Region 10 Collaborative Newsletter
October 2025
We want to hear from our Region 10 educators!
The 2025-2026 Statewide ARIC Needs Assessment is open! The voices and opinions of teachers and administrators are crucial to this process; therefore, we need your help!
The Alabama Regional Inservice Centers want to provide quality and relevant professional learning for all educators across the state. Please take a few minutes to complete the 2025-2026 ARIC Regional Inservice Center Needs Assessment.
The survey opens on September 1 and will remain open until October 12. Use the following link to respond: https://forms.office.com/r/xPV9YMuEe5
As always, please contact us directly for individual support for your school or district. If you would like to request specific support for your school or district, then please complete our request form: https://forms.gle/1k51kK5Jni1Q4NNF7
October NBCT Session- USA RIC Mission Liftoff: Navigating the 5 Core Propositions, Standards, and Components for NBCT PS#330486
This session will provide National Board Certification (NBCT) candidates with a deep dive into the 5 Core Propositions, the Standards, and Components, 2, 3, and 4. Participants will explore how these elements align with effective teaching practices and how they guide the development of their portfolio. Through collaborative work, candidates will gain an understanding of how to incorporate these frameworks into their reflective practice and evidence collection. By the end of the session, candidates will have an awareness of the key components that support the NBCT journey.
USA RIC National Board Certification: Maintenance of Certification PS#258268
October 21, 2025 | 4:00-6:00pm | University of South Alabama College of Education & Professional Studies
Have you heard the news? There is a new process for National Board Certification renewal called Maintenance of Certification (MOC). Attend this session to learn about the steps to take for continuing your prestigious distinction of being a National Board Certified Teacher. MOC must be started in your fourth or fifth year of certification. Even if you attain initial certification this year, attend this session to learn about the ongoing collection of evidence for your Professional Growth Experience.
USA RIC AL Teachers of the Year: Creepin' It Real- Conversations Around Mental Health in Schools PS# 337377
October 6, October 13, October 20, & October 27 | 7:00-8:00pm | Virtual
Join Alabama Teachers of the Year this October for Creepin’ it Real: Conversations Around Mental Health in Schools, a four-part professional learning series that blends timely insights with practical strategies for supporting student and educator well-being. Each week, award-winning educators will lead candid conversations on topics ranging from youth mental health and student independence to teacher wellness and burnout. With a balance of expertise, authenticity, and real-world classroom experiences, this series offers both encouragement and actionable takeaways to strengthen mental health supports in schools.
USA RIC The Science of Learning: A Practical Guide for School Leaders PS#333699
October 7, 2025 | 11:00am-1:00pm | Virtual
APLDS Approved
This session will equip school and district leaders with meaningful and applicable research that will assist them in leading significant learning gains with their student populations. The science of learning research encompasses the questions surrounding how educators can teach students in ways that they can take what they learn and apply it to new situations. This session will provide leaders with specific and practical strategies to help teachers teach for transfer of learning so that students learn and achieve at high rates.
Secondary Learning Exchange
October 14
Alabama MTSS, the Office of Extended Learning, and APLDS are thrilled to launch our brand-new Secondary Learning Exchange this fall—an inspiring professional learning opportunity designed just for secondary instructional leaders across Alabama!
Kicking off in September, this experience begins with a rare opportunity to learn directly from two nationally renowned leadership experts—Dr. Peter DeWitt and Dr. Michael Nelson—at five statewide locations.
But that’s just the beginning!
In partnership with our Regional Inservice Centers, we’ll follow up with four powerful sessions held at all 11 regional sites, covering high-impact topics like:
Master Scheduling
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
Data-Driven Assessment
And more!
And for those who prefer evening learning, we’ve got you covered! We are excited to bring you “The Night Shift”—virtual evening PD sessions, again featuring our expert speakers, Peter Dewitt and Michael Nelson, making learning more accessible than ever.
Participants can earn APLDS, CEU credit, and even complete an ACLD PLU as part of this dynamic series. Please see the FAQ document on the last page for answers to common questions.
Registration is NOW OPEN, and seating is limited—so don’t wait!
Let’s learn, grow, and lead—together!
USA RIC Library Leaders: Navigating Change and Innovation Session 1 PS#336179
October 22, 2025 | 8:30-11:30am | University of South Alabama College of Education & Professional Studies
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.
Save the Date for Sessions 2-4!
November 14, 2025
March 12, 2026
June 3, 2026
USA RIC Anchoring Science Learning through Phenomena and Student Sensemaking PS#334280
October 22, 2025 | 8:00am-3:00pm | University of South Alabama College of Education & Professional Studies
In this session teachers will learn how to (1)describe phenomena, including anchoring and student-centered phenomena, that are useful for understanding science concepts, (2)design lessons and units that are centered on phenomena, engage in student ideas, and develop science ideas through the science and engineering practices, (3) use a sensemaking model to help students actively engage in learning and figure out how the world works through practices and science ideas, (4) develop a toolkit of available resources to support curriculum development, instructional application, and student learning, and (5) apply the Sensemaking Model to design and implement science lessons aligned with the Alabama Course of Study for Science.
USA RIC Alabama's Teacher Observation Tool: An Overview for Administrators PS#269813
October 27, 2025 | 8:00am-3:00pm | Satsuma City Schools Central Office
Alabama Achieves, the strategic plan of the Alabama State Department of Education, specifically focuses on providing students with highly effective teachers. The ALSDE has partnered with Cognia in creating a teacher observation tool that provides educators with specific areas of strengths/growth and aligns with the Alabama Core Teaching Standards. The instrument also assists educators in developing professional development plans and choosing informed professional learning experiences. In this session administrators will be able to
Office of Student Learning
Visit the new OSL website by clicking here!
Ongoing updates are continuously added on the OSL Running Updates page
APLDS
With the launch of available professional learning for the Alabama Principal Leadership Development System (APLDS) on July 1, I am excited to inform you of sessions offered by the South Alabama Research and Inservice Center that have been approved to fulfill clock hours towards the requirement. (If you have been unable to attend one of Dr. Shepherd-Jones's overview sessions regarding APLDS, please find information here.)
You can find all approved APLDS sessions on the 2025-26 State-Approved List for APLDS Clock Hours page
Please contact us at saric@southalabama.edu if you have any questions regarding these sessions.
AMSTI & Alabama Science in Motion (ASIM)
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.
In Science, we are especially thrilled to partner with HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology to support middle school teachers with the Genetics Performance Standards. These sessions will be held on September 30 in Mobile and October 15 in Montgomery.
We invite you to come learn, collaborate, and grow with us as we continue building excellence in mathematics and science education across Region 10!
Office of Mathematics Improvement
Alabama Technology in Motion
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
Alabama Reading Initiative
ARI Quick Links to Support the ALA Implementation
English Learner
If you would like your school or district featured in an upcoming edition of our newsletter, you may submit pictures and details to me at any time. We love to display the great things happening across our state. Let’s represent the positive things happening in
October 23, 2025 8:30am-3:30pm ALSDE Birmingham Office
Make plans to attend the in-person Quarterly Administrator Meeting!
The September issue of our newsletter is now available!
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!
WIDA ELD Standards Framework
This two-day professional learning opportunity is designed for educators responsible for supporting language development within content learning. Participants will gain practical strategies and resources to integrate the WIDA ELD Standards into instructional planning effectively.
Through engaging, hands-on sessions, educators will explore how the WIDA ELD Standards can enhance instructional planning by identifying and supporting the academic language students need to engage meaningfully in content learning.
This training consists of two five-hour sessions:
- Day 1: Introduction to the WIDA ELD Standards 2020 – Big Ideas
- Day 2: Deep Dive into the WIDA ELD Standards 2020
By the end of the training, participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the ELD Standards and how to apply them to foster language development and content learning in their classrooms.
Clock Hours: 10.0 Hours
ALSDE Office of School Improvement
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
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
Instructional Services
ALSDE Physical Education Newsletter
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/wXh0AhdumGXMykUo?ref=email
Library Media Updates
https://secure.smore.com/n/bm825-alabama-lm-update-september-2025?ref=email
PowerSchool October Training Opportunities
October 2025 Upcoming Training Opportunities designed to support your continued growth and success. Join our PowerSchool Coaches for engaging sessions on topics such as:
Official State Collection Errors
Storing Grades 1st Quarter
PSSP: Child Count Snapshot Walkthrough
PSSP: Fall Data Collections
PSSP: PS SIS and GOLD
PSSP: New Students & Transfer Envelopes
PS Special Programs Office Hours
Official State Collections Open Office Hours
And more!
Multiple dates and times are available, with sessions repeated to give you flexibility in attending. Some sessions require registration in PowerSchool Professional Learning (PSPL), while others are open to join directly.
Alabama Council of Teachers of Mathematics Math Forum 2025
Alabama Music Educators Association 2026 Conference
Celebrating the Power of Music to Bridge, Inspire, and Empower.
The 2026 Conference will take place at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama from January 22-24, 2026.
More information at the following link:
Alabama School Library Association 2026 Annual Conference
Join us for our ASLA 2026 Annual Conference on February 2-3, 2026. More information at the following link: https://sites.google.com/view/aslalibrarians/events/26-annual-conference *Cost not provided by SARIC.
ALCSS Annual Conference 2026
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.
Alabama Science Teachers Association (ASTA) 2026 Conference
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.
ATLAS Resources
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 Resources
ACAP Checklist & Presentation
Accessing Proficiency Scales
ALSDE has developed proficiency scales that can be used by teachers and students. This link shares how to access those proficiency scales
SARIC Winter Governing Board Meeting
WHEN: January 15, 2026
WHERE: USA College of Education and Professional Studies
MORE INFORMATION
Please join us for the Fall Governing Board Meeting on January 15, 2026. All teachers, administrators, counselors, and librarians are invited to attend. A list of current board members can be found at https://www.southalabama.edu/centers/saric/governingboard.html
If you would also like to participate, please contact saric@southalabama.edu to receive a calendar invitation with the details of the meeting.
