ESC TODAY
Timely Information and Resources for Region 11 Schools
March 1, 2017
ESC TODAY is published twice a month on the first and third Wednesdays throughout the school year except during holidays.
Real Video Challenge: Win an iPad for Your Classroom or a 30-day Coaching Contract for Your School!
You can win an iPad for your classroom or a 30-day coaching contract for your school by submitting a classroom video that exemplifies effective teaching practices. ESC Region 11 is sponsoring the Real Video Challenge powered by IRIS Connect and is accepting classroom videos until April 15.
Why? ESC Region 11 is committed to creating an extensive database of video examples that come from our very own teachers, authentically showcasing their skills. We’re building a video library that will house real teaching examples of everything from differentiation and objective-driven instruction to classroom management. The completed video library will be offered free of charge to all districts in ESC Region 11.
For each video submission, the campus will be entered into a drawing for a 30-day coaching contract valued at $20,000. You do not need fancy equipment or video editing skills. Just use your phone, your tablet, your computer, or any other device you have to record your classroom and submit the video for an opportunity to win.
More information is available at Real Video Challenge, or you may contact Tracie Cain.
Child Nutrition Summer Conference Set for June
A ServSafe workshop will be offered in August rather than during the summer conference so that participants have an opportunity to attend other sessions.
Meal Appeal University will be held on July 25-26 in Mansfield ISD and is hosted by ESC Region 11 Child Nutrition department.
More information on all three events is available here.
Connect2Texas: Easy Pay for Interactive Content (EPIC)
EPIC was created to help districts streamline the detailed and sometimes challenging state purchasing procedures. EPIC will assist with the management, paperwork, and billing associated with educational content enhancement programs offered from Connect2Texas providers. Although many of the Connect2Texas programs are free, some providers charge a fee to cover materials for student activities and offset other cost associated with delivering their videoconferencing programs.
How does EPIC work?
- EPIC allows districts or individual schools to deposit money into an EPIC account.
- ESC Region 11 will serve as the billing agent for all educational videoconferences purchased by the district or school.
- Connect2Texas providers will invoice ESC Region 11 directly.
- EPIC provides a system to authorize payments, track current balances, and view registered programs.
- No minimum deposit necessary.
- Service fee is 10% of the total dollars deposited.
For more information or to create an EPIC account, please contact Pam Neven, (817) 740-3607.
Educators and Students Needed for Our Free Virtual Science Club
Do you have a science club? If so, please consider being part of the virtual science club hosted by ESC Region 11 in conjunction with The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Educators and students are needed to help us test this program as we seek to find new ways to engage Texas students in science and support your hard work as science club sponsors.
The club meets every other week with a choice of two weekday afternoons to accommodate busy schedules. Solar Eclipse 2017 is the topic of the next virtual club meeting, March 21 or 23.
More information is available on the Virtual Science Club online flier.
Educators Have Two Opportunities to Attend Drug Impairment Classes
Drug Impairment Training for Education Professionals will be held on March 23, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at ESC Region 11. The training is designed to enable the secondary educational professional to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol impairment. Registration and additional information
Nominate a Student Volunteer for Student Heroes Award
The State Board of Education (SBOE) is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Student Heroes Award. The Student Heroes Award program recognizes Texas public school students in prekindergarten through high school who voluntarily work to assist or benefit their fellow Texas students.
More information is available on TEA's website.
School Emergency Planning Interactive Workshop Set for March
The Texas School Safety Center will present School Emergency Operations Planning at ESC Region 11, March 29-30, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. This interactive workshop is designed to help schools develop and refine comprehensive, high-quality emergency operations plans and processes and strengthen preparedness to respond efficiently and effectively to emergency situations.
Download a flier for additional information about the workshop and registration.
List of safety and security events scheduled by the Texas School Safety Center.
TEA Announcements
Districts may apply to the commissioner of education for a waiver from the requirements to implement student growth in T-TESS and T-PESS in 2017-2018.
On March 2, ESC Region 11 is hosting a workshop on Student Growth Measure Information to provide an overview of options for measuring student growth within the T-TESS appraisal system and an in-depth look at the SLO (Student Learning Objective) process. The workshop will be held at 9 a.m. and repeated at 1 p.m. Registration is not required. Additional information
ESSA Federal Application Training at ESC Region 11 on March 20
TEA staff will be at ESC Region 11 on March 20 to train district personnel on the new ESSA eGrants application. There are substantial changes, and the meeting may be of interest to anyone who works within the federal grants program. Lunch will be provided.
For additional information, please contact Jim Phillips, (817) 740-7581. Registration
Uplifting Educator Stories: Share Your Education Success Story with TEA
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has launched a statewide social media campaign to tell the remarkable stories of Texas educators. Uplifting Educator Stories are those that demonstrate rigorous and rewarding classroom experiences, student achievement, and student human interest going beyond success in a typical class or on a test.
If you have ideas for this project, email the story and photo to Lauren Callahan. A new story will be selected each week and shared statewide via TEA social media accounts using the hashtag #IAmTxEd.
Join Our Social Community
Stay connected to ESC Region 11 through our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, as well as our blogs, and email lists/listservs. Join the ESC Region 11 pages, and/or find the specific group that meets your needs. Browse through the list and click on the one you are interested in joining.
FEBRUARY FACEBOOK PROMOTION WINNER IS...
As a special promotion, we asked ESC TODAY viewers to "Like" our Facebook page during February. As a result, the page received 30 likes, and one of those, Sarah Altom, librarian at Weatherford High School, Weatherford ISD, was selected as the winner of an ESC Region 11 water bottle. Watch for the next contest, but don't wait to connect with us on social media!
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ESC Region 11
Email: communications@esc11.net
Website: esc11.net
Location: 1451 Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX 76108, United States
Phone: (817)740-3600
Facebook: facebook.com/ESCRegion11
Twitter: @ESCRegion11