U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro and FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Honored With National Awards by AESA |
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Each year, AESA recognizes one or more legislators or a federal agency for providing strong support for furthering the federal role and funding of ESAs; advocating for positions on federal legislation supported by the AESA; or for serving in a leadership role or on a congressional committee sponsoring legislation supporting AESA legislation.
At AESA's annual Educators' Call to Action conference held last week in Washington, DC, these two leaders received AESA Congressional Service Awards.
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Jessica Rosenworcel has served on the FCC since May 2012 and was named Acting Chairwoman by President Joe Biden in January, 2021.
Joan Wade, AESA's Executive Director, called Rosenworcel “relentless” in her commitment to expanding equitable access to affordable connectivity, especially within and for schools and libraries.
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US Representative Rosa DeLauro represents the 3rd District of Connecticut and is the chair of the House Appropriations Committee. According to Wade, DeLauro has a long history of leadership on investing in education.
“She has been a tireless advocate for increasing investment in public education, and she is an ally to schools, educational service agencies, students and staff alike,” Wade said.
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New Executive Council Member
Represents Southern Region
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Due to a vacant seat in the Southern region, AESA's Executive Council unanimously voted to appoint Jan Webster, Ed.D., Director, Western Region Education Service Alliance in Asheville, NC.
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A native of Asheville, NC, Jan is currently the Director of the Western Region Education Service Alliance (WRESA) in Asheville, NV.
WRESA works with the 18 school systems in western North Carolina, along with charter and private school members. Coordinating job alike groups, providing professional development, organizing shared grant proposals, and addressing various needs as they arise are a few of the responsibilities that WRESA addresses for their members. Jan has served in this role for the past 13 years.
Please join us in welcoming Jan to AESA's Executive Council.
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USDA Issues Waiver on Healthy Meals |
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In response to feedback received by the USDA from school food operators, the USDA issued a waiver to prevent schools that are working hard to provide healthy meals to children from being penalized if they cannot meet certain program requirements due to circumstances beyond their control.
Schools have experienced unanticipated cancellation of food and supply contracts, lack of availability of certain foods, the unexpected substitution of food products, and increased food and supply prices. Food distribution companies that serve schools are also facing their own challenges, including labor shortages and transportation difficulties.
The Fiscal Action for Meal Pattern Waiver waives requirements for States to withhold reimbursements from schools that are unable to meet certain school meals requirements as a result of supply chain disruptions that are out of their control while still maintaining strong nutrition standards.
For more information, please contact
Serena Baldwin, M.S. (she/her/hers)
Program Analyst & Presidential Management Fellow
Governmental Affairs Branch
Food and Nutrition Service
United States Department of Agriculture
(571) 329-0227
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REMINDER! AESA All-Member
Community Informational Webinar
is This Week Thursday!
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AESA Communities:
Where AESA Members Connect!
Your Community
Your Conversations
Your Colleagues
Join the webinar to learn how you can connect, too! The AESA Community is a free member resource. We simply want you to get the most out of it!
Webinar Agenda:
- What is the AESA Community?
- Meet the Community group leaders.
- Discuss in breakout rooms how the Community can be best utilized.
- Report out from the discussion.
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Thursday, September 23
4:00 - 5:00 PM ET
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Making A Difference - Making a Big Impact! |
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At last week's Educators' Call to Action Conference, AESA distributed a four-page brochure and encouraged attendees to leave this brochure with their federal legislators. Why? We know that story-telling is one way we can demonstrate the work done by ESAs as we advocate for federal legislative policy and funding.
AESA is proud to tell the story of how ESAs make a difference nationwide!
We want to hear your ESAs story too. If you have an idea for our next edition of Making a Difference, please contact Joan Wade, AESA Executive Director. Enjoy!
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Professional Learning Opportunities from AESA |
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CoHort 2 Starts Next Week!
We Have Room for A Few More!
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The ESA Women’s Leadership Network - cohort 2 starts Wednesday, September 29, 2021. It is not too late to register!
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Learn how artificial intelligence (AI) can impact your ESA
Leverage AI to better serve your customers. Join us for Principles of AI for ESAs to learn how!
This virtual conference features Dr. Duncan Simester, MIT, Sloan School of Business. Join us on the following dates:
October 19, 21, 26, 28
2-4 PM ET
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NEW! AI Mentoring Program
AESA is offering a mentoring program for a small number of ESAs willing to begin AI-based projects. The mentoring will be provided by Dr. Duncan Simester and the first phase of the mentoring will focus on:
- project selection;
- identification of resources required for one or more pilot projects.
This first phase of the mentoring program is expected to last approximately three months and will include at least three sessions. In these sessions, your organization will propose three projects and then use the feedback provided by Duncan to refine these proposals. By the end of the program, each participating ESA should have at least one project ready for execution, together with additional projects in their project selection pipeline.
We anticipate that each ESA will also observe and learn from the mentoring sessions with at least one other ESA. Hearing the feedback from multiple teams will help each ESA learn how to identify, filter, and refine AI project ideas.
Program Goals
- Teach ESAs how to identify, filter, and refine AI project ideas.
- Identify at least one project that is ready for execution.
- Build a pipeline of ideas for future projects.
- Review AI resource requirements and investigate options for sourcing additional capabilities (where required).
- Build a community of ESAs actively engaged in AI projects.
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Registration is OPEN for the
AESA Annual Conference!
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AESA Annual Conference
December 1-4, 2021
Marriott Marquis
Houston, TX
Please join us in Houston, Texas for AESA's 36th Annual Conference! In addition to over 90 educational sessions to choose from, your registration includes some perennial conference favorites. This conference is the premier professional learning and national networking event for all ESA staff.
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Here's an "Easy Button" to Help You
Stay Up-to-Date with
AESA Events
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AESA has grown its list of professional learning, services, and events!
That's why the newest feature on AESA's website is a calendar where we post all upcoming events! Check it out! Bookmark it! Join us!
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