Region 10 Collaborative Newsletter

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The South Alabama Research and Inservice Center supports National Board Certified Teacher candidates through their NBCT professional learning journey. This academic year all educators seeking National Board certification in Region 10 are welcome to attend the monthly support sessions. However, we will need you to pre-register using the PowerSchool number listed on each section. This will help us provide the needed materials and support providers at each session. The monthly cohort meetings will meet in Loxley (South), Jackson (Northwest), Monroeville (Northeast), and at USA (Central).

March 12 (South & Northeast), March 19 (Northwest), March 26 (Central)

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.

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

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

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.

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.

April 8, 2026 | 3:30-4:30PM | Virtual

Topic: Aztecs and Conquistadors

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.

April 29, 2026 | 3:30-4:30PM | Virtual

Topic: The Importance of Antisemitism in Western Modernity

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.

Alabama Kindergarten - Grade 8 Social Studies teachers are encouraged to apply for the annual $2,000 grant, the Jenice Riley Memorial Scholarship. Sponsored by the Alabama Humanities Alliance, these grants are to be used to support social studies projects in the classroom or school. Learn more, and apply by April 30.

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:

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 pleased to share an important update regarding upcoming professional learning opportunities. AMSTI is in the planning phase for Summer Professional Learning offerings. These upcoming sessions will continue to support teachers and administrators across Region 10 in strengthening instructional practices, deepening content knowledge, and implementing high-impact strategies that directly benefit student learning. A complete listing of professional learning opportunities can be reviewed at www.amstiusa.org regularly for updates and newly released events.

Click here to view the AMSTI Monthly Newsletter!

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 Website for more information regarding their upcoming sessions.

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

Social Studies Newsletter

Join the PowerSchool Coaches to discuss current hot topics in PowerSchool. Sessions will be offered multiple times and subsequent sessions for each topic are repeated content. Search PSPL for Course #333609

June 15-29, 2026 Huntsville, Alabama

We are excited to announce that presenter applications for the

2026 Alabama Educational Technology Conference (AETC) are

now open!

2026 AETC PRESENTER APPLICATION

*Cost not provided by SARIC

July 20-24, 2026 Mobile, Alabama

This year’s conference is a week-long, in-person event designed to provide attendees with opportunities to foster meaningful dialogue, participate in in-depth, hands-on learning, and engage with leading experts across all areas of education.

Register now!

Submit a Session: The MEGA Conference Committee is accepting session submissions from the general public through March 20, 2026. Please note that session slots are limited and tend to fill quickly. We strongly encourage early submission of proposals to ensure consideration during the initial scheduling phase.

*Cost not provided by SARIC

August, 29, 2026 Spencer Bibbs Center, Pensacola, Florida

This conference is a one-day summit of talks, activities, and workshops focusing on this year's theme, "Building on 250 Years of Freedom".

Registration

Cost: $15 to be paid with registration (EACSS members will receive a $5 discount). Payment is non-refundable

• Cash

• Check

• Money Order

• PayPal (an invoice will be sent to you for payment)

Deadline to register for the conference is: August 1, 2026

If you would like to attend, register here.

Submit a proposal to present a session at the conference.

• Sessions will be 50 minutes long.

• Proposals are due no later than June 20, 2026

• EACSS/ECPS will notify individuals of acceptance no later July 1, 2026.

• Participants/Presenters MUST register and pay for the conference no later than August 1, 2026 to be included in the session matrix

• You may apply for a maximum of two sessions.

• Click Here to Submit a proposal

*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.

Earn your Doctor of Education in Teacher Education at the University of South Alabama
Advance teacher workforce development with a Doctor of Education in Teacher Education in the College of Education and Professional Studies at the University of South Alabama. Designed for current and aspiring instructional coaches and educators across the state and Gulf Coast region, this 60-credit-hour doctoral program blends applied leadership, research and practice through video, online and limited face-to-face instruction—without stepping away from full-time professional responsibilities.

Choose Your Path.

• Elementary Literacy – Lead literacy coaching and diagnostic decision making
• Elementary Numeracy – Strengthen mathematics coaching and instructional supervision
• Secondary Teacher Education – Support the development of middle and high school educators, including special education

Designed for Professionals.

• K–12 teachers, instructional coaches and district leaders
• Educators ready to lead teacher development

Launching Fall 2026
Scan QR Code to Learn More or visit SouthAlabama.edu/EdD-Teacher-Ed

April 23, 2026 | USA College of Education and Professional Studies

Please join us for the Winter Governing Board Meeting on April 23, 2026. All teachers, administrators, counselors, and librarians are invited to attend. A list of current board members can be found below. Please email saric@southalabama.edu for more information.

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