Winter 2012 Partnership Magazine - College of Education Home ...

of the Leadership Institute, which offered a session focused on
Global Education opportunities last February.
In accordance with September’s Signature Trend, a past
member from the first cohort, Lynn O’Brien, developed a
presentation on the impact of mental health initiatives in a school
and/or district. Her learning led a fellow Institute participant to
invite her to present again at staff development in Le Sueur as well
as generated awareness for the policies and practices currently in
place in PDS districts.
On November 18, the Signature Trend concerned strategies for
educating English Language Learners (ELL). A research-based activity
led participants through conversations on current ELL practices and
options for improving instruction and accountability standards within
their home districts. Participants returned from district discussions to
debrief their learning. As members commented on successes and
challenges increasing ELL achievement and/or culture, many spoke
to the force of PDS efforts, such as co-teaching and AVID, as effective
methods that can be accessed within most districts.
Adventure Education Program director, Sam Steiger, facilitated
activities in an effort to consolidate thinking and trust within the
group. The impact of these activities can be joyful and humbling,
and convey key themes for the topic at hand. For instance, one
activity entitled Lines of Communication stretched participants’ ideas
of the physical route a line of communication can take, particularly
considering some language as a barrier. Intentional, but silent
communication occurred within another activity and ended on a
collective success.
By January’s session, PIP teams will be nearing complete
implementation of their projects, which are listed on the right. Our
next issue will highlight the graduation of the second cohort and
their highlights from PIP projects. The remaining Signature Trends
will cover Early Childhood and Connecting with Family.
Winter 2012 Partnership
Le Sueur-Henderson
Building Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) for whole district,
where educators have access to global learning communities on
any and all personal projects and/or learning
St. Peter
Environmental scan, as part of district accreditation, reviewing the
demographics, programs, perceptions, and all forms of data to
inform new district and site plan
Waseca
Analyzing student progress and formulating possible intervention
solutions for students via the Viewpoint data system
Faribault
Using children’s books, produced in multiple languages, to be read
by high school students who speak the language, recorded on video,
and shared via the web with students, teachers, and families in the
community.
Sibley East
Mapping the K-12 technology scope and sequence across the district
Mankato
Studying the effects of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
(PBIS) in implementation across the district to determine which initiatives
are working and how.
Owatonna
Providing intentional staff development to facilitate collaboration for
implementation of co-teaching models district-wide.
College of Education
Providing teacher candidates and faculty in K12 & Secondary
Programs (KSP) and Special Education (SPED) ways to connect in
meaningful ways to reflect the need for collaboration in K-12 school
environments.
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