The Connection

When: March 22, 2024, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Where: Gwinnett County School System District Campus, 437 Old Peachtree Road, Suwanee, Georgia

Tentative Agenda

Registration: bit.ly/MetroP20March22

What is a P-20 Collaborative?

The Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, and the University System of Georgia came together in 2014 to establish P-20 Collaboratives: Systems of support to provide a seamless transition for pre-service candidates as they seek to become professional educators, as well as to provide continued professional learning for practicing educators and leaders.

Nine regions were identified across Georgia, with each clustered around a group of institutions or agencies that prepare teachers. Each collaborative convenes twice during the academic year—once in the fall and once in the winter or spring. Topics of interest include recruitment and training of future teachers, induction for in-service teachers, support for educational leaders, and professional learning for all. Strategic planning teams lead each region by scheduling convenings and planning agendas based on the specific needs of the region.

iLEAD Program for Educational Leadership Certification

Application Window Opened: December 1, 2023

Application Window Closes: May 20, 2024

Metro RESA Contact: Carmen.Havrilla@mresa.org

MRESA iLEAD Application Window is open! The iLEAD Tier I and II Educational Leadership Certification Programs are open for applicants. Apply today!

Since 2016 the Metro RESA iLEAD program has provided Educational Leadership certification to hundreds of leaders in the Metro Area and beyond! The iLEAD program is one year, cost-effective and job-embedded! Detailed program and application information is located on our website.

Please also visit our Graduate Spotlight page to see what completers share about our program. We look forward to serving you!

Amie Dean Behavior Learning Series

Join Metro RESA as we host Amie Dean, The Behavior Queen. Amie has a passion for helping students and teachers across the world. Her behavior-focused workshops offer right-on-time strategies to minimize and process behaviors in the classroom successfully. Leave the workshop ready to implement positive and practical strategies that can be used right away.

Use the Metro RESA Course Catalog to register today!

• May 7, 2024: Behavior Interventions That Work- For Paraprofessionals Morning Session (8:30 am - 11:30 am) or Afternoon Session (12:30 pm - 3:30 pm)
  
  
• June 4, 2024: Behavior Interventions That Work: Starting The Year Off Right, Full Day Session (8:30 am - 4:00 pm)

When: Monday, March 4th (Kindergarten) and Wednesday, March 6th (Fifth Grade)

Where: Metro RESA Auditorium

Cost: $99

Metro RESA Contact: Miranda.Westbrook@mresa.org

(K-5)

The Mathematics Diving Deeper Series sessions will continue the journey of professional learning for Georgia’s K-12 Math Standards. Participants will dive into the content that is addressed in each unit by exploring grade level/course resources as they unpack the units of instruction. Emphasis will be placed on diving deep into learning plans to better understand the shift toward a key competency approach. K-5 Registration Flyer: Units 7 and 8

Find more MRESA Mathematics professional learning opportunities on our website.

• Elementary Mathematics PL Opportunities Guide
• Secondary Mathematics PL Opportunities Guide

Target Audience: Educators, Administrators, Media Specialists, EdTech Specialists, Communication Specialists

When: April 16th Session Canceled, Will Be Rescheduled for Fall 2024

Where: Metro RESA Auditorium

Cost: $149

Registration: Click the Link to Register for the Interest Mailing List Today! (You will be the first to know the rescheduled date for Brian at Metro RESA!)

View More Information and Sample Agenda Here!

Dive into the future of education with our dynamic all-day professional learning session on AI in Education, designed specifically for educators, administrators, media specialists, and anyone keen to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence in K12 education! This engaging and interactive event will explore a range of AI uses in the classroom, from enhancing teaching practices to revolutionizing student engagement and communication. Discover how popular and vetted AI tools like Canva, ChatGPT, and MagicSchool can transform your educational approach through hands-on prompting exercises, creative content creation, and more. Whether you're an AI novice or looking to deepen your existing knowledge, this session promises a light-hearted, fun-filled journey into the practicalities of AI in education, offering plenty of opportunities for hands-on experimentation, networking, and idea exchange. Join us to unlock the potential of AI in your world!

Target Audience: K-2 Educators

When: March 11, 2024, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Where: Metro RESA Auditorium

Cost: $99

Registration: Click the Link to Register Today!

Metro RESA Contact: Reagan.Biwott@mresa.org

Join us at Metro RESA to explore Projects WET, WILD, and Learning Tree (PLT) early childhood curricula targeting ages 3-8. Receive educator certification, experience incorporating GSE Science-aligned, classroom-tested activities into your students’ learning environment, and access to three curriculum guides:

1. PLT’s Trees & Me: Activities for exploring nature with young children that integrate nature-based exploration, art, literature, math, music and movement, and outdoor play into activities.

2. Project WET’s Getting Little Feet Wet: Interactive, hands-on activities for young learners to explore different aspects of water—from water properties to water sounds.

3. Project Wild’s Growing Up WILD: Activities for exploring nature with young children that build on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them.

Visit the Metro RESA Science Resource pages for more information.

Target Audience: Education Administrators and Lead Staff (Decision-Making Stakeholders)

When: March 7, 2024

Where: Metro RESA Auditorium

Cost: No Cost

Metro RESA Contact: Michelle.Sandrock@mresa.org

Registration: Click Here

Check & Connect is an evidence-based mentoring intervention for K-12 students who show warning signs of disengagement with school and who are at risk of dropping out. This one hour and fifteen-minute overview provides education administrators and lead staff (decision-making stakeholders) with an overview of Check and Connect. Participants will leave with a better understanding of what their school will need to consider to implement Check and Connect successfully. At the end of the overview, participants will be provided with a readiness self-paced module that they will complete to further evaluate their school’s readiness to implement based on the indicators of need, fit, capacity, evidence, usability, and supports.

When: March 14, 2024, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Where: Metro RESA Auditorium

Cost: No Cost

Who: District and School Educators and Staff

Metro RESA Contact: Laurel.Kinard@mresa.org

Registration: Closed, To find out how you can attend the next session, email Laurel.Kinard@mresa.org

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a 6-hour training primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people by teaching them how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Participants will learn how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

Target Audience: District and School Educators and Staff, anyone who works with children, adolescents, or families

When: March 25 + March 26, 2024, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Where: Metro RESA Auditorium

Cost: No Cost

Metro RESA Contact: Michelle.Sandrock@mresa.org

Registration: Click Here

In this two-day, foundation-setting learning experience created by Starr Commonwealth, participants are walked, step-by-step, through the 10 steps to create a trauma-informed, resilience-focused school. The learning experience will focus on resilience with an emphasis on understanding how trauma impacts children and their school experience. It will provide proactive strategies such as fostering connections, prioritizing social and emotional skills, establishing safety, and promoting play. Detailed information and concrete actions will also be covered, and in a way that doesn’t just answer the “why” but also the “how” to create the best classroom and school supports for traumatized students and the school professionals who serve them. A strong focus on understanding the link between a student’s private logic and their academic achievement and behavior deficits in the Circle of Courage’s universal needs will be addressed, as well as how to assess students and create behavior support plans for each. Strategies to collaborate with families and communities and to support staff will be presented also, as well as examples of how to collect and utilize outcome data. Click for additional Metro RESA School Climate information.

Target Audience: Educators of All Levels, Prospective Educators, Community Members

When: March 2024 - May 2024

Registration: Click Here to Register

Navigating today's world of induction, recruitment, and retention in the educational profession is a hot topic nationwide. Join our conversations as we explore innovative practices, support resources, and the benefits of choosing education as a sought-after career choice for exceptional candidates to not only sign-on but to stay. Join us as we host keynote speakers that will offer informative, and on-time presentations to support you, your district, your institution, or your school with supportive solutions to address the shift in the hiring marketplace arena. Each one-hour session will welcome a keynote speaker to lead the main focus topic outlined for each of the learning series opportunities. Following the keynote speaker, a local metropolitan district, or organization, representative will follow up with creative supports that are currently in place that relate to the overall session topic. The last segment of each session will be open to all attendees for questions and discussions.

Session Times: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

March 28th: Investment From the Top: Higher Ed State Investment and Collaboration with K-12 Districts for High Impact ROI on Retention. Join Dr. Laura May, Associate Dean for Academics and Enrollment at Georgia State University and Rockdale County Schools for an engaging conversation.

April 18th: What Teacher Vacancies? How to Future-Proof Your Human Capital Strategy. Join Shaily Baranwal, CEO, Elevate K12 and District Guest, Michelle Ruble, Douglas County Associate Superintendent of General Administration for an engaging conversation.

May TBA: Focus will be para to educator pipelines

Target Audience: K12 Educators, Intervention Support Staff, Instructional Coaches, Leaders

When: Monday, March 18th and Tuesday, March 19th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Where: Metro RESA Auditorium, 1870 Teasley Drive, Smyrna, Ga 30080
Cost: No Cost, FREE!

Register Now: Click Here

Join us for a two-day coaching event as we work with the GRE4T initiative through GaDOE to build on your schools' current strengths and instructional focus areas to personalize student learning. Course participants will walk away with new knowledge about student-centered approaches that can easily align with their current competencies and classroom learning targets.

Day One: Personalized Learning
Day Two: Personalized Learning Through Station Rotation From Elementary to Secondary (Tools for K-12 Classrooms)

Learn strategies to:

• Consider student's strengths and needs
• Focus on student engagement
• Allow for student voice and choice
• Include flexibility of instruction and resources
• Encourage reflection and goal setting
• Effectively implement station rotations
• Embrace mistakes as learning opportunities?

GaDOE will host the second round of its Georgia's K-12 English Language Arts (ELA) Standards Launch Tour. The March sessions are designed for district leaders and their literacy teams. We encourage district leaders to register as a team for the same date/site, as you will have the opportunity to work together to craft your district's plan for full implementation of the standards in SY25-26. All members of the district team need to register individually.

Metro Atlanta Dates: March 18, 2024, or March 21, 2024 (Georgia Dept. of Education)

Please see the linked flyer for information about the sessions for the upcoming ELA Standards Launch Tour, Part Two: District Plan Development. These sessions will focus on key cornerstones of state and district implementation.

You can also register for a session directly on the GaDOE Community PL event page.

MTSS Facilitator Endorsement Information Page

Metro RESA Contact: Brandi.Roberts@mresa.org

Informational Flyer: Click Here

Are you interested in being an MTSS Coordinator in your school or school district? Join the MTSS Facilitator Endorsement Program. During this 3-course endorsement, you will explore the history and foundations of RTI/MTSS/SST, the problem-solving model, and develop plans for successful implementation. Cohort 2 is a 100% asynchronous/self-paced version of the endorsement and is currently open for registration. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please view the admission requirements and tuition costs on our MTSS Facilitator Endorsement website page.

Metro RESA offers 12 endorsement programs. Visit the Metro RESA Endorsement Overview page for more information.

Metro RESA Intervention Specialist Endorsement Information Page

Metro RESA Contact: Wendy.Cox@mresa.org

Informational Flyer: Click Here

Informational Video: Click Here

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

The Intervention Specialist Endorsement is a one-year hybrid program supporting candidates from across the state of Georgia. Courses meet via Zoom and include job-embedded field experiences in the school setting where candidate is employed. Candidates who complete the Intervention Specialist Endorsement Program will gain knowledge and skills to match instruction and assessment to the GA Content Standards. Program completers will be able to identify appropriate interventions to increase the success of at-risk students. Candidates will gain the dispositions and skills to improve the collaboration of learning teams in the areas of data analysis, professional learning, and communication with stakeholders.

This endorsement is designed to support teachers who hold a clear, renewable Georgia teaching certificate (induction, professional, advanced professional, or lead professional) in: Elementary Education (P-5), Special Education General Curriculum Elementary Education (P-5), Middle Grades Education (with a language arts and/or mathematics area of concentration), or Special Education General Curriculum (with a language arts and/or mathematics concentration).

Metro RESA offers 12 endorsement programs. Visit the Metro RESA Endorsement Overview page for more information.

Coaching Endorsement Information Page

Metro RESA Contact: wendy.cox@mresa.org

Informational Flyer: Click Here

Informational Video: Click Here

The Coaching Endorsement is a one-year hybrid program supporting candidates from across the state of Georgia. Courses meet via Zoom and include job-embedded field experiences in the school setting where a candidate is employed. Candidates who complete the Coaching Endorsement Program will gain knowledge and skills to lead coaching cycles around student learning, lead data-focused conversations, and facilitate group protocols. Program completers will be able to use intentional communication skills to build coaching partnerships with colleagues and lead collaborative learning teams. Candidates will gain the dispositions and skills to support a coaching culture with individuals and teams of teachers.

This endorsement is designed to support teachers who hold a clear, renewable Georgia teaching certificate (T4 or higher) in any teaching, service, or leadership field. The application window will open in March 2024 for the next cohorts which will begin in July 2024 and end in May 2025. Space will be limited, so plan to apply early.

Metro RESA offers 12 endorsement programs. Visit the Metro RESA Endorsement Overview page for more information.

Endorsement: Online Teaching (Now Enrolling!)

Metro RESA Online Teaching Endorsement Information Page

Metro RESA Contact: Wendy.Grey@mresa.org

Informational Flyer: Click Here

Informational Video: Click Here

The Online Teaching Endorsement at Metro RESA is a GaPSC approved preparation program that provides approved candidates with the coursework and related field experience required to add the Online Teaching Endorsement to a current standard Georgia Professional Certificate. The Online Teaching Endorsement classes will consist of K-12 educators who have a desire to strengthen their online instructional knowledge, skills, and disposition toward online teaching. There will be opportunities to differentiate the tasks across grade levels, content areas, and service areas.

Participants are required to implement online instructional lessons through integration of TKES, National Standards for Quality Online Learning, iNACOL, and InTASC.

Metro RESA offers 12 endorsement programs. Visit the Metro RESA Endorsement Overview page for more information.

Metro RESA was honored to be at Forsyth Central’s Grand Central Grand Opening on Tuesday, February 20th! Their Grand Central hub is made up of 1) The College and Career Center, 2) Well Being Services, 3) The Bulldog Giving Center, 4) The Wellness Center, and 5) The Central Place. Bravo to Karen Cole, Wellness Coach and Community School Coordinator for leading the efforts and staying the course as Forsyth Central has journeyed to become a Community School! "Imagine a school where all stakeholders have the support they need to thrive and feel connected. A safe place where the entire school community is intentionally collaborating to provide support, remove barriers, eliminate stigma to optimize well-being, student growth, and academic success. Forsyth Central High School is taking the steps to do just that. Whole Child, Whole School, Whole Community =ALL!"

The Metro RESA School Climate division is partnering with the GaDOE’s Department of Whole Child Support to support Riverwatch Middle School in Forsyth County as they serve as a pilot for Georgia Tiered System of Supports (GaTSS). GaTSS hopes to increase focus on the needs of the whole child by helping schools integrate the work of MTSS teams and school climate teams to provide better outcomes for students and staff. By eliminating the need for multiple teams they will work to develop one team that will work to improve academics, behavior and wellness for all students. Through training and targeted coaching in teaming and data-based decision-making the team at Riverwatch will learn and share feedback as they work to become an exemplar for other districts and schools. Congrats to Forsyth County School District and Riverwatch Middle School for being our first School District and School in Metro Atlanta to participate in GaTTS. We appreciate your partnership and collaboration on this improved way of supporting students in an integrated tiered system of support!

Participants from Forsyth County Schools enjoyed a two-day professional development on the foundations of proactive restorative practices and how they align with PBIS core components.

For nearly a decade, Mr. Snyder has served as principal of KIPP WAYS Academy and recently taken over as principal of KIPP WAYS Primary where WAYS is the acronym for West Atlanta Youth Scholars. Mr. Snyder is proud of his team of enthusiastic educators who have dedicated themselves to upholding the culture of "Pioneer Pride". This commitment extends beyond mere words and manifests itself into tangible initiatives aimed at embedding the school's values into the fabric of daily life. At the heart of their mission lie the core values of love, joy, perseverance, teamwork, and excellence, which serve as the guiding principles shaping every aspect of the school's environment. One such example is the dedicated time block on Fridays, where students are encouraged to pursue activities reflective of their unique identities, fostering a sense of belonging and self-expression. They are also committed to fostering strong partnerships with families, recognizing the indispensable role parents and guardians play in the educational journey of their children. Through this collaborative effort, the staff strives to create a cohesive community where every individual feels valued and supported because they know that is the foundation for success. KIPP WAYS remains steadfast in its pursuit of academic excellence, particularly in the realm of early literacy. By prioritizing the science of reading and implementing targeted interventions such as small group instruction, the school is witnessing tangible progress in student growth and development. This strategic investment in foundational literacy underscores their dedication to equipping students with the tools they need to thrive academically to become future leaders, thinkers, and doers!

Learn more about KIPP WAYS Academy

At KIPP Woodson Park Academy, one of our main approaches is an enabling structure called an "Instructional Tactical Meeting." This weekly convening is designed to meticulously review and analyze scholar data. This process ensures that both educators and scholars receive the targeted instruction necessary for optimal learning outcomes. Utilizing the most recent academic data, week over week, we've established a system that guides the implementation of precise instructional strategies tailored to meet the needs of our scholars' instructional gaps. During these tactical meetings, a structured protocol empowers secondary leaders and teacher leaders to present accurate current data, identify trends, and construct direct coaching cycles. These cycles are instrumental in supporting team-based strategies that significantly enhance teaching and learning experiences. Each content lead departs the meeting equipped with clear, actionable steps—"what" to focus on and "how" to effectively integrate these insights into core instructional practices. Furthermore, these instructional tactical meetings serve as the driving force behind the thematic focus of common planning meetings, ensuring that all discussions are aligned with the identified instructional needs. The 60-minute weekly meetings are crucial for all building leaders and teachers to grasp the immediate and strategic actions required to propel instruction forward. The aftermath of these meetings sees leaders engaging in instructional rounds or walks to observe and assess the implementation of the agreed-upon action steps. This hands-on follow-up is essential for ensuring that the strategies devised during the meetings are brought to life in the classroom, thereby fostering an environment of continuous improvement and high-impact teaching. Through this meticulously crafted process, we ensure that our instructional practices are always aligned with the evolving academic needs of our scholars, guaranteeing that the right instruction takes place at the right time.

Learn more about KIPP Woodson Park Academy.

Our Metro RESA specialists want to keep you informed. Receive the latest updates in ELA, Mathematics, Science, School Climate, and Whole Child Support. Head to our catalog and search "mailing" and you can register for one, or all!

Spotlighting Excellence: Jonesboro Middle School 8th Grade Level Up Plan (Action for Intended Results

“You will enrich your life immeasurably if you approach it with a sense of wonder and discovery and always challenge yourself to try new things.” —Nate Berkus

In 2024, Jonesboro Middle School 8th Grade Game Changers were charged for devising an “actions for intended result” plan in ALL core content classes on the grade level. It is known as the “8th Grade Level Up Plan.” As a result, consistent and structured practices were designed to provide additional support to use data, exposure, and consistent practices to close the achievement gap and increase student mastery of content. Like many schools worldwide, JMS experienced learning loss over the years and less experienced educators or uncertified educators in the classroom. However, with being empowered by leadership to own our craft and work, the team set out to be equipped with knowledge and cultivate an environment of trying something new for the “one band, one sound” concept where we ALL work to achieve one common goal of increasing student achievement. The Level Up Plan aims to give the scholars well-curated, planned, engaging, and differentiated lesson plans with target instruction for consistent practices. Below are the three initiatives for each content area daily. 8thGrade level Up Plan Initiatives: GMAS H.I.T. Homeroom Instructional Time: Students create the four squares to complete the GMAS questions for each content in the homeroom using composition notebooks. The GMAS HIT is reviewed daily as an opening in each content area. Students facilitate the academic discourse while educators provide test-taking strategies and guidance through the discussion. Weekly Skill Matrix for specified Content: Educators will use 5 to 10 minutes to review pertinent skills for the specific content. The students use dry-erase boards, stations, interactive games, or Canvas to complete drills. This is to increase exposure to skills and increase the student's time to complete questions on an assessment. W.O.W. Wednesday: ALL previous strategies along with RACE Strategy & Flexible Grouping Implementation: On Wednesdays, the educators will continue with GMAS HITS, Skill, and Drill; however, added to the academic block, students in content-based writing using the RACES strategy. This allows students to write using claims, evidence, and reasoning (C.E.R.). Lastly, the remainder of the time is dedicated to differentiated flexible groups based on the previous common assessment data deficiencies. To surmise, the 8th Grade Level Plan has opened up new opportunities for both educators and students in which both have bought into the initiatives and now look forward to the academic discourse and pathway to being on target. Scholars fully work on the specified work and build their capacity to not only excel on the assessments but excel as scholars able to live and successfully compete in a global society. This approach has provided a data-driven and intentional atmosphere that empowers students to achieve academic and personal goals in order to become college and career-ready, productive, responsible scholars, and ready to learn.

Learn more about Jonesboro Middle School.

2023-2024 Young Georgia Authors (YGA) Competition 2024

2023-2024 Young Georgia Authors (YGA) Competition Guidelines

The purpose of the Young Georgia Authors (YGA) writing competition is to encourage students to develop enthusiasm for and expertise in their writing, to provide a context to celebrate their writing successes, and to recognize student achievement in arts and academics. Find more information on the Metro RESA ELA Information Page.