The Connection

Metro RESA has exciting opportunities for the 2024-2025 school year! In addition to our many endorsement offerings, alternative certification programs, and district support services, we are adding to our robust menu to serve the needs of our educators. This summer our teams at MRESA are putting together a fantastic 2024-2025 menu of options for our metro educators. Below you will find a short sample of just a few items we have planned in addition to what is currently listed in the June 2024 newsletter. We will be sending out more information and registration links soon.

• ELA 2024-2025 Diving Deeper Series
• Mathematics 2024-2025 Effective Teaching Practices Series
• Personalized Learning Two-Day Workshops
  

Three separate Buff Nuggets sessions will run this 2024-2025 school year. Sessions will be held at the Metro RESA Campus. The cost/session is $149. For more session details, visit the Metro RESA Special Session General PL page. Use the Metro RESA Course Catalog or click the links below to register today!

• 9/10/24: AI As A Teacher Assistant and Custom Content Creator
• 11/15/24: Cranking Up Student Creativity with Technology
• 1/13/25: Using Technology to Engage and Inspire

Join Metro RESA as we once again host Amie Dean, The Behavior Queen. Amie has a passion for helping students and teachers across the world. Her behavior-focused workshops offer right-on-time strategies to minimize and process behaviors in the classroom successfully. Leave the workshop ready to implement positive and practical strategies that can be used right away.

Three separate Amie Dean sessions will run this 2024-2025 school year. Sessions will be held at the Metro RESA Campus. The cost/session is $199. Session descriptions can be found on the Metro RESA website under Special Sessions General PL Opportunities. Use the Metro RESA Course Catalog or click the links below to register today!

• 9/17/24: Correcting Problems Now
• 12/4/24: The Reboot: Start the New Year Off Right
• 1/29/25: Behavior Interventions That Work

This training is designed to introduce participants to how the brain makes meaning from text and how to teach students those skills effectively. Participants will leave with an understanding of evidence-based instruction rooted in the various fields of scientific research regarding reading instruction. Two session options are offered to tailor the discussion to the needs of both elementary and secondary school readers.

Session Dates:

• June 10th (Grades K-5) - Register Today!
• June 11th (Grades 6-12) - Register Today!

More information can be found on the Metro RESA ELA Informational Page.

Following the success of Metro RESA's Mathematics Diving Deeper Series, the MRESA ELA Team will roll out a similar series for K-12 English Language Arts educators. Each separate training session will focus on a domain of the new K-12 English Language Arts Standards for the state of Georgia. Participants will have opportunities to collaborate to deepen their understanding of the Big Ideas, Standards, and Expectations for each domain.

Practices Domain Sessions:

• June 24th (Grades 3-5) - Register Today!
• June 26th (Grades 6-12) - Register Today!

The full Diving Deeper Series (Practices, Foundations, Text, and Language) will be offered in separate sessions during the first semester and repeat the second semester of SY 2024-2025. More information can be found on the Metro RESA ELA Informational Page.

Join GaDOE as they kick-off the 2024-2025 school year with the GaDOE Statewide ELA Launch Tour. Metro educators are invited to attend the sessions at no cost. Sessions will be held at the GaDOE Towers in Atlanta. View the GaDOE informational flyer for more session details. For additional questions, contact the Metro RESA ELA team for more information.

Fall Semester GaDOE ELA Launch Tour Registration is Now Open!

• Monday, 9/30/24: Elementary Session (Register Now)
• Tuesday, 10/01/24: Secondary Session (Register Now)

Join Metro RESA and GaDOE for the second annual Teaching and Learning Summit this September 17th, 2024! This virtual event will allow educators across the metro and beyond to learn more about the opportunities and updates ahead at Metro RESA and GaDOE in the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. Sessions will be held throughout the day, with each session focusing on specific content and departmental area needs. More information will be updated on the Metro RESA website. Virtual meeting links for each session will be shared before the summit with all registered attendees.

Click now to register for the Teaching and Learning Summit 2024-2025 today!

Join Metro RESA, businesses, and partner school districts to learn how districts around the metro creatively collaborate to meet the demands of today's students, educators, leaders, and various district support departments. Each month Metro RESA will focus on a specific topic relevant to improving stakeholder engagement and success. During sessions, private companies will share opportunities for support through new tools, products, and services. In addition, sessions will include a partnering district perspective. Participants will learn more about the process and specific success directly related to the current partnership. Monthly webinars will run from August 2024 through April 2025. More information and updates will be available on the Metro RESA website.

Quarter I Session Topics: Register Today!

• August 27th: Explore the Para to Teacher Pipeline
• September 24th: Meet Student Course Needs through Teaching Technologies
• October 29th: Inspire the Next Generation to Find Their Grind

Metro RESA is proud to offer a five-month, in-person academy created for both new and experienced instructional coaches led by expert leaders in the field.

The Metro RESA Coaching Connections Academy is a focused, engaging, and intensive professional development opportunity available to Metro Atlanta instructional coaches that will begin in the Fall of 2024. The academy aims to provide a big-picture view of instructional coaching, while still diving in deep to develop crucial skills and strategies instructional coaches need to know to become successful coaching partners with the educators and students they serve.

Target Audience: K-12 Building and District-Level Instructional Coaches and Coordinators

Cost: $299 (Click here to register today!)

Sessions:

• September 11: Personalized Learning
• October 30: Building Relationships + Creating Positive School Climate and Culture
• November 6: Diving Into the Data + Improving Outcomes
• December 18: Small Group/Station Rotation and Action Plan Reflection
• January 22: Aspiring Leaders and Graduation/Celebration

Find more updates on the Metro RESA website.

Online Teaching Endorsement

Registration closes on August 20th for the Online Teaching Endorsement Cohort that begins August 27th. Be sure to register TODAY so you do not miss this great opportunity! It will not be offered again until 2025!

Metro RESA Online Teaching Endorsement Information Page

Metro RESA Contact: Wendy.Grey@mresa.org

Informational Flyer: Click Here

Informational Video: Click Here

The Online Teaching Endorsement at Metro RESA is a GaPSC approved preparation program that provides approved candidates with the coursework and related field experience required to add the Online Teaching Endorsement to a current standard Georgia Professional Certificate. The Online Teaching Endorsement classes will consist of K-12 educators who have a desire to strengthen their online instructional knowledge, skills, and disposition toward online teaching. There will be opportunities to differentiate the tasks across grade levels, content areas, and service areas.

Metro RESA offers 13 endorsement programs. Visit the Metro RESA Endorsement Overview page for more information.

Join us for an interactive session designed to equip K-8 educators with the tools and strategies needed to host a successful Family Math Night at your school. This session will explore innovative ways to engage families in mathematical learning outside the traditional classroom setting. From fun math games and activities to fostering a positive math mindset, participants will delve into practical techniques for creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for students and their families. By the end of this session, you will leave feeling inspired and ready to orchestrate an unforgettable Family Math Night that promotes mathematical literacy and strengthens the school-home connection.

When: Friday, September 6th from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Where: Metro RESA Campus

Cost: $125

Registration: Click to register today!

Kindezi West (K-8) School, Teacher Attendance and Retention Increase!

At the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, Ms. Tiffany Terrell was one of the assistant principals at The Kindezi West (K-8) school. Due to a change in leadership, she was requested to become interim principal of the school in the middle of the 2024 spring semester. While this change was sudden, her passion and background in education helped to drive the work to roll out various initiatives and help increase student achievement. Interim Principal Terrell has served The Kindezi Network in different roles for nine years and she is big on supporting the “community”. She uses the word “community” to describe all stakeholders and has received positive feedback from them, expressing that they are very pleased with how the transition to interim principal has occurred and the initiatives that she has put into place to ensure that Kindezi West is the best environment for all involved. When asked about some of the successes she is most proud of since her inception as interim principal, two of them are at the forefront of her mind- increasing teacher attendance and retention. Combining her love of “the community” and addressing the individual needs of her staff, teacher absenteeism has decreased. Although the school had to reduce the number of employees for the 2024-25 school year (due to low student enrollment), many teachers have requested to be placed on the waiting list to have the opportunity to return to work there, if any openings become available.

Harper Archer Elementary, APS, Creative Collaborative Planning Schedule

Congratulations to Principal Dr. Crystal January and Literacy Coach Alyse Barry at Harper Archer Elementary School! Harper Archer Elementary School of the Atlanta Public School System employs a three-pronged approach to collaborative planning and instructional coach support. Teachers have a weekly opportunity to attend 90-minutes of collaborative planning, 45-minutes of data analysis/lesson overviews, or a 45-minute coaching conversation with a content coach. While the schedule seems complicated at first, teachers are supported in a variety of ways –small group, one-on-one, provided additional resources, specific lesson practice, or modeling. 90-minute Lesson Internalization sessions incorporate a scope/sequence mapped to the school calendar, district unit plans to integrate the GADOE lessons, lessons from the currently adopted resource, and deep discussion of the standard(s) for the upcoming lesson/unit. Moreover, teachers have an opportunity to practice instructional strategies and approaches, share and review student work, and receive professional learning around school and cluster instructional initiatives. The content area of focus rotates among literacy, mathematics, and science/STEAM.

Learn more about the creative collaborative planning at Harper Archer Elementary on the Metro RESA School Improvement Spotlight page.

Learn more about Metro RESA's Dyslexia Endorsement.

In April, Atlanta Public Schools recognized the completers of the Dyslexia Endorsement with an end-of-cohort celebration at the ISC. Candidates shared reflections on how impactful the endorsement has been for their own personal growth and education. Instructors, Celeste Howard and Jermal Riggins, recognized top completers for each cohort. Courtnee Roberson was one of the top completers for the APS cohorts. In addition, Burgess/Peterson Academy created a school-based cohort with Parkside Elementary. Individual teachers expressed wanting to further their knowledge around Senate Bill 48. Instructional coaches, Dr. Karla Miller and Michelin Taylor, worked together to support teachers after school to make this learning experience happen.

Learn more about the Metro RESA MTSS Facilitator Endorsement.

The Metro RESA MTSS endorsement would like to put a spotlight on two amazing candidates. Marina Berry and Tiffany Plowden successfully completed the MTSS endorsement and stood out as phenomenal candidates.

Since then, Marina Berry has accepted a promotion with Atlanta Public Schools as Coordinator of Disproportionality where she will use knowledge and skills gained from the endorsement to implement clear data-based decision-making rules for students and evidence-based behavior intervention practices.

Tiffany Plowden was recently promoted within Fulton County Schools as Coordinator of Intervention Services. She is using the knowledge gained from the endorsement program to strengthen MTSS implementation in her district. She will continue to provide excellent guidance to schools in the important work of intervention services. We are so proud of these two ladies’ accomplishments and wish them well in their new endeavors!

If you are interested in supporting your school or district with MTSS knowledge and implementation, be sure to register today! For more information, click here!

College Park Elementary, FCS, Principal Recognition

Dr. Otway hosted the Tier IV principals in school improvement work, in partnership with the GaDOE by hosting a modeling session on instructional leadership and leading her ILT. She received the Principal of the State Award from Georgia State University. She was also recently requested to speak at an educational conference in Tennessee.

Metro RESA GaTAPP Celebration

It was a joy and privilege to host the graduating 2022-2024 GaTAPP Cohort of teachers at the WellStar Community Room overlooking beautiful Truist Park on May 9, 2024. Each of the graduates was presented with a completion certificate and a commemorative gift. Many GaTAPP Supervisors attended as well to extend their congratulations to our candidates for a job well done!

The internationally renowned speaker, Mrs. Chelonnda Seroyer, served as the keynote speaker for the event. Mr. Harry Wong’s video “The First Days of School” featuring Mrs. Seroyer, was used in the candidates' first course, “Essentials of Effective Teaching” so having Mrs. Seroyer speak at the end of the candidates' journey was a full-circle moment for all. Mrs. Seroyer provided humor and inspiration to encourage the candidates throughout their journey as a teacher. She reminded everyone of the importance of positive relationships and customer service in the classroom setting. Congratulations to our graduates! We are proud of you and wish you a long, successful career in education!

Metro RESA GaTAPP Awards

GaTAPP Valari Mathis Camp Award of Excellence Celebration

On May 1, 2024, we celebrated the 12th annual Valari Mathis Camp Award of Excellence Celebration. It was a wonderful night with family, colleagues, friends, and our special guest, Katy Ruth Camp, daughter of Valari Camp.

The purpose of this award is to pay tribute to outstanding GaTAPP candidates in memory of Valari Mathis Camp, the previous coordinator of the program, who passed away from breast cancer. During the nomination process, our supervisors recommend candidates who exemplify the integrity of the GaTAPP Program by being professional educators demonstrating commitment to their students, enthusiasm for teaching, dedication to the profession, and leadership qualities in their buildings.

The application process requires candidates to submit a personal education essay, three letters of recommendation, and a video clip showcasing their impactful interactions with students.

The judges responsible for selecting the award recipient have deep personal connections with Mrs. Camp.

Recipients are recognized in several ways including a school celebration and recognition presented by Metro RESA representatives and the Camp family, an opportunity to speak at the GaTAPP Orientation to support new candidates, serve on the GaTAPP Advisory Committee, and the privilege of proudly displaying the award on their resumes.

2024 Nominees:

• Bridget Johnson/ Gwinnett County Supervisor: Dr. Mary Georgann Eaton
• Devyn Reaid/ Cobb County Supervisor: Dr. Mary Moseley
• LaShonda Small/ Rockdale County Supervisor: Alva Hartry
• Viktorija Bezbradica/ Fulton County Supervisor: Sallie Barrett

2024 Winner

• Christina Bowden/ The Globe Academy Supervisor: Julie Kaufman

This event continues to serve as a special occasion to honor the legacy of Mrs. Camp and to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the award winners and nominees.

Our Metro RESA specialists want to keep you informed. Receive the latest updates in ELA, Mathematics, Science, School Climate, and Whole Child Support. Head to our catalog and search "mailing" and you can register for one, or all!

What: GAESP New Principal Bootcamp

When: June 6 - June 7

Where: Metro RESA Campus, Conference Room

Instructor Contact: Kimberly.Anderson@mresa.org

More information, including registration links, will be posted soon on the GAEL events page under GAESP. Email Kimberly.Anderson@mresa.org for more information.