ESU 4 Fall Learning Opportunities
Happy Thanksgiving
🦃 A Thanksgiving Message from Our Administrator 🍁
ESU 4 is grateful for our incredible community of educators, students, and families who inspire growth and learning every day. Thank you for your dedication, collaboration, and passion for education. Wishing you and your loved ones a warm, safe, and joyous Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at ESU 4!
Registration Guide
🔷Registration Account Information🔷
🔹Head to www.esu4.org.
🔹Click "Register" at the bottom.
🔹No account? Click "Login" on the left, then "Create ESU 4 Account." Fill it out and hit "Request My Account." Once verified, use your login info to proceed.
🔹Logged in? Click "Workshops" on the right. Choose your workshop and register.
🔹Confirmation email coming soon!
🔷UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED🔷
🔹Registration:
- Non-refundable fees: Listed in each workshop description
- Cancellation: Fees are waived for cancellations made 24 hours in advance by contacting ESU 4 (no-shows will be charged the full fee)
🔹Fees:
- Full Day: $30
- Half Day: $15
- Zoom: $15 (regardless of duration)
- Special Events: Increased fees, especially for non-IIA participants
🔹Other:
- Open to all districts: Non-consortium members may pay higher fees (check individual workshop costs)
- Stipends & Subs: Available for consortium participants
- Summer Stipends: $150/day (teachers), $110/day (paraprofessionals) for those not under contract
- ESU/NCECBVI: Same as IIA rate
Teaching & Learning
Pre-K PLC
October 2nd & 4th (then first Wednesday or Friday of each month, your choice)
Zoom
The Pre-K Professional Learning Community (PLC) series for Region 1 (ESUs 4, 5, and 6) invites Pre-K educators to collaborate using their GOLD data to problem-solve and plan strategies to improve student outcomes. The series begins on October 2nd and 4th, with sessions held on the first Wednesday or Friday of each month thereafter, allowing participants to choose their preferred day. Meetings will take place online via Zoom and last one hour per month, with the first session serving as an informational introduction. To register, participants can use the provided QR code to select their preferred series. For additional information, contact Amy Colwell at Amy.Colwell@ESU6.org.
Foundational Literacy Instructional Routines
December 3, 2024
ESU 4 Conference Center
9:00a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $30
Join Jen Madison (ESU 4), Heidi Farmer (NeMTSS Region 1), and MaryJo McElhose (NeMTSS Systems) for this day of learning and practice centered on the NDE & NeMTSS Foundational Literacy Instructional Routines Resource Guide. The guide was developed to provide consistent, systematic, and explicit routines to ensure the delivery of evidence-based practices for all learners. The routines are organized into two categories—Foundational Skills and Comprehension Strategies—and can be used across all tiers of instruction.
Science Standards Rollout
December 4, 2024
ESU 4 Conference Center
9:00am - 3:00pm
Cost: $30
The 2024 Nebraska Science Standards have been released! Join us at ESU 4 to learn more about the changes that occurred, the enhancements to the teacher's guides, and updates from the ESU Science Cadre and the Nebraska Department of Education. Share in the 2017 to 2024 metamorphosis of 3D teaching and learning. How can we continue to empower students to sense-make and embrace productive struggle to be successful?
MTSS District Day
December 9, 2024
ESU 4 Conference Center
9:00am - 3:00pm
Cost: $30
MTSS teams (teachers, admin, etc.) will gather insights and resources from other districts in attendance during MTSS share-outs! Districts self-identify priorities and action steps to move district MTSS systems forward. Resources, examples and NeMTSS support will be available to assist with your district initiatives.
Special Education
Getting Ready GUIDE Opening
January 22, 2025
ESU 4 Conference Center
12:30 pm 3:30 pm
Cost: Free
This is a 3-hour training designed as a follow up to the full Getting Ready Approach training, and is provided by the regional TA. It contains content appropriate for both services coordinators (SC) and early intervention (EI) providers to attend as 1 group. EI teams who want to sharpen their skills in terms of relationship building, setting up the home visit for collaboration with the family, and partnering for co-establishing the focus of the time together, will find this refresher useful in enhancing the GUIDE Opening. Digging deeper into the purpose for the opening and practicing necessary SC and provider skills will be the theme of this professional development opportunity.
Targeted Improvement Day with NDE
March 12, 2025
ESU 4 Conference Center
9:00am - 3:30pm
Cost: $30
NDE/ESU 4 will offer training and support to districts in developing their TIP, a key metric in District Determinations. This is a valuable opportunity to work directly with NDE experts to ensure effective planning and implementation. Work time will be built into the day!
Sub reimbursement can be paid through PEaK grant
Inclusion Training
This professional development program is designed for both general and special educators to enhance their collaborative skills and deepen their understanding of inclusive education. Focused on the "Journey to Inclusion," the training will cover essential mindsets and frameworks necessary for creating successful collaborative environments that foster equitable learning experiences for all students, including those with diverse learning needs.
Student Health
Medication Administration, Asthma/Anaphylaxis, Stop the Bleed, and Narcan Administration Training
Any of these trainings are offered on an as needed basis throughout the school year. Please contact any of the ESU 4 nurses for additional questions or to discuss scheduling options.
Vision Vouchers
Keep in mind, if you have a student with a financial hardship that is unable to obtain an eye exam or glasses, we have vision vouchers available. The vision vouchers cover the cost of an eye exam and one complete pair of glasses. Vouchers are available to qualifying students through the VSP Eyes of Hope Giving Sight for Students program, the National Association of School Nurses, and the Nebraska DHHS School Health program. Contact any of the ESU 4 nurses for more information or to request a voucher.
Individual Health Plan, 504 Accommodation Plan, Emergency Action Plans
Felicia is also available to write health plans, assist with 504 accommodation plans, or create emergency action plans for those students with a medical condition that will require accommodations during the school day. If you need assistance with any of these plans contact Felicia.
Felicia Martin, RN
Mary Jo Huettner, LPN
Ivon Johnson, LPN
Technology
Engaging Educators
Student Events
Quiz Bowl
High School Quiz Bowl
March 27, 2025
Start Time - 3:00 pm
Cost: $25/team
Middle School Quiz Bowl
April 4, 2025
Start Time - 9:00 am
Cost: $25/team
For more information on ESU 4 2025 Quiz Bowl Competition, please visit our website!
Nebraska SMART
Nebraska SMART Free Online Tutoring for K-12 Students
Nebraska SMART (Success Made Accessible through Rural Tutoring), founded by the Nebraska State College System, provides free online tutoring to K-12 students in rural Nebraska. Teacher education candidates from Chadron, Peru, and Wayne State Colleges remotely tutor students through an online tutoring platform. Click here to view the Nebraska SMART promotional video. Nebraska SMART is expanding its service beginning in the Fall 2024 Semester to offer tutoring to K-12 students attending all school districts which are members of NRCSA (Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association). Additionally, Nebraska SMART will provide free online tutoring services to K-12 students enrolled in select smaller non-NRCSA public school districts in Nebraska while continuing to offer tutoring to students attending school districts in Educational Service Units 1, 4, and 13. A complete listing of eligible school districts can be found on the program’s website.
How does it work?
Parents must initially register their student(s) before they can receive tutoring services. Once registered, students or parents on behalf of students can schedule a tutoring session at least 24 hours in advance. Students can also instantly be connected with a Tutor by requesting an on-demand session during tutoring hours. The Parent Guide shows how to create an account, schedule a session, join on-demand sessions, and more.
How can I find out more information about this program?
Three informational webinars will be offered in August. Participants will join Julie Dickerson, Director of Nebraska SMART, to learn more about this free online tutoring program available for K-12 students in rural Nebraska. Click below to register for one of three live webinars about Nebraska SMART:
August 6, 2024 @ 2:00 PM Central Time, 1:00 PM Mountain Time
August 9, 2024 @ 11:00 AM Central Time, 10:00 AM Mountain Time
August 14, 2024 @ 4:00 PM Central Time, 3:00 PM Mountain Time
How can school districts help?
Your assistance in communicating with parents in your school district is essential to expand awareness and generate interest in this program. Below are ways that you can help:
- Share about Nebraska SMART in school/district/classroom parent newsletters
- Share about this program during your school/district Open House or Back to School nights
- Like, follow, and/or share Nebraska SMART on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter)
- Share Nebraska SMART social media posts on your school/district social media pages
- Link Nebraska SMART as a student resource on your school district websites
- Share about this program with Teachers, Counselors, and other district staff
- Share about this program with Parent/Teacher Associations
- Distribute bookmarks to each K-12 student in your school/district (these will be mailed to school districts at the end of July)
- Hang posters in a visible location (these will be mailed to school districts at the end of July)
- Share with your district technology team the domain allowlist guide.
Please note that we are unable to support Pre-K students at this time; please refrain from distributing promotional materials to Pre-K students.
NCECBVI
Google Groups
Educational Service Unit 4 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, marital status, disability, or age in admission or access to, or treatment of employment, in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding complaints, grievance procedures or the application of these policies of nondiscrimination:
Gregg Robke, Administrator
Educational Service Unit 4
2301 Dahlke Avenue
Auburn, NE 68305
402-274-4354
If parents, employees, and students do not feel that their complaints regarding Title IX, Title VI, Section 504 have met with resolution at the local level, they can appeal their grievances to the regional Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. This would be their final opportunity for resolution. This address needs to be readily available to parents, employees, and students for their appeals.
Office for Civil Rights
8930 Ward Parkway, Suite 2037
Kansas City, MO 64114
816-268-0550
Fax: 816-823-1404
TDD: 800-437-0833