UNA Regional Inservice Center

Welcome back to school, fellow educators! As your Region 1 Inservice Director, I wish you success in all of your endeavors for the 2023-2024 school year. Over the summer, I have had the honor of surrounding myself with many educators from our region. As a result of these interactions, I discovered that there is a reason why our schools in Region 1 have much to celebrate. We have hardworking and caring educators who put their students first!

Many of you have reason to start the year by celebrating your data that reflects growth. That does not happen by chance. It involves strong leadership, educators who focus on professional growth, a positive school culture, and a desire to build good relationships with the students they serve. I consider it an honor to be your director of professional learning for Region 1. As you plan for the school year and see a need for professional learning, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I am here to help you! Our services are free and we strive to provide high-quality of professional learning. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and be on the lookout for our Smore Newsletters throughout the school year to stay abreast of the professional learning opportunities being offered.

On behalf of the UNA Regional Inservice Center staff, have a fantastic year!

Best!

Dr. Deanna Hollimon

The UNA In-service Center is excited to offer teachers and administrators Face-to-Face, and Virtual Professional Learning Opportunities. We are committed to supporting Alabama educators in their professional growth. Please join us for one or more sessions. You will be glad you did!

Colbert County, Florence City, Franklin County,

Haleyville City, Jasper City, Lauderdale County,

Marion County, Muscle Shoals City, Russellville City,

Sheffield City, Tuscumbia City, Walker County,

Winfield City and Winston County

Staff

Dr. Deanna Hollimon - Director for Professional Learning

dchollimon@una.edu

Kim Richardson - Administrative Assistant

krichardson10@una.edu

All registrations will be through PowerSchool. We will not take emails or phones calls to do this.

Who May Participate:

Any current or retired Alabama Certified Teacher or Administrator may participate in summer 2023 professional learning sessions.

To Register for UNA-RIC Professional Learning Sessions:

1. Log on to the ALSDE PowerSchool site: www.alsde.truenorthlogic.com
2. You may follow the links on each workshop to register or you may click on the Courses tab and enter the Section # to search for the session.
3. Click the Register button.

Confirmation:

You will receive a confirmation email from PowerSchool. If a session is canceled or if there is a change in anything, we will notify you by the email address you have in PowerSchool.

For virtual sessions participants will receive a link to the meeting prior to the meeting start time. The email will be sent to the address that is currently listed in the participant’s PowerSchool profile. Because this is the only contact information we have for participants who enroll in the session, participants should ensure that their email address is correct in PowerSchool!!

• If you do not know your log-in information, please contact your Principal or Central Office.

• If you do not have a PowerSchool account or if you are a retired teacher with questions about PowerSchool, please contact ALSDE, Rhett Cutts. rcutts@alsde.edu When emailing, please include your full name and ALSDE ID number. You can locate your number via https://tcert.alsde.edu/portal/public/pages/searchCerts.aspx

This session is for any teacher who missed the summer session or is a new hire and needs the AlaKiDS training.

• The professional learning session will Identify the purpose of using AlaKiDS.

• Review the assessment prompts and observation process
• Explore the AlaKiDS Materials Kits.
• Demonstrate how to enter the information into the AlaKiDS portal

Audience: Kindergarten Teachers new to AlaKiDS

Date: Friday, August 11, 2023

Time: 8:00 - 11:00

PS Section #480523

This training provides previously trained administrators with a comprehensive “deep dive” in the ATGP, including the following:

• Systematic approach to applying the Cognia rating guide to ensure rating accuracy

• Rating and discussion of teachers’ lessons (video) to improve consistency of ratings

Audience: All Observers; Principals, Assistant Principals, Counselors, Instructional Coaches

Facilitator: Dr. Barry Wiginton

Location: UNA East Campus, 1640 Tune Ave, Florence, AL

Date: Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Time: 8:30 - 11:30

PS Section #481028

Alabama Achieves, the strategic plan of the Alabama State Department of Education, specifically focuses on providing students with highly effective teachers. The ALSDE has partnered with Cognia in creating a teacher observation tool that provides educators with specific areas of strengths/growth and aligns with the Alabama Core Teaching Standards. The instrument also assists educators in developing professional development plans and choosing informed professional learning experiences. In this session, administrators will be able to Understand the Teacher Observation Tool Utilize the Teacher Observation Tool for classroom observation Calibrate scores on the Teacher Observation Tool.

Audience: All Observers; Principals, Assistant Principals, Counselors, Instructional Coaches

Facilitator: Dr. Barry Wiginton

Location: UNA East Campus, 1640 Tune Ave, Florence, AL

Date: Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Time: 8:30 - 3:30

PS Section #478202

This training provides classroom teachers, administrators, and support specialists with a better understanding of the connection between the Alabama Core Teaching Standards, the Teacher Self-Assessment, and Alabama Teacher Observation Tool.

Audience: All K-12 Educators

Facilitator: Dr. Barry Wiginton

Location: UNA East Campus, 1640 Tune Ave, Florence, AL

Date: Thursday, August 24, 2023

Time: 8:30 - 3:30

Participants will investigate practical tips to educators for helping young students with autism and other developmental disabilities learn to successfully function in a classroom setting.

VIRTUAL SESSION: See PS Notes section for Zoom information.

Audience: K-12 Educators

Facilitator: Allie M. Cramer, Ed.S

The University of Alabama

Date: Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Time: 3:00 - 4:30

PS Section #468767

In this session, we will discuss practical ways for educators to prepare students with autism and other developmental disabilities to transition students from high school to post-school environments.

VIRTUAL SESSION: See PS Notes section for Zoom information.

Audience: K-12 Educators

Facilitator: Stephanie Taylor Marshall, Ph.D. GOALS Program Manager, Columbus State University

Date: Thursday, August 24, 2023

Time: 3:00 - 4:30

PS Section #468766

Looking for more information about becoming National Board Certified? Are you thinking about going through the National Board Certification process? Do you want to know more about the process and how to begin the journey? The University of North Alabama NBCT Support Program is here to help guide you through the entire process from beginning to end.

If your school district is interested in starting an NBCT Cohort in Region 1, please let us know. We can support your efforts. Just contact Dr. Deanna Hollimon at dchollimon@una.edu or 256-765-4888.

For more information on Alabama's NBCT, click this link, Alabama's NBCT.

Start your journey in becoming a prestigious National Board Certified Teacher today!

UNA-RIC will be offering National Board Certification support for the 2023-2024 school year. If you are interested in participating in NBCT professional learning and mentoring opportunities for this school year, please complete the following google form. We will then add you to our NBCT email list.

Click here to be added to the NBCT email distribution list.

Is your school's mission and vision to prepare our youth for the workforce of the future? If it is, then you will want have a BEST Robotics Team. Data shows that more than 90% of students have an increased interest in STEAM careers after participating in BEST Robotics! Alabama BEST teachers may also receive professional learning credits or TEAMS credit.

We are excited that UNA will host the annual Southeastern BEST Robotics Championship in December 2023 at Flowers Hall.

Want to know more about starting a BEST Robotics team?

Contact:

Kim Sheppard (256) 331-5331

kim.sheppard@bestinc.org

https://nwalbest.com

www.bestrobotics.org

Alabama Literacy Association will host its 55th annual fall conference, Literacy Reilluminated, October 3-4, 2023.

Natalie Wexler and New York Times best-selling author Patti Callahan Henry will speak.

Proposal submissions are due August 18. The early bird conference rate ends August 25.

For more info can be found here: News from ALA

Alabama Literacy Association will host its 55th annual fall conference, Literacy Reilluminated, October 3-4, 2023.

Natalie Wexler and New York Times best-selling author Patti Callahan Henry will speak.

Proposal submissions are due August 18. The early bird conference rate ends August 25.

The annual Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education Conference will be held October 18-20, 2023 in Mobile, Alabama. For more information, visit Alabama Department of Early Childhood Conference

Email: amsti@una.edu
Website: www.amstiuna.org
Location: 1640 Tune Avenue, Florence, AL, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amsti.una.5
Twitter: @amstiuna

ATLAS is a resource designed for National Board Certification, but it can also be used by teachers for personal growth or incorporated into district teacher induction programs. This resource is open to our full-time, public school educators in Alabama. Please contact Dr. Hollimon at dchollimon@una.edu for an account.

The College of Education and Human Sciences offers a variety of programs including Counselor Education, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Instructional Leadership, Secondary Education, Special Education, Teacher Leadership, Exercise Science, Sport and Recreation Management, and more. There are approximately 900 undergraduate students and approximately 500 graduate students enrolled in the COEHS. The College of Education and Human Sciences offers over 50 degree programs, minors, and certificates across 3 departments.

Are you ready for the next phase of your journey?

Check out how you can advance your career today!

UNA is proud to be a partner with several Alabama school systems. The LEAD partnership allows you to obtain an advanced degree, certification, and/or micro-credential via UNA Online program offerings at a reduced cost. Please find links and information concerning the UNA LEAD Partnership, current school system partners, and instructions on obtaining the discount by clicking this link.

Contact Lori McGuire, AMSTI Director, at lamcguire@una.edu to request support for your school or district.

Contact Dr. Karen Thorn, ATiM Specialist, at krthorn@una.edu to request support for your school or district.

Dr. Deanna Hollimon - Director

dchollimon@una.edu

Ms. Kim Richardson - Administrative Assistant

krichardson10@una.edu

Website: www.una.edu/inservice
Location: 1640 Tune Avenue, Florence, AL, USA
Phone: 256-765-4228
Facebook: facebook.com/UNAinservice
Twitter: @UNAinservice