NESC newsletter
March 2022
NESC ConnectEd
Lessons with our outstanding state partners take place each Tuesday, 3:45 - 4:15 CT!
This project is supported in part by the North Dakota Afterschool Network's STEM Next Opportunity Fund Grant and a grant from the ND Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The NESC at a Glance
REAs and the ND DPI Support Schools with Science of Reading

The NESC is partnering with the other six North Dakota Regional Education Associations (REAs) and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (ND DPI) to assist schools in developing strong literacy skills in all grade K-3 students. The increased focus on this work follows funding decisions made during the North Dakota 67th Legislative Assembly (2021) to support the improvement of core reading instruction for students in North Dakota through the most effective methods for teaching reading (a.k.a. "the science of reading").

According to North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) section 15.1-21-12.1, all educators and administrators serving students in grades K-3 will

  1. Receive training in instructional practices that align with research that reveals the science of how the brain learns and engages in reading.
  2. Utilize scientifically based instructional materials and approaches.

Further, schools will report the curriculum that is available, is implemented with fidelity, and meets the requirement of NDCC 15.1-21-12.1 in grades K, 1, 2, and 3, and will report the assessments used at each grade level for screening, diagnosing, progress monitoring, and measuring outcomes.

SAVE THE DATE!
To aid schools in meeting the professional development requirements and building literacy skills across grade K-3 classrooms, the NESC will be providing a Foundations of Reading workshop in Devils Lake August 1-3, 2022. Registration will open soon. Additional Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 offerings/cohorts of this workshop will be available as well.

You can view other professional development offerings on the ND DPI Science of Reading webpage. The NDREA will be adding to this list in the coming month and throughout the next school year. Keep checking back!
Members at Work
NESC SCRUBS Camp

The NESC welcomed 350 Grade 5 students and their educators to the Lake Region State College campus on March 24 and 25, 2022 for the 2022 NESC R-Cool Health SCRUBS Camp. Event organizers were excited to gather with participants in person for the 2022 activities after facilitating a virtual camp in 2021. This annual regional event sparks interest in rural health care and grows awareness of Lake Region career opportunities beyond high school for our NESC students. The event is facilitated in collaboration with multiple community partners through grant support from the UND Center for Rural Health and North Dakota Career and Technical Education. Since 2011, nearly 3,000 students have attended the NESC SCRUBS Camp.

We thank the following schools for participating in our 2022 Camp!
  • Dakota Prairie
  • Devils Lake Central Middle School
  • Edmore
  • Fessenden-Bowdon
  • Lakota
  • Leeds
  • Maddock
  • Minnewaukan
  • New Rockford-Sheyenne
  • North Star
  • St. Joseph
  • Starkweather
  • Tate Topa
We appreciate our SCRUBS Camp sponsors and partners!

  • UND Rural Health
  • ND Career & Technical Education
  • Altru Devils Lake
  • Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce
  • Devils Lake Rotary
  • Lake Area Career and Technology Center Health Careers Program
  • Lake Region State College
  • Lake Region State College Counseling Program
  • Lake Region State College Dakota Nursing Program
  • Lake Region State College Fitness Trainer Technician Program
  • North Dakota School for the Deaf
Celebrations!
party_pooper_bday.jpg
In April, we recognize our Assistant Principals, School Librarians, Administrative Assistants, and Volunteers! Thank you for all you do for students, families, and staff each and every day!


The Lake Area Career and Technology Center has been awarded $1,241,074 from the Career and Technical Education Capital Projects Fund. Congratulations to LACTC and Devils Lake Public Schools for this award! We look forward to seeing the new Ag program and additional enhancements to the center!
NESC Learning Opportunities
NESC 2022 Regional Fall In-service
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Lake Region State College, Devils Lake
Using the Visual Arts to Teach Life Science
All K-12 teachers are welcome to register!

Workshop Description:
The workshop will be fun and fast paced with many hands-on activities educators can use in their classrooms, discussion of classroom and curriculum integration, and identification of local resources. North Dakota resources, environment, and wildlife will be emphasized in this workshop. Field trips will be taken to demonstrate the use of natural areas as classrooms. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to experiment with different media including clay, watermedia, pastel, and colored pencil. No previous art experience is required for this workshop. All materials will be provided.

Objectives/Outcomes:
  • Identify art methods to teach life science concepts.
  • Provide meaningful art experiences by using integrated thematic instruction.
  • Acquire a basis for teaching ecological concepts and environmental stewardship to students through the visual arts.
  • Provide educational experience outside the traditional classroom.
  • Integrate resources and developed lesson plans into the existing curricula.
Dates: June 1-2, 2022

Times: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Location: Devils Lake

Facilitator: Sherry Niesar, ND Game and Fish

Cost: Free

Registration Link:

Registration Deadline:
May 23, 2022
Prioritized Instructional Planning
Two Canvas, Self-paced Courses Available!

  • One for leaders of professional learning teams
  • One for individual educators

Content and format are the same for each course, but the design of the courses is tailored for facilitated team delivery or individual study and application of the content.

Module topics include:
  1. Determining What Students Sill Need to Learn
  2. Effective Planning for Teaching the Most Critical Content (Part 1)
  3. Effective Planning for Teaching the Most Critical Content (Part 2)
  4. Effective Monitoring of Student Learning (Part 1)
  5. Effective Monitoring of Student Learning (Part 2)
  6. Crosswalking Benchmark Assessment Data with the North Dakota Priority Standards

Courses are available through June 22, 2022.

Spring registration window for graduate credit closes April 22, 2022.
Check This Out
The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction will be soliciting proposals from North Dakota teachers that encourage innovation in classrooms. Over the next two and a half years of the ESSER funding period, the department will fund one innovative proposal each quarter submitted by a North Dakota teacher. Teachers currently employed by public LEAs are eligible to receive funding.

Access the application, guidance, scoring rubric and award schedule here.
Each year, the Guilder Lehrman Institute of American History honors exceptional K-12 history teachers in each of the 50 states. A national winner is selected from among the state winners. The award is open to anyone who teaches K-12 American history (including state and local history). State winners receive a $1,000 prize, an archive of classroom resources, and recognition at a ceremony in their state. The national winner receives a $10,000 prize presented at a ceremony in their honor. Nominations can be made by any individual who is familiar with the teacher's work, including students, parents of students, colleagues, etc. Nominations must be submitted on the Gilder Lehrman website by April 30, 2022.
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
Jun. 6-8

Jun. 9

NDMTSS Conference - Save the Date!
Jun. 13-15

Jun. 15-16

Foundations of Reading Workshop - Save the Date!
Aug. 1-3, Devils Lake

Aug. 2-3

2022 ND Power Up Health Conference - Save the Date!
Aug. 31








Past NESC Workshops - Continued Support
Why People Keep Going

Past NESC In-service presenter, George Couros, always brings forth ideas that reach the minds and souls of educators. This post from George may be what many need right now.

"The above image is about a 'refocus,' but it doesn’t mean tough times will not happen again, or you won’t fall back into a defeatist mentality. Falling back is a reality. It is about not getting stuck.
 
I love this little shift in thinking from Marc and Angel:
 
'Being positive does not mean ignoring the negative. Being positive means overcoming the negative. There is a big difference between the two.'
 
There can always be a reason not to move forward. But, there can still be a reason to keep going. I try to focus on this simple mantra when I struggle:
 
Go through it or grow through it.  
 
#MindsetMatters"
Mission
The NESC supports schools through leadership and collaborative opportunities.

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