It's Fall, Y'All!
🍁Oct.- Dec. 2025 Edition🍁
A note from the Director
Dear Colleagues,
It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the first semester! As we pause for a moment to reflect, I want to take a moment to celebrate the energy, creativity, and dedication you’ve poured into these first months of the school year.
Each day, your commitment to students and to one another shines through—in the lessons you design, the relationships you build, and the small victories that make such a big difference. The work you’re doing is shaping brighter futures across our region, and it’s truly inspiring to see.
Let’s carry this momentum forward into the rest of the semester with joy and optimism. Thank you for all you do for our students, our schools, and our communities. You are making a difference every single day!
Thanks,
Brooke Hughston, Ed.S.
UM-RIEC Director
UM Regional Inservice Education Center
Wills Hall, Station 6450
Montevallo, AL 35115
205-358-8543
Office of Student Learning
Please view the new site for OSL. Dr. Melissa Shields updates this site regularly. You can also find information for each section under OSL. OSL SITE
Dr. Melissa Shields, NBCT
Assistant State Superintendent
Alabama Department of Education
Facebook: AlabamaDepartmentofEducation
September 23, 2025
Thank you to all who were able to attend the Region 7 C&I Debrief. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to you joining us again in January.
Check out the images below from the Region 7 C&I Debrief
Region 7 C&I Debrief
Region 7 Collaborative Districts
Region 7 Goals, Barriers, Shifts
Thank you to all Region 7 schools for participating in the ARIC Annual Needs Assessment. A special shout out to Talladega County Schools for the highest educator submissions in Region 7!!!!!
National Board Certified Teacher Support
You still have time to join the UM NBCT Cohort for the 2025-2026 Academic Year.
Next meeting November 12, 2025 at the Shelby County Instructional Services Center
Click here for more information.
Initial Certification Scholarship Information
Alabama Principal Leadership Development System (APLDS)
The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) and the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS) have partnered to provide all new principals in the state with one-on-one mentoring support from a trained mentor. The Alabama New Principal Mentoring Program provides a long-term relationship between a new principal mentee and a trained principal mentor who fosters their professional, academic, and personal development. Because the challenges of stepping into the principal role are unique, this program is designed specifically to support new principals in their leadership journey, rather than assistant principals.
Contact:
Anna Shepherd-Jones, Ph.D.
Professional Learning Section
Alabama State Department of Education
Email: anna.jones@alsde.edu
Phone: (334) 694-0785
Alabama Technology In Motion
Check out the Fall 2025 list of ATIM Regional offerings including TEAMS credit sessions!
Contact:
Angela Clark, Ed.S., NBCT
Instructional Technology Specialist
University of Montevallo
aclark@atim.us
Alabama Math Science & Technology Initiative/ Alabama Science in Motion
Click here to view current Math Training options
Click here to view current Science Training options
Contact:
Robin Blair, Ed.S.
AMSTI-UM Director
University of Montevallo
rblair1@montevallo.edu
Check out the images below from Talladega City Schools Coaching Lab Debrief
Dr. Quentin Lee
Talladega City Schools Coaching Lab
Coaching Debrief
Alabama Reading Initiative
Contact:
Jodie Lawley ARI -RLLS jodie.lawley@alsde.edu
Michelle Brakefield ARI-RLLS michelle.brakefield@alsde.edu
ARI Beyond Grade 3 Professional Learning
The Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) is excited to announce fall 2025 professional learning opportunities designed to promote literacy attainment, achievement, and acceleration beyond Grade 3. These sessions, provided through ARI-Beyond Grade 3 and the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), are aligned with the Science of Reading and represent our ongoing commitment to support Alabama educators.
Space is limited, and we anticipate these initial sessions will fill quickly.
These one-day, intensive professional learning sessions will be offered across all eleven regional in-service areas. They are designed to support Beyond Grade 3 Implementation Teams of up to five educators.
Primary Participants:
Curriculum Director or Building-Level Administrator
One to two Fourth Grade English Language Arts (ELA) Educators
Additional Participants May Include:
Other Fourth Grade content area educators (Science, Social Studies, or Math)
Fifth Grade content area educators (ELA, Science, Social Studies, or Math)
Other Grade-Level (6th–8th) content area educators (ELA, Science, Social Studies, or Math)
Important Notes:
LEAs should send a team of five educators. Teams must include a Curriculum Director and/or Building-Level Administrator, along with classroom educators as outlined above
We are thrilled to bring this opportunity to Alabama educators and look forward to the impact it will have on advancing literacy instruction across the state.
Region 7 Session Details
📅 Date: Monday, December 8
🕣 Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
📍 Location:
SCISC / Shelby County Instructional Services Center
Shelby Room / More specific information will be sent closer to date.
601 1st St. South
Alabaster, AL 35007
Office of Mathematics Improvement
Contact:
Jennifer Towles
Region 7 OMI Coordinator
Alabama State Department of Education
jennifer.towles@alsde.edu
Contact:
Angelin Ponraj
Education Specialist
Office of School Improvement
Alabama State Department of Education
angelin.ponraj@alsde.edu
678.836.5031
OSI Support Request
This can be support in regard to PST, PLCs, incorporating ACAP resources in Tier I instruction, incorporating ACT strategies/resources in Tier I instruction, and modeling strategies for teachers (to just name a few)
We provide a Principal's Checklist for elementary, middle, and highschool
OSI and some of our other state partners are offering Virtual Literacy Labs. Here is a brief description along with a link to register for them:
Join us for an engaging professional development series focused on enhancing literacy instruction across all grade levels. This virtual professional learning series is designed for educators seeking to deepen their understanding of literacy strategies, improve student engagement, and foster a love of reading and writing in the classroom. Throughout the series, participants will explore evidence-based practices, innovative teaching techniques, and effective assessment strategies that promote literacy development. REGISTER HERE
English Language Learners
Contact:
Mayte Cotton
Region 7 EL Specialist
Alabama Department of Education
mayte.cotton@alsde.edu
Contacts:
Kristie Shankles, Educational Specialist II AL-MTSS kristie.shankles@alsde.edu
Jonathan Thompson, Educational Specialist II AL-MTSS/HPE jonathan.thompson@alsde.edu
Jennifer Abney, Education Specialist AL-MTSS jennifer.abney@alsde.edu
Andrea Beall, Education Specialist AL-MTSS andrea.beall@alsde.edu
Shenitra Dees, Education Specialist Grad Rate/CCR/AL-MTSS shenitra.dees@alsde.edu
Andrea Walker, Education Specialist AL-MTSS andrea.walker@alsde.edu
Contact:
Jeff Norris
Office of Extended Learning
Alabama State Department of Education
jeff.norris@alsde.edu
Contact Jeff Norris if you are interested in any of the stand alone PD opportunities
ASAP Grant Opportunity Opens this Month
The Alabama Summer- and After-School Program (ASAP) grant is funded through the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) to implement or enhance existing after-school and/or summer-learning programs that provide student learning and academic enrichment activities. These programs must include students in any grade configuration of Pre-K-12.
Funds must be used to accelerate student learning in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and/or reading. Grant funds may be used to promote academic enrichment, such as activities that support foundational learning, knowledge-building, application of learning in novel ways, homework assistance, tutoring activities, financial literacy, arts education, etc.
In the 2024-2025 school year, 72 grants were awarded in amounts up to $50,000 per LEA, municipality, or not-for-profit organization.
If you require assistance or would like more information, please contact Mr. Jeff Norris, Education Specialist, Office of Extended Learning, by telephone at (334) 694-4927 or by email at oxl@alsde.edu.
A+ Key Takeaways from the ALBOE Board Meeting October 9, 2025
Here are our key takeaways from the October 9th State Board of Education meeting – and what they mean for Alabama’s students. All board members were present. Click here to see the agenda for the full meeting and work session.
Congratulations to all of the school counselors, principals, vice principals, and teachers recognized today for their hard work in service of students from across Alabama! Join us during the next board meeting on November 13 to honor the 2025 A+ College Ready Schools of Excellence, Schools of Distinction, and Schools of Achievement.