Regional League Webinars
This introductory webinar clarifies outcomes for several of this year’s LIS activities, and addresses the types of support offered to LIS members, both regionally and in-state.
Title: School Culture and Approaches to Student Behavior: Leading and Learning for Equity Resources from Leslie Blatteau, Metropolitan Business Academy, Connecticut Resources from Adam Bunting, Champlain Valley Union High School, Vermont Description: As schools work to create student-centered programs and to implement more student-focused practices in their classrooms, they recognize the important connection between academics and school culture. Schools are working to develop comprehensive approaches that support student growth and positive decision-making in all aspects of school life while recognizing the very real challenges of supporting all students in developmentally appropriate and individualized ways. In this webinar, leaders from Metropolitan Business Academy (New Haven, CT) and Champlain Valley Union High School (VT), will present beliefs, approaches and examples within their personalized learning environments that support students as individuals so they can achieve as learners. Participants will be encouraged to consider how the beliefs, approaches, and resources can apply to the unique context. Presenters:
Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Adam Bunting, Principal, Champlain Valley Union High School, VT
Leslie Blatteau, Instructional Coach & Teacher, Metropolitan Business Academy, CT
Reed Dyer, Senior Associate, Great Schools Partnership
Courtney Jacobs, Senior Associate, Great Schools Partnership
New Tech Teams, with the Great Schools Partnership, presents a grant opportunity for LIS Members.
Title: Detracking and Heterogeneous Grouping Kearsarge Regional High School Noble High School Description: In this webinar, we will review research related to tracking and clarify the difference between tracking and flexible ability grouping. Teachers and leaders from Maine’s Noble High School and New Hampshire’s Kearsarge Regional High School will share with us success stories about their long-standing use of heterogeneous grouping. They will demonstrate beliefs and practices that have improved learning for every student in their classrooms and discuss practical ways to engage parents and students in understanding and supporting this practice. Please join us for a deep dive into heterogeneous grouping. Presenters:
Date: March 15, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Research repeatedly has demonstrated that tracking students into perceived ability groups does not improve school outcomes. Furthermore, tracking is one of the primary ways in which existing racial and socioeconomic divides are tacitly encouraged and even enforced in schools. Despite this evidence, the practice remains popular among many teachers, parents, and students in schools.
Title: 21st Century Skills Description: These terms all point to a broad set of knowledge, skills, work habits, and character traits that are believed to be important to success in college, careers, and citizenship. Most of the 21st century skills can be applied in all of the academic subject areas, as well as in all educational, career, and civic settings throughout a student’s life. There is an increasing body of research that demonstrates the importance of both teaching and assessing these important skills. In this webinar, participants will: Presenters:
Date: May 3, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
21st Century Skills, Transferable Skills, Guiding Principles, Cross-curricular Competencies, and 21st Century Learning Expectations are five ways that describe the topic for this League of Innovative Schools webinar.
Ted Hall, Senior Associate, Great Schools Partnership
Michael Martin, Director of Curriculum & Technology, Montpelier Public Schools
Kassandra Reid, Math Teacher, Montpelier High School
Joshua Parker, Math Teacher, Montpelier High School
Title: More information coming soon
Date: June 14, 2017, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Connecticut State Webinars
Maine State Webinars
During this webinar, educators from Noble High School shared their work around the comprehensive system of supports and interventions they refer to as ‘KnightTime.’ Webinar Materials:
February 8, 2016 During this webinar, educators from RSU 2 share aspects of their highly collaborative work that serves to build overall assessment literacy and creates shared understanding and consensus about what proficiency looks like and how to assess student work in ways that are increasingly consistent. Courtney Belolan (Instructional Coach) and Matthew Shea (Coordinator of Student Achievement) set the context for their work by describing a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration that led to their initial development and implementation of proficiency-based learning. Their district-wide content area K-12 curriculum teams are central to their work. This year, each of these content area teams is focusing on the design and/or refinement of summative assessments. Using protocols and processes aligned with the School Reform Initiative’s principles for effective educator collaboration, teachers engage in conversations that lead to increased understanding of effective assessment design principles. The result is stronger, better aligned assessments (the cornerstone of proficiency-based learning) throughout the district which benefit students. The following includes links to the webinar recording, slides used, and resources referenced. February 16, 2016 Peer Leadership in a Personalized Learning System Webinar Materials: January 11, 2016 | 4:00pm During this webinar, educators from Cumberland High School share how technology and the recent deployment of 1:1 devices for all students supports their personalized and proficiency-based graduation system. February 25, 2016 | 4:00pm Student Voice + Choice in a Personalized Learning System During the webinar, teachers and leaders from the school will describe their efforts to build greater opportunities for student voice and choice in the classroom. As part of their comprehensive work to personalize learning, educators from Feinstein have deliberately and collaboratively been planning for and supporting more opportunities for students to have a voice in their learning and access to greater choice. We learn more about the planning, staging, and supports in place as well as have an opportunity to hear from teachers about the specific shifts in teaching and learning that result from this work. Watch the Webinar Recording February 29, 2016 | 3:00 PM As part of their work to personalize learning, Harwood Union High School has shifted their leadership, professional learning, and engagement strategies to lay a solid foundation for continuous school improvement and, ultimately, a student-centered learning environment. This webinar specifically highlights the work of HUHS in developing shared leadership, refining administrative leadership, and building learning communities in order to shift their school-wide practices and realize their mission and vision. Webinar Materials:
New Hampshire State Webinars
Winnacunnet High School developed Freshman Seminar as a one-trimester, introductory high school curriculum. Aimed at fostering academic success, collaborative learning experiences and student empowerment, the class features a peer leadership system where upperclassmen serve as role models and co-facilitators of the class. Winnacunnet has used this model to benefit the physical, social, and emotional well-being of each student. Rhode Island State Webinars
Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School of Coventry
note: video was shown during the live webinar that unfortunately was not captured in the recording. Please use the links included here to view separately. At approximately minute 27:00 Feinstein shared this video of what the classroom looks like. At minute 32:00, on the title slide “What do the kids think?” two student interview videos were shared which you can view here and here. Vermont State Webinars