Region 10 Collaborative Newsletter

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/12Ezu7sMpRd2fpUQQ0t0DV7fuINDBHTKpNUT6S2g8QQQ/edit?usp=sharing

Series Dates: December 2, January 13, February 10, March 10, & April 28

This session is designed for new and continuing Professional Learning Facilitators (PLFs) supporting National Board candidates. Participants will gain an overview of their responsibilities, ensuring they are prepared to support educators through the National Board process effectively and ethically.

In this session, National Board Certification (NBCT) candidates will discuss the process of analyzing evidence to showcase their teaching effectiveness and impact on students. Participants will learn how to critically examine student work, assessments, and video recordings to identify key insights that align with the National Board standards, rubrics, core propositions, and architecture of accomplished teaching. By the end of the session, candidates will have had an opportunity to analyze evidence thoughtfully and make connections to their praxis.
*Small group support will be a part of this session.

In this session, National Board Certification (NBCT) candidates will discuss the process of analyzing evidence to showcase their teaching effectiveness and impact on students. Participants will learn how to critically examine student work, assessments, and video recordings to identify key insights that align with the National Board standards, rubrics, core propositions, and architecture of accomplished teaching. By the end of the session, candidates will have had an opportunity to analyze evidence thoughtfully and make connections to their praxis.
*Small group support will be a part of this session.

March 6, 2026 8:00AM-3:00PM

March 7, 2026 9:00AM-2:00PM

April 24, 2026 8:00AM-3:00PM

April 25, 2026 9:00AM-2:00PM

In this session, educators will reflect on their praxis within the three components of the national board certification: differentiation of instruction, teaching practice and the learning environment, and effective and reflective practitioner. Educators will collaborate with colleagues to reflect on student artifacts and recordings of their teaching. They will use this reflection to design next steps for supporting the needs of their students.

*Registration for the April Writing Retreat will open on March 9, 2026

February 3, 2026, March 20, 2026, April 15, 2026 | 8:30am-3:30pm | University of South Alabama College of Education and Professional Studies

The APLDS School Leadership Collaborative is a statewide professional learning series for principals and assistant principals designed to:

• Address Alabama Standards for School Leadership

• Provide highly-practical professional learning that is backed by solid research

• Build regional connections among school-level leaders

• Result in highly-satisfying, useful professional learning

• Meet program requirements for the APLDS Program

The professional learning series content will focus on:

• Self, as a school-level leader

• Teaming and school climate

• School-level systems quality

For the 2025-26 school year, the APLDS School Leadership Collaborative is called the Self to System Series with a focus on:

• Session 1 (February 2026) - Place the Ladder: The Middle Way to Instructional Leadership

• Session 2 (March 2026) - Teacher Talent and Retention through Teams and Temperament

• Session 3 (April 2026) - Principals as Talent Architects: Mastering Feedback, Evidence, and Adult Development

Check out the flyer here to learn more and register for Session 1 today!

February 6, 2026

8:00-10:30AM at USA Marx Library

OR

12:30-3:00PM at Mobile Museum of Art

In this session, participants will explore how Holocaust photographs reveal the cultural settings surrounding the individuals and events depicted and illustrate the complex dynamics of cooperation and conflict within the cultural geography of the era. We will use these powerful visuals to analyze the causes and consequences of World War II, place the Holocaust within the broader historical narrative, and consider the impact of Holocaust-related events on the United States. A core focus will be on the critical examination of these images to foster student reflection on human rights, historical memory, and the responsibilities of democratic citizenship today.
Teachers will leave with new resources, strategies for image analysis, and a deeper appreciation for the moral and civic imperatives of Holocaust education using visual evidence.

On-Demand February 9-April 30, Online Course

This course is designed for educators who face the daily challenges of leading in today’s schools. Drawing on John Maxwell’s principles in Leadershift, participants will explore how to remain strong in their vision and values, model resilience for colleagues and students, and foster a positive culture that supports teaching and learning. Educators will leave with practical strategies to handle pressure with confidence and lead well in both the classroom and the broader school community.

On-Demand February 9-April 30, Online Course

This professional learning experience helps educators reconnect with their “why” and align daily classroom practices with a greater sense of purpose. By focusing on intentional leadership, participants will discover how purpose-driven teaching can improve student engagement, strengthen instructional clarity, and support long-term academic growth.

APLDS Approved

January 22, 2026, February 10, 2026, March 3, 2026, & March 31, 2026 | 8:00-11:00AM | USA College of Education & Professional Studies

The purpose of this professional study is to engage instructional leaders into critically examining indicators of culture/climate at their respective districts/schools and to apply principles of Jimmy Casa’s (2022) Recalibrate the Culture: Our Work, Our Why, and Our Values. Instructional leaders will develop ways to enhance school/district cultures/climates based upon data and tenets of culture/climate. Data will then be used to create an Action Plan for the school/district of the instructional leaders. Data to create Action Plans will include but is not limited to: (a) teacher chronic absenteeism, (b) behavioral data of subgroups and demographic data, (c)student chronic absenteeism, and (d) student/parent climate surveys.

ACE is an ALSDE initiative aimed to help elevate social studies education in Alabama. Thanks to generous funding by the Alabama legislature, ACE provides stipends to participating teachers.

Join fellow Alabama social studies educators for a four-day learning institute at the American Village in Montevallo. Each institute includes content lectures by Alabama professors, model lessons, Socratic seminars, and tours of the American Village. Summer 2026 institutes highlight “Early America” in commemoration of America’s 250 birthday.

Participating teachers will receive a $2,000 stipend following completion of the institute’s requirements, including: pre-institute readings, attendance at all institute days, and completion of an individual lesson plan. The stipend is intended to help offset any costs, such as room and board, associated with participating.

Pre-Contact America & the Age of Exploration: July 13-16

Creating the Constitution: July 13-16

American War of Independence: July 20-23

Early Republic: July 20-23

Colonial America: July 27-30

Causes of Revolution: July 27-30

February 25, 2026 | 3:30-4:30PM | Virtual (Zoom)

Throughout this series of 1-hour virtual sessions, secondary social studies teachers will sharpen their content expertise and elevate their pedagogical approach to key historical topics that directly align with the new 2025 Alabama Social Studies Course of Study.

Participants will be guided by university faculty and content area experts from across Alabama. Examples of topics to be covered include, but are not limited to, ancient/medieval world history, modern history and the importance of Antisemitism.

February 26, 2026 | 8:30AM-3:30PM | Thomasville Civic Center

In this professional learning session, educators will:
-Examine the research basis of the Sound Wall
-Study the structure of a Sound Wall
-Practice correct articulation of each of the 44 phonemes of the English language
-Practice using the Sound Wall as the anchor for building phonemic proficiency and making the speech-to-print connection.
This session is based upon the research of V. Fromkin, R. Rodman, and N. Hyams, along with Louisa Moats, Hollis Scarborough, Mary Dahlgren, and Antonio Fierro

APLDS Approved

February 26, 2026 | 8:30-11:30AM | USA College of Education & Professional Studies

This session is designed to increase awareness of the difficulties and frustrations that people with dyslexia, as well as those with the characteristics of dyslexia, encounter daily. We hope this experience will provide insight into working more effectively with these students and lead to greater empathy and understanding.

March 10, 2026 | 8:30AM-3:30PM | USA College of Education & Professional Studies

In this professional learning session, educators will:
-Examine the research basis of the Sound Wall
-Study the structure of a Sound Wall
-Practice correct articulation of each of the 44 phonemes of the English language
-Practice using the Sound Wall as the anchor for building phonemic proficiency and making the speech-to-print connection.
This session is based upon the research of V. Fromkin, R. Rodman, and N. Hyams, along with Louisa Moats, Hollis Scarborough, Mary Dahlgren, andAntonio Fierro

March 12, 2026 | 8:30-11:30AM | Marx Library

K–12 school librarians are at the heart of literacy development, shaping how students access, engage with, and create meaning from information. These sessions will explore how to align library programs with literacy-rich practices, support all learners through compliance monitoring, and integrate emerging technologies in meaningful ways. Participants will also learn how to develop instructional materials that boost reading engagement, build strong community partnerships to extend literacy beyond the library walls, and gain insight into the National Board Certification process for librarians.

• 3P-AIQ (3 Pillar Model) with Marx Library Faculty
• Technology in Motion Specialist, Timothy Johnson
• Extended Learning in the Library with Jeff Norris

March 12, 2026 | 12:30-3:30PM | USA College of Education & Professional Studies

Let's lay the foundation for creating effective classroom procedures and structures for students through environment, engagement, and empowerment. Jeff Norris, 2024 Alabama Teacher of the Year, will help you set up routines in a 6-12 classroom, create classroom norms, organize small group instruction, and create a positive classroom community-all building blocks that are essential to constructing an amazing year.

The Lamar Alexander Initiative was established in recognition of the Honorable Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Vanderbilt class of ’62 and University Trustee, retired US senator, the 45th governor of Tennessee, the 5th US Secretary of Education, and the former president of the University of Tennessee, for his lifetime of public service on behalf of improving education for all Americans.

In June 2026, the Alexander Initiative will launch its second Seminar for Teachers. A national cohort of up to 30 Alexander Fellows will be chosen through an application process designed to identify outstanding high school teachers of US history and civics (grades 9-12). As recipients of this honor, Fellows will be fully funded and will be mentored by Vanderbilt's faculty and their higher education peers. Teachers at public, charter, independent, and private schools are welcome to apply.

Alexander Fellows who complete the program will earn a certificate of completion and continuing education units (CEUs). They will also acquire new skills, strategies, and resources to improve their classroom practice as a member of a vibrant professional learning community.

Room and board, $1,000 for travel, and a $2,500 stipend are paid for by the Alexander Initiative.

Visit the new OSL website by clicking here!

Ongoing updates are continuously added on the OSL Running Updates page

You can find all approved APLDS sessions on the 2025-26 State-Approved List for APLDS Clock Hours page.

Registration Links:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kgfyGy4emiDkmHCkFcwKJrybf829b53M/view?usp=sharing

The window to complete the Alabama School Climate Surveys is now open until March 31, 2026. In accordance with the Principal Act, we are seeking to understand the school experiences of administrators, instructional staff, students (Grades 5-12), and families through the Alabama School Climate Surveys. We ask that you coordinate efforts with your district to send out the survey links and encourage survey participation so that we can meet the data collection requirements of the law and learn how to support school climate improvement.

You can find the survey flyer, links, items, and directions for accessing results on our website. If you need further assistance accessing your account or your survey results, please contact Cognia Client Care at clientcare@cognia.org or 888-413-3669.

AMSTI–USA is excited to announce the official dates for Fall and Spring Professional Learning Opportunities for teachers and administrators across Region 10! These sessions are designed to strengthen instructional practices, deepen content knowledge, and provide hands-on strategies that educators can take directly back to their classrooms.

A full listing of opportunities can be found at www.amstiusa.org.

AMSTI ASIM Congratulates Mary G. Montgomery High School! Earth and Space Science teacher,Ms. Virginia Hall, has been named Alabama’s Rural Science Teacher of the Year and is now a national finalist for the same honor.

We invite you to come learn, collaborate, and grow with us as we continue building excellence in mathematics and science education across Region 10!

Please visit the OMI Padlet for all things Office of Mathematics Improvement.

OMI Newsletter

https://sway.cloud.microsoft/jF6dy3KZ3NidkTqi?ref=Link

Please contact USA-ATIM specialists, Timothy Johnson, to support your school or district's technology professional learning needs.

Educators can join ATIM specialists once a month as they discuss tech in education on the podcast TIM TALKS

February 17, 2026, March 10, 20206, April 14, 2026, May 12, 2026 | 9:00AM-12:00PM

Common-Sense Best Practices for Digital Citizenship is a comprehensive professional learning unit offering a blend of in-person and online resources. It empowers educational leaders to equip teachers, students, and stakeholders with the skills for responsible, safe, ethical, and lawful technology use. Digital citizenship evolves alongside the emergence of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, applications, and websites, shaping the digital landscape for both educators and learners. The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) mandates vigilance regarding children's exposure to inappropriate online content. CIPA establishes obligations for schools and libraries, particularly those benefiting from the E-rate program, to develop and enforce Internet safety policies. These policies must address various aspects, including preventing minors' access to harmful content, ensuring their safety during online interactions, curbing unauthorized activities like hacking, safeguarding personal information, and implementing measures to shield minors from potentially harmful materials. The purpose of this professional learning unit is to develop an implementation plan so that schools and LEA’s have practical hands-on strategies for educating teachers, students and parents in digital citizenship, digital literacy and digital safety. School leaders will explore best practices and look at several successful digital citizenship initiatives in other states and school systems as they develop strategies for implementation of successful digital citizenship training in their school or LEA. Participants will discuss ideas and strategies with other leaders in the group and apply them to their own digital citizenship implementation plan. Alabama Technology in Motion Specialists will oversee three to four professional learning group sessions, conducted either in-person or virtually, with mandatory attendance for all participants. Alongside these meetings, members will engage in online activities, including technology explorations, digital readings, and discussion forums. Furthermore, each administrator is required to develop an action plan corresponding to the topics covered in the face-to-face sessions. This professional learning unit will be offered by Alabama Technology in Motion, and meetings will be held in participating regional in-service center areas. There will be 2-4 meetings (12 hours) of face-to-face instruction/meetings and up to 8 hours of working online for a total of 20 hours. One PLU will be awarded to each candidate who completes the required coursework. This PLU will be offered for the next three years.

ARI Quick Links to Support the ALA Implementation

Use the following link for a current list of links: Quick Links to Support the Alabama Literacy Act Implementation

Upcoming PD Opportunity with WIDA Professional Learning

These sessions are offered in partnership with WIDA and ALSDE. The sign-up sheet is below and a flyer is attached. Please note, capacity is limited.

PD Title: Uncovering and Leveraging Students’ Home Literacies in the Classroom

• Modality: 5 Asynchronous Self-Paced Modules and One Online Meeting (1/26/26, 9-10am CST)

• Date Range: 11/3/25-2/13/26

• Target Audience: Alabama teachers who work directly with English learners

• Capacity: The first 60 registrants; registrants 61-70 will be waitlisted

• Contact: Nancy Blanco nancy.blanco@alsde.edu

2025 WIDA Webinar Recordings on the ELD Standards Framework

This year WIDA presented three webinars that focused on different aspects of the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework. Here are links to the recordings from those webinars if you’d like to revisit them at your own pace!

• Supporting Writing Growth for Multilingual Learners

• Aligning AI for Multilingual Learners: Integrating the WIDA ELD Standards Framework Into Prompts

• The WIDA Key Language Uses in Bilingual Writing

The newly updated EL Guidebook contains two new tools for strengthening systems of support for English learners.

• Conversation Guide for Supporting English Learners: This tool services as a useful resource for guiding supportive conversations related to the unique needs of ELs during PLCs, EL Committee meeting, PST meeting, and more.

• EL Feedback/Reflection Tool: This tool provides an opportunity to reflect upon current Tier I practices for English learners and to identify areas for future growth in your classroom, school, or district.

Save the Date!!

Dates for EL Office Hours and EL Quarterly Administrator Meetings for the 2025-2026 school year have been released. Plan to attend to stay informed, collaborate, and get the latest updates on EL programs!

OSI Docs and Tools

• Alabama Coaching Framework - Coaching Framework Presentations and Documents
  
• Principal Calendar - Presented at Mega
• OSI Mega Sessions - Presentation Links
• Secondary ELA COS Resources
• OSI Website

• ACIP Support Site

• ACAP/ACT Resource Page

• Youtube (Recorded PL)
  
  

OSI also has a new Facebook page. Please consider following us on social media!

Virtual Literacy Labs are back! The next lab will be Wednesday, October 8 at 3:30. They are ONLY thirty minutes, but full of strategies, information, and fun! Don't miss out on these Literacy Labs brought to you by our Literacy Specialists, ALSDE Instructional Services' Natalie Hubbard, and ARI / The Alabama Reading Initiative's Misty Wilson.

Sign up in Powerschool by clicking here: https://alsde.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/pdAdmin/courseSearch/viewPdCourseDetails?courseId=335924&type=CourseCatalog

Library Media Newsletter

Physical Education Newsletter

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J4ieCtHtepMVeqBpqZP-jOmoSV3AE1sG/view?usp=sharing

Welcome to the ALCSS Annual Conference 2026! Join us at the Oxford Civic Center on February 6, 2026 at 8:30 AM (Central Time) for a day filled with insightful sessions and networking opportunities. Registration will begin at 7:30 AM and the opening session begins at 8:30 AM. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting in the field, this event is perfect for gaining knowledge and connecting with like-minded individuals. There will sessions to highlight the new course of study. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. We hope to see you there. Click here for registration information.

Proposals

If you would like to submit a proposal for consideration, please click here. The deadline for submitting proposals is October 31, 2025.

*Cost not provided by SARIC.

Ready for an adventure in learning? Join us for the ASTA 2026 Conference - Cabinets of Curiosity: Innovative Approaches to STEM Education on February 19-20, 2026. Hear from Science Education Leaders, discuss how to integrate the new science standards, and network with science teachers from across the state. Access the SCHED app to see updated session times and build your schedule. Registered participants will receive email invitations to SCHED.

More information at the following link:

https://asta30.wildapricot.org/page-1797807

*Cost not provided by SARIC.

February 28, 2026 | University of West Florida, Building 71 or on Zoom

Emerald Coast TESOL, Chapter of the Sunshine State TESOL, 14th annual spring conference. Emerald Coast TESOL serves educators at all levels of ESOL and TEFL and has membership from southern Alabama and the Florida Gulf Coast.

Conference registration includes access to all conference activities and Emerald Coast TESOL annual membership. Cost: $25 in person, $20 virtual (attendance/presenters), $10 students.

Call for Proposals

Presentations will be 10, 15, or 20 minutes, however, longer or shorter time slots may be possible. All ESOL-related topics and presentation formats are welcome. A Zoom link will be provided.

Proposals should include a title and a narrative of 150 words or less with an explanation of the material/information to be presented along with a suggested target audience. Include a time preference/any variation in time-slot. Also, include a brief bio of no more than 50 words. Submission deadline is Saturday, January 24, 2026.

The conference presentation can be published in a special conference proceedings issue of our refereed journal ECTESOL Review.

Submit your proposal to Amany Habib, Chapter President at ahabib@uwf.edu.

Proposal decisions will be made no later than February 3, 2026

*Cost not provided by SARIC.

ATLAS is normally a resource for National Board Certification, but it can also be used by teachers for personal growth or incorporated into district teacher induction programs.This resource is open to our full-time, public school educators in Alabama. Please feel free to reach out to saric@southalabama.edu for an account.

ACAP Checklist & Presentation

• OSI has developed an ACAP checklist and presentation to assist educators with various tools and resources developed by ALSDE & DRC.

ALSDE has developed proficiency scales that can be used by teachers and students. The link below shares how to access those proficiency scales.

April 26, 2026 | USA College of Education and Professional Studies

Please join us for the Winter Governing Board Meeting on April 26, 2026. All teachers, administrators, counselors, and librarians are invited to attend. A list of current board members can be found below.

If you would also like to participate, please contact saric@southalabama.edu to receive a calendar invitation with the details of the meeting.

Email: saric@southalabama.edu
Website: https://www.southalabama.edu/centers/saric/
Location: 75 South University Boulevard, Mobile, AL, USA
Phone: (251) 380-2741
Facebook:@SARICUSA
Twitter: @USASARIC

Instagram: @SouthAlabamaRIC