‘unconference’ format with participants sharing and learning from each other about topics generated during the previous days’ sessions. Each unconference session will be 90 minutes and may include several facilitators from a variety of districts. The goal is to collaborate and grow stronger as a region to support all students in our area. Key topics will include framing the CCSS Math and ELA Curriculum; preparing for Next Generation Assessments; and what Common Core learning looks like in the classroom and how leaders foster it.

This bring your own device institute is being offered on two separate occasions:
•  June 10-12 at Fox School District
•  July 8-10 at Ritenour School District

Participants should register now to ensure they can enroll in their desired workshop sessions. For interested educators, there are two graduate credits available upon completion of appropriate coursework.

Fee: $295 for CSD members; $425 for non-members. Registration fee includes three days of professional development and lunch. Graduate credits have an additional fee. For questions about the content of the institute, please contact CSD’s Director of Teaching and Learning, Stephanie Madlinger.

“These schools have demonstrated outstanding achievement with the CHARACTERplus program and their recognition by  CEP is well deserved,”

– CHARACTERplus Director Liz Gibbons.

National Schools of Character demonstrate significant increases in academics (increasing or high test scores), behavior (reduction in disciplinary actions) and climate (survey results show students feel safe and respected). All of the schools have created caring, supportive school communities that meet the needs of students.

CHARACTERplus® is a service of Cooperating School Districts and paves the way for character education customized for each school.  “This is a great milestone as we mark the 25^th anniversary of CHARACTERplus,” said Don Senti, CSD Executive Director.  “We are very pleased to congratulate these outstanding schools and we look forward to continued growth in our achievements over the next 25 years.”

CHARACTERplus was conceived by Sanford N. McDonnell to advance the cause of character education and sustain its impact on the lives of teachers and students. CHARACTERplus works with schools and districts across several states. For more information visit www.characterplus.org.

“Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing wholes. It is a framework for seeing interrelationships rather than things, for seeing patterns of change rather than static “snapshots.” The Fifth Discipline, The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization, Senge, (Doubleday: 1990)

Most events taking place from June 24 to 28th are at the Ritenour School District Auditorium at 9100 St. Charles Rock Road. This year, the institute is offering three options for participation:

• Institute One-Day Pass, June 24
• Systems Thinking Level 1 Workshop and Institute One-Day Pass, June 24-28
• Two-Day Workshop Options and Institute One-Day Pass, June 24-26, and June 27-28

At the Systems Thinking in Schools Institute, attendees will participate in rich discussions with fellow systems thinkers on ways to expand systems thinking in K-12 education. By attending sessions lead by educators practicing the integration of systems thinking into their K-12 curriculum, participants will hear experiences of how teachers have enhanced their teaching and efforts to help students to deepen their thinking.

The Systems Thinking Institute is sponsored by the Ritenour School District, Systems Thinking in Schools Water Foundation, and Washington University.

Learn ways to get healthier, fresher, more locally grown fruits and vegetables into school gardens, cafeterias, classrooms, and family kitchens.

Designed as a focused, productive and inspiring forum for district leaders and decision-makers, school food service professionals, school gardeners/ groundskeepers, educators, plus parents and students, the summit promises to shine a deserving spotlight on existing efforts in our community while also propelling and challenging participants to get better and do more on this critically important front.

A Foodology for Schools: Let’s Grow! Resource Guide will be among the outcomes, and will document existing success stories from across the region while also serving as a comprehensive community resource for anyone and everyone interested in transforming our students’ food habits, culture, and future. The guide will be disseminated throughout the region and beyond. To encourage collaboration within and among schools, participants are encouraged to register as a team from either the same school and/or district. To learn more about each day’s agenda, visit this link.

2013 Missouri Teacher of the Year Cathy Cartier, of the Affton School District, being interviewed by CSD’s Craig George

Gateway Media Literacy Partners (GMLP) is hosting a half-day conference at Cooperating School Districts for teachers & administrators, library media specialists, technology integration specialists. Anyone who wants to learn more about media literacy, and network with local media literacy educators and professionals is invited to participate. Taking place Friday, June 7, the GMLP Mini Conference: Pedagogy and Production is an opportunity for those new to media literacy, or for educators wanting to take their understanding of it to the next level- all are welcome to contribute to the conversation!

St. Louis educators Don Goble (Broadcast Technology I Film & Multimedia Instructor Ladue Horton Watkins High School) and Julie Smith (Media Literacy Professional at SIUE and Webster University) will keynote this event, followed by two session times with various resources, programs, and ideas shared from area experts in the field media literacy:

• Two options to select from during the first session: Bill Bass on the Parkway Digital Film Festival and From Inspiration to Red Carpet: Host Your Own Student Film Festival OR Librarian, Media Literacy Specialist Linda Dougherty from Northwest School District
• Two options to select from during the second session: Mitch Eden & The Kirkwood Call (Kirkwood High School Online News) OR Don Goble on Media Production “How Tos”
• Panel Discussion with Local Media Professionals (to be announced)

GMLP strives to empower citizens to think critically about media messages. CSD is an institutional member of GMLP. Preregistration is encouraged for the mini conference but not required; seating is limited. To learn more about the mini conference, or to register, visit this link.

• Bolivar High School, Bolivar R-I School District
• Brentwood High School, Brentwood School District
• Lee’s Summit West High School, Lee’s Summit R-VII School District
• Nixa High School, Nixa R-II School District
• Sappington Elementary School, Lindbergh Schools
• Spokane High School, Spokane R-VII School District
• Willow Springs High School, Willow Springs R-IV School District
• W.W. Keysor Elementary School, Kirkwood R-VII School District

Gold Star Schools was established by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The rigorous criteria of the program is aligned with the national Blue Ribbon Schools program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The listed recipients of the Gold Star award have been nominated for Blue Ribbon recognition. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program also recognizes schools whose students achieve at very levels, or schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program sets a standard of excellence for all schools striving for the highest level of achievement.

Blue Ribbon Schools will be announced this fall by the U.S. Department of Education.

Dr. Chris Nicastro, Missouri Commissioner of Education, addresses the audience at Cooperating School Districts on April 8, 2013. CSD hosted Dr. Bob Schwartz of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, who discussed Missouri’s participation in the national Pathways to Prosperity Network.

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Meg Ormiston

As part of Cooperating School Districts continued professional development on Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Assessments, we welcome educator, national speaker, and author Meg Ormiston to St. Louis this summer. Meg has produced a 5-day tech boot camp to specifically focus on the skills needed to transition to the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Assessments.

From July 15-19, educators will be at CSD, creating projects that are aligned to Common Core, and using digital tools that will keep a classroom buzzing with engaged students.

The sessions will be hands-on, fast-paced and relevant to teachers today. Participants are encouraged to bring materials they would like to redesign into technology rich projects. Sessions will focus on the skills a teacher needs to actively engage students in a 21st Century classroom:

•  Designing lessons that align to the Common Core State Standards identified at their grade level.
•  Analyzing, selecting, and organizing appropriate online resources.
•  Synthesizing various assessment options and apply authentic assessment strategies to technology rich projects.
•  Analyzing best practices as it applies to all literacy (visual, media, information, and digital).
•  Analyzing and reflecting on best practice as it applies to literacy and math across the curriculum.
•  Becoming involved in active, professional research exploring new ways to expand their personal learning network.

This camp is bring your own device- ‘BYOD’. Register online, space is limited. The cost is $350 for CSD members and $450 for non-members.

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‘They will immediately bring valuable skills and abilities that will benefit our organization and our member districts.’
- Executive Director Don Senti

In her new role Wehner will develop, direct and monitor the organization’s development and marketing programs, with an emphasis on providing revenue streams to financially support programs for CSD and our members. Guided by the strategic plan, she will develop partnerships that move forward CSD’s mission and vision. Wehner comes to CSD from Katy Industries, a global manufacturing company.  In her role there, she has been responsible for marketing, product management, and international business for three global manufacturing businesses exporting to over 50 countries. Her experience also includes time with United Parcel Service, where she was responsible for marketing strategy development and product management for 5,000 retail locations of The UPS Store.

Goodman currently serves as the Director of Quality Improvement and Accountability in the Springfield (MO) R-XII School District. In that position, he directs the department responsible for accountability, performance management, program evaluation, online assessment systems, and training leaders and teachers on the effective use of data. Previous to working in Springfield he was a graduate research assistant in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis department in the College of Education at the University of Missouri-Columbia and a teacher in the Gasconade County R-1 (Hermann) School District. A frequent presenter on assessment systems and leveraging data for instructional and organizational improvement at state and national conferences, Goodman has a doctorate of philosophy in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri-Columbia. At CSD, he will have various roles that will include evaluation of CSD’s programs, oversight of strategic plan implementation, and serving as a resource to CSD member districts in the strategic areas of assessment, evaluation, and the use of data.

“The addition of these two highly-skilled professionals is in line with the objectives set forth in our strategic plan,” said Senti.