August 4, 2015

Welcome back! My name is Kem Sivils, and I am thrilled to be a new Teacher Leader Advisor in addition to being an Instructional Coach at St. Amant Primary in Ascension Parish.

This will certainly be an exciting year! Higher standards and increased rigor in our classrooms mean that our students will come to us knowing more than ever before. We must challenge our students and ourselves by asking the question - "How can we continue to grow our students and sustain that change so that they can become independent thinkers and problem solvers?" To support us in that challenge, I'd like to highlight two high quality resources to kick off the school year.

First is the continuously updated Teacher Support Toolbox. In addition to a new Back-to-School package, there are a ton of quality resources within the toolbox such as the ELA and Math Guidebooks. I also encourage you to access the links to EAGLE, and the 2014-2015 practice tests. These assessments can indicate who has mastered certain standards and who has not, so we can immediately begin planning for remediation or enrichment.

Next, I invite you to attend the first Teacher Leader Collaboration Event of 2015-2016 which will take place the week of September 14 in four locations across the state. Sessions will focus on instructional strategies that are relevant and engaging. You'll have time to practice with other teachers, receive feedback, and plan for implementation in your own school. I hope to see you there!

Finally, make sure you take advantage of the opportunity to weigh in on the Louisiana Student Standards through the Standards Review Portal. If you like the standards as is, check that. If you feel a change should be made, comment! This is your chance to influence the future direction of education in Louisiana!  

Submit Feedback on the Louisiana Student Standards

 

Teacher Leaders are encouraged to submit feedback on the Louisiana Student Standards through the Standards Review Portal. All feedback will be considered by the Standards Review Committees as they review and consider edits to the current Louisiana Student Standards. In order for your feedback to be heard in the first committee meeting on August 19, you must submit feedback by tomorrow, August 5.

 

The Department launched the Standards Review Portal to provide parents, educators, and all other stakeholders the opportunity to provide input on Louisiana's Student Standards in ELA and math, as part of the 2015-2016 Louisiana Student Standards review process. Through this process, those individuals closest to students will review and develop expectations for Louisiana students that will prepare them for a successful transition to college and career.

 

Please contact louisianastandards@la.gov with any questions about the Standards Review Process.
 

Back-to-School Package

 

The Louisiana Department of Education is committed to providing educators at each level of the education system - teachers, principals and districts - with the supports and resources they need to continue raising the bar for students in Louisiana. To this end, the Department will offer a combination of in-person trainings, virtual support, high-quality tools and ongoing communication throughout the 2015-2016 school year.

 

The 2015-2016 Back-to-School Package will provide all educators with resources, tools and support structures to support planning and instruction, goal-setting and assessments for the start of the 2015-2016 school year.
 

Register for the September Teacher Leader Collaboration Event

 

Teacher Leaders should register soon for one of the September Teacher Leader Collaboration Events. These meetings will take place in Lafayette (9/14), Bossier (9/15), Jefferson (9/17), and Baton Rouge (9/18). Each meeting has a limited number of spots, which will be filled on a first come, first served basis, therefore register today to ensure your seat.

 

Teacher Leader Collaboration Events provide teachers across Louisiana with access to content-specific, high-quality tools, resources and professional development designed to help them achieve their goals. The September sessions will focus on helping teachers kick off the 2015-2016 school year. Click here for details including locations, sessions, and how to register.
 

Announcing the 2015-2016 Teacher Leader Advisors

 

Congratulations to all of the Louisiana educators who have been selected as 2015-2016 Teacher Leader Advisors! 

 

Local Louisiana educators play a critical role in creating tools and facilitating professional development for fellow Louisiana educators. Teacher Leader Advisors:

 

For more information about Teacher Leader Advisors, please contact louisianateacherleaders@la.gov.

 

 

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE ON TWITTER:   #TeacherLeader

 EMAIL US YOUR COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, & FEEDBACK: LouisianaTeacherLeaders@la.gov

COLLABORATE & SHARE RESOURCES: www.edmodo.com; Group Join Code: LKEAQ4 

See Current Communication & Upcoming Training: http://www.louisianabelieves.com/resources/classroom-support-toolbox/teacher-support-toolbox/collaboration-teacher-leadership

  


LDOE Contacts

John White

State Superintendent of Education

877.453.2721 (toll-free) 

Twitter @LouisianaSupe

LDOE Links

LDOE Website

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         *This e-mail has been sent to all nominated Louisiana Teacher Leader participants.