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NESC newsletter

September 2023

Upcoming Educator Events

District events & regional event details posted in the NESC calendar


October

  • 4th - LETRS Volume 1 Check-in / NESC Cohort, 4:00, virtual
  • 6th - TSI/CSI Administrator Support Session, virtual
  • 9th - NDMTSS Evaluating Your System Launch, 1:00, virtual
  • 11th - NESC Joint Board Meeting, 12:30, Devils Lake
  • 11th - NESC Technology Learning Cooperative Management Team Meeting, 1:30, Devils Lake
  • 16th - CLSD / Family Engagement (Patricia Weinzapfel) Webinar, 1:00
  • 19th - Foundations of Reading, 8:30, Devils Lake
  • 23rd - LETRS Volume 2 / NESC Cohort, 9:00, Devils Lake
  • 26th - STEM After Hours 1:00, virtual
  • 30th - LETRS Volume 1 / NESC Cohort, 9:00, Devils Lake



Upcoming Student Events

Event details posted in the NESC calendar



Access live ConnectEd lessons for use within your afterschool programming!



Engaging lessons aligned to the ND content standards from a variety of incredible ND instructional partners!


4:00 - 4:30 pm each Tuesday on Zoom


  • Oct. 3 - Grades K-2
  • Fargo-Moorhead Community Theater
  • Oct. 10 - Grades K-2
  • Fargo-Moorhead Community Theater
  • Oct. 17 - Grades 3-8
  • Visual Arts w/ Nicole Gagner
  • Oct. 24 - Grades 3-8
  • Gateway to Science
  • Lights On Afterschool event!


2023-24 Calendar of NESC ConnectEd Lessons
What You Need, When You Need It

Teacher Visitation Grant

The NESC's Lake Region Teacher Center has a grant available for teachers to observe other colleagues in the classroom. This funding is intended to pay for a substitute teacher during that observation and absence from the classroom. Teachers are encouraged to pursue support towards professional, instructional goals.


The form linked below can be completed and returned to Jennifer.Carlson@nescnd.org. Requests are accepted throughout the school year as funding is available.

The NESC at a Glance

NESC's State Board of Public School Education Audit

The NESC staff successfully completed a presentation/audit to the State Board of Public School Education September 25, 2023. According to North Dakota Century Code N.D.C.C. § 15.1-09.1-12, all Regional Education Associations (REAs) approved by the superintendent of public instruction are required to complete a bi-annual audit to be approved by the State Board of Public School Education. The NESC was proud to highlight the following information:

  • REA structure
  • Strategic plan
  • Successes and challenges
  • State-wide collaborative efforts
  • Required services for member school districts according to ND Century Code
  • REA work in alignment with K12 Education Coordination Council aspirational goals
  • Review process according to ND Century Code
  • Financial audit report
  • Current year's revenue and expenditure report

The NESC was commended for depth and breadth of service to member schools and continuous collaborations with North Dakota educational partners.

Members at Work

Foundations of Reading

The NESC launched its 2023-24 Foundations of Reading series September 18 at Lake Region State College in Devils Lake! Thirteen educators from across the region are learning about the five big ideas of reading to maximize support for students through instruction, assessment and intervention. The series is led by consultant, Shannon Harken, and facilitated by NESC Instructional Coach, Dawn Johnson.

Celebrations!

Congratulations, Megan Wasness!


Mrs. Wasness, English Teacher at Devils Lake Central Middle School, was named as a finalist for the 2024 North Dakota Teacher of the Year Award. She was also named as a 2023 County Teacher of the Year in April. The NESC has been fortunate to partner with Mrs. Wasness for the NESC Beginning Teacher Workshop in recent years, as she provides outstanding models of instructional practice for those new to the profession.

ND DPI Press Release
Devils Lake Journal Article

NESC Learning Opportunities

Paraeducator Online Training is available as a school-wide program with this NO COST opportunity. Paraeducators and tutors will have access to 150+ self-paced modules covering general education and special education environments. Learning modules typically ranges from 45-60 minutes in length, can be accessed using any platform day or night, and can be personalized to fit each individual within your system.

Administrators, simply complete this form to enroll your school district today ($35/person value).
Assessing to Inform:
Put Your Data to Work For You
Through hands-on experiences, learn key guidelines and tips for interpreting data and viewing reports at the student, classroom, school, district, and national levels. Learn how to really understand and apply the data to guide instruction and intervention, plan student groupings, etc. See how to use data to facilitate improved educational outcomes for students.

Go to ndrea.org and select Statewide Initiatives / Assessing to Inform to access archived resources and webinar recordings for the following:
  • Assessment overview
  • ACT & PreACT
  • AIMSweb
  • FastBridge
  • NWEA
  • Renaissance STAR
  • WorkKeys

Renaissance STAR - New Resource Supports Available


As part of the Assessing to Inform workshop series, a new STAR archived webinar and accompanying resources are now available!


Session: Decision-making for RTI/MTSS with Star CBM


Access this session by going to https://ndrea.org/index.php?id=146.

Click on "Resources."

 

Learning Outcomes:

  • Identify how and where CBMs fit into evaluation of or informing instruction/intervention in RTI/MTSS models
  • Group students of similar scores in the same Star CBM measures, with Star CBM
  • Set goals and monitor progress using the Star CBM Record Book and the note-taker feature
  • Plan differentiated instruction/intervention using the Star CBM Record Book

 

Session Facilitator: Dona Mae Zitzow, Renaissance Consultant

NESC Graduate Credit

The NESC is partnering with Valley City State
University to offer cafeteria graduate credit to member educators for NESC professional learning events.


Graduate Level
Professional Development
Credit Courses
(up to nine credits) for $275!
Purchase an annual subscription to gain access to online Graduate Level Professional Development Credit courses at a significant savings only available to NESC members. You'll be able to take one course each term for a total of three courses per year. 

Courses are offered through a partnership with University of North Dakota and Virtual Education Software (VESi). 
  • Three courses per year (up to nine credits) for $275
  • Learn online at your own pace from the convenience of your home
  • Choose from over 30 online courses for license renewal and salary advancement
 
View the full list of available courses, access course info/FAQs, and purchase the annual subscription at the following link: https://www.virtualeduc.com/nesc.
 
Questions? Call 1-800-313-6744.

NESC Partner & North Dakota Learning Opportunities

ND Science of Reading

https://www.nd.gov/dpi/education-programs/nd-science-reading

https://www.ndrea.org/index.php?id=139


ND Association of Technology Leaders Conference

Oct. 17-18


NDCEL Fall Conference

Oct. 18-20


NDCTM Summer Conference

Jun. 11-12


2023-24 NDMTSS Roadmap / Training Calendar / Registration Information


North Dakota United Weekly Book Studies


EduTech Training Opportunities


EduTech Special Topics


SLDS Workshops


CREA Online Courses


ND Educational Hub


North Dakota Professional Development

Red River Valley Writing Project


Writing is fundamental to thinking and learning—across the curriculum!


As part of the nation’s largest network of writing instructors, the RRVWP works with your school to design and deliver

professional development workshops to enhance literacy and improve the effectiveness of writing

instruction.


Better teaching leads to better writing!


For 50 years, NWP teacher-leaders at all grade levels have developed and shared innovative approaches to teaching writing that empower all young people as critical thinkers and confident

creators. And for 50 years, research has shown our positive impact on student achievement.


CONTACT:

RRVWP Director, Ben Melby (benjamin.melby@ndsu.edu), to customize your PD!

Teacher Innovation Grants


The Office of Indian and Multi-Cultural Education has a new opportunity available to educators in North Dakota. We will support North Dakota educators who want to pursue National Board Certification. Our office is partnering with Technology and Innovation in Education’s Dr. Scott Simpson and Sharla Steever to provide candidate support to teachers, administrators, and counselors with at least three years of experience in schools and currently serving in our state's public or BIE schools.


Candidates will receive mentoring, a series of retreats to support their work on the components, and graduate credit for completed components, and the NDDPI will cover the costs of the process. Educators who complete the certification will receive a $1,500 stipend each year for the life of their certificate. This is a wonderful opportunity we hope you will consider. Please contact Lucy FredericksDr. Scott Simpson, or Sharla Steever if you want to participate in this experience. The deadline for participation will be November 1, 2023.

Past NESC Workshops - Continued Support

Mission
The NESC supports schools through leadership and collaborative opportunities.

Vision 
The NESC positively impacts schools' capacity to offer high-quality education.
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