October 2021 | Monthly news for and about the staff of Northwest Education Services
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SAILing Forward
Dear North Ed Staff,
The 2021-22 school year is underway and as we settle in to our routines and begin another exciting journey in education, I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for each and every one of you for helping to guide the long-term direction of Northwest Education Services (formerly TBAISD).
Our organization is truly built by the thoughts, ideas and hard work of our staff members, and your efforts have been astounding to see as they develop and come together to form the backbone of our strategic plan.
SAIL is entering Phase III this year, and soon we will begin gathering data to support SAIL 2.0. If you are randomly selected to participate in one of many focus groups for SAIL 2.0, please consider providing us your input. After the focus groups, surveys will be sent out to all our stakeholders so that we capture a more complete picture of how North Ed may be able to support our region.
While there is a considerable amount of work required in these undertakings, this planning process allows us to make remarkable improvements to our operations, educational offerings and services we provide to students, local districts and our communities.
Your support in guiding North Ed toward continuous improvement is greatly appreciated, and I thank you in advance for your partnership.
Respectfully,
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Dr. Nick Ceglarek
Northwest Education Services Superintendent
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Maria Lyons
Teacher Assistant
Previous work: TCAPS Summer Explorers Club
Education: Traverse City Central High School
Interests: Reading, athletic events with her kids, and exploring Michigan beaches, waterfalls and tourist attractions.
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Thomas Northrup
Adult Education Teacher
Previous work: Teacher, Manistee High School
Education: University of Florida, Central Michigan University
Interests: Golf, pickleball, gardening, fishing, bow hunting, hiking and riding a motorcycle.
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Robin Smith
Job Coach, Life Skills Center
Previous work: Reaction Restoration
Education: Benzie County Central Schools
Interests: Getting outdoors and family time.
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Rebranding Update
Are you using the right email signature?
North Ed's new staff email signature was finalized in late June, so if yours doesn't look like this ...
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... it's time to update!
Email signatures are a great way to highlight our new brand and logo. If your signature needs to be changed, you can find directions on our staff intranet. The process is simple and quick – just copy, paste, update and save!
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Board Policy Resources Updated
The Northwest Education Services Board of Education at its meeting Oct. 5 adopted new policies, replacing those previously used by the ISD. Policies are being uploaded to our new web-based platform, Board Book, in the 30 days following their adoption, and an effort is underway to update references to policies in staff and student handbooks and other publications, databases and systems. Once uploaded, you will be able to review the policies online here
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Open Enrollment Approaches
It is that time of year again! Open enrollment is coming for both our MESSA members and SET SEG Blue Cross Blue Shield members.
MESSA open enrollment will be Oct. 26, 2021 to Nov. 30, 2021 and SET SEG BCBS open enrollment will be Nov. 1 to Nov. 30.
MESSA open enrollment will continue to be online and directions will be forthcoming. MESSA members who need additional support with the online enrollment or who have questions may attend the in-person event detailed below. SET SEG open enrollment will be in-person and the dates are listed below. More information will be coming in an email to you in the next week or two regarding rates and available plans.
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SET SEG BCBS Members:
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021
Location: Career Tech
Time: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Date: Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021
Location: Bridgeway (Oak Park)
Time: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021
Location: New Horizons (Traverse Heights)
Time: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021
Location: Arnell Administration Bldg.
Time: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
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MESSA Members:
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021
Location: Arnell Administration Bldg. Leelanau Conference Room
Times: 9-11 a.m. & 3-5 p.m.
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Educator Effectiveness Rating Data Appeals Window Now Open
The annual Educator Effectiveness Ratings Data Appeals Window is now open through December 1, 2021. The data appeals window allows authorized personnel from local education agencies (LEAs), both traditional public school districts and public school academies (PSAs), to make updates to inaccurate ratings from the five most recent years in the registry of educational personnel (REP). Please contact Renee Childers at rchilders@NorthwestEd.org if you have any questions.
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Dean Transportation has immediate openings |
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Sign-On Bonus
Paid Training
Guaranteed Hours
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Bus Drivers up to $26/hr
Van Drivers up to $22/hr
Attendants up to $21/hr
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Apply Today at DeanJobs.com or at 880 Parsons Rd, Traverse City
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Essential to our Children's Future
Safely transport children in your community to and from school for in-person learning.
No prior professional driving experience needed for drivers
Dean provides paid training for drivers and attendants and will pay for new drivers to receive their commercial driver's license.
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Limited Time Sign-On Bonus Available
Receive up to a $750 New Hire Sign-On Bonus if hired.
Benefits package available for all positions
Including health insurance, 401k and paid time off. Part-time to full-time hours and flexible schedules by location.
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Questions? Please call or text Carrie at (517) 930-3607
Dean Transportation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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SafeSchools Training Reminder
Each school year all staff members are required to complete essential safety training courses on the online SafeSchools platform. If you have not done so already, please complete your course requirements as soon as possible. |
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Be sure to get ALL the news!
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If you read the newsletter in your email inbox, you may be missing the full story! |
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Book Study
“How are you feeling?” That’s the first sentence of Marc Brackett’s book “Permission to Feel”. Each year, North Ed selects a book that focuses on a particular theme or topic staff want to learn more about. “Permission to Feel” is this year’s book study subject, as learning to deal with our own emotional needs and feelings can improve our chances of successfully caring for the needs and feelings of others, including students. If you’re interested in joining the book study, email Renee Childers to receive a copy of the book.
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Are email links opening up in Outlook? Learn how to make Gmail your default HERE
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Regional Staff Development Day (RSDD) - November 1
RSDD is virtual this year and will feature an impressive slate of speakers and facilitators covering a number of timely and critical topics for all staff. The big day is Monday, November 1st!
View the schedule with tracks and topics HERE.
Register TODAY! Click the sections tab to view sections and descriptions.
You can also click HERE for step-by-step instructions.
Sessions are filling up quickly, so sign up today!
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September SAILOR on Deck!
Congratulations to Susan Broad who was honored on October 7 for her dedication to Service as recognized by her North Ed Colleagues through the SAIL Organizational Recognition System (ORS). Recognize a staff member TODAY!
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Wellness News
Today! Social Event Down on the Farm
Join us at Jacob’s Farm Friday, October 15, 4-6 p.m. for fall fun with your North Ed colleagues! Hosted by the Health & Wellness Committee.
- Food and beverages available for purchase
- Corn maze admission $12
- Tractor rides $2
- U-pick apples available for purchase
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Spooky Challenge
Get in the spirit of Halloween by taking part in the Health & Wellness October Challenge. Get involved by:
- Decorating or carving a pumpkin
- Decorating your workspace
- Wear a Halloween costume to work on October 29
Then take a photo and submit it to Michelle Baggett via email by October 29 for a chance to win prizes!
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Happy Birthday!
See who celebrates in November:
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Cybersecurity Training
It’s October and Halloween is right around the corner. Beware of ghouls, goblins, vampires – oh, and hackers and scammers, too. October is also Cybersecurity Awareness Month and North Ed is undergoing a training campaign through Wizer. Employees should have received an email Sept. 3 detailing the Wizer cybersecurity program, and all staff are encouraged to complete the short training videos as soon as possible. This not only helps North Ed keep its cybersecurity insurance rates down, it will keep you safe from falling victim to a personal attack.
Phishing simulations are set to begin this month, so watch for those fake emails.
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TECH HELP
Need help with a technology issue? Try this:
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Research common problems and solutions through North Ed's Help Desk Shared Google Drive.
- Call the Help Desk at 231.922.6307. Leave a message if your call goes unanswered.
- Submit a Help Desk ticket online by clicking the link below.
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LGBT History Month
Celebrated each October – encompassing National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11) – LGBT History Month recognizes the LGBT leaders and advocates who have shaped our society throughout history and those who are continuing to make progress today, bringing us closer to equality for all.
Equality Forum, a nonprofit committed to furthering justice for LGBT individuals, recognizes the achievements of those leaders with its list of LGBT History Month Icons. The 2021 list includes composer Frederic Chopin, musician Janis Joplin, politician Althea Garrison and Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline, among others.
The push for LGBT History Month began in 1994 by a coalition of U.S. education-based organizations and is distinct from Pride Month, which is celebrated in June and honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a turning point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the U.S., according to the Library of Congress.
Safe Schools for LGBTQ Students and the Michigan Department of Education noted that one in eight Michigan high-schoolers identify as LGBT. To learn more about understanding their identities and experiences, and best practices on how to support those individuals in an educational setting, check out the link below:
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Indigenous Peoples Day
Indigenous Peoples Day is the second Monday of October and recognizes the history of Native Americans and the hardship they have endured throughout the discovery of the Americas, the establishment of the U.S. and the oppression many still face today.
Michigan is home to 12 federally-acknowledged tribes, categorized into three major tribal groups: the Chippewa (Ojibwe), Ottawa (Odawa) and Potawatomi (Bodawotomi). Together they comprise what is called the Three Fires Council, according to Central Michigan University.
Tribes across the country have their own sovereign governments, designated territories and unique ways of life, and all have influenced U.S. culture in significant ways.
To learn more about Michigan’s tribes, visit the link below:
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House for Rent - October through May, furnished 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch with basement and one car garage. Located near Career Tech. Prefer no pets. $1600/month plus utilities. Contact Tom Lennox via email at tlennox@NorthwestEd.org
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Newest Resource:
Facilities Needs Form - One of the outcomes of the SAIL Strategic Plan phase 2 was to Explore, Assess and Identify Facility Needs. As a result, all staff members are encouraged to communicate facility needs as they identify ideas or opportunities that can support their role in the organization. Completed forms are monitored by district administrators and will be included with information gathered from the initial survey data to inform facility decision making into the future.
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Board of Education Links
General Resources
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COVID-19 Resources
Communication Links
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Northwest Educational Services
(Formerly TBAISD)
1101 Red Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684
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