Commissioner's Weekly Update 10 26 20 - Board Recap, Mass. Teacher of the Year, LearnLaunch Workshops

A message from the
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education

October 26, 2020

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News from Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

1. Board Recap:

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education met on Tuesday, October 20. As part of the meeting, Commissioner Riley introduced 2021 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Jennifer Hedrington, who teaches seventh grade math at the Ferryway School in Malden. The meeting also included a presentation on the Language Interpretation Services Project (download); a presentation from Uxbridge High School about Massachusetts STEM Week (download); a discussion of Commissioner Riley's Goals for 2020-2021 (download); a vote in favor of amending licensure regulations to allow for a pilot of an alternative assessment for educator licensure; and an update on education budget matters.

A video of the meeting is available at https://livestream.com/accounts/22459134.

2. Pictures of the Week

At the October 20 Board meeting, Commissioner Riley announced that Jennifer Hedrington, who teaches seventh grade math at the Ferryway School in Malden, is the 2021 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. Ms. Hedrington attended the meeting with her husband, Jamaal Hedrington, and their two sons, Isaiah and Ethan, and spoke about what it means to teach all students with love.

3. Upcoming LearnLaunch Workshops:

LearnLaunch continues to support Massachusetts administrators and school leaders through critical steps for equitable learning in remote and hybrid models. In the next two weeks, workshops will focus on the following areas: communicating clearly, supporting educator well-being, and supporting parents.

Communicate Clearly is an interactive 90-minute workshop that will help school and district leaders ensure that internal and external stakeholders are aligned throughout the critical first 3 months of reopening school. The workshop will be offered on Tuesday, October 27; Wednesday, October 28; and Monday, November 2. Register here and explore the Communicate Clearly Building Block tool here.
Support Parents/Caregivers is an interactive 90-minute workshop that will explore strategies to build trust, communicate clearly, and share resources with parents, families and/or caregivers. This will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 29. Register here and explore the Prepare Educators Building Block tool here.
Support Educator Well-Being is an interactive 60-minute workshop that will help school and district leaders support the educators’ development and well-being. This will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9. Register here and explore the Prepare Educators Building Block tool here.

4. Professional Learning through Kaleidoscope:

The Department’s Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning is pleased to announce two professional learning opportunities—Transforming Instruction Through the Lens of Authentic Work (3:45-5:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 18) and Engaging Students as Complex Thinkers (3:45-5:00 p.m. offered twice: Tuesday, December 15 and Thursday, January 14). In these sessions, teachers will explore practices that ask students to apply disciplinary thinking and skills, such as those of scientists, mathematicians, sociologists, writers, and researchers, to real-world problems in ways that build student engagement in remote, hybrid, and in-person learning. Educators will have time to collaborate with colleagues from across the Commonwealth to strategize ways to apply these practices and mindsets in their own virtual or in-person classrooms. Please register online.

5. PD for Edgenuity and FLVS Global Districts:

The Department is pleased to announce additional free professional development for Massachusetts districts that are partnering with Edgenuity and FLVS Global. The professional development provides opportunities for customized support for each participating district based on the particular needs of its educators, students, and families. Districts partnering with Edgenuity can register for a personalized professional development through this form. Those partnering with FLVS Global should have received an email invitation last week. Please note that these PD sessions must be selected and delivered by Wednesday, December 30.

6. Updates and FAQs About History, Social Science, and Civics:

Updated information (download) is now available about history, social science, and civics education in the 2020-2021 school year. The update includes key expectations about the non-partisan, student-led civics projects this year and answers to common questions from schools and districts about civics project reporting in SIMS. Teachers who will be facilitating the student-led civics projects for the first time this year are also invited to register for the Civics Projects: Implementation 101 networks for additional support!

7. For your info:

Statistics in Schools: The Census Bureau’s Statistics in Schools offers activities for pre-K through 12th grade, including the Population Bracketology game. Other popular activities include Fun Facts and State Facts for Students, both of which can be incorporated into a variety of subjects. Teachers have also engaged students by creating challenges with the colorful maps filled with fun census-based facts.

Copyright © 2020 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, All rights reserved.

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