Coastal Plains RESA

Dear Coastal Plains RESA Community,

As we embark on a new academic year, I am filled with a sense of excitement and optimism about the opportunities that lie ahead for our schools, educators, and students. At Coastal Plains Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA), our mission has always been to support and enhance educational practices across our region. This year, we are more committed than ever to fostering environments where students can thrive, educators can excel, and communities can come together.

Celebrating Successes

Before looking forward, it’s important to acknowledge the tremendous successes we achieved together last year. From innovative instructional strategies to outstanding student achievements, our districts have much to be proud of. I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to our teachers, administrators, and support staff for their unwavering dedication and to our students for their resilience and hard work.

Strategic Initiatives for the 2024-2025 School Year

This year, Coastal Plains RESA will focus on several key initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of education in our region:

1. Professional Development and Support: We are rolling out a comprehensive professional development program tailored to the unique needs of our educators. Our workshops and training sessions are designed to equip educators with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s classrooms.

2. Student Engagement and Well-being: Recognizing the diverse needs of our students, we will continue to prioritize programs that support both academic achievement and social-emotional well-being. Our goal is to create inclusive and supportive learning environments where every student feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential.

3. Community and Stakeholder Engagement: We believe that education is a collaborative effort, and we are committed to strengthening our partnerships with parents, community members, and local businesses. Through open communication and shared goals, we aim to build a network of support that extends beyond the classroom.

4. Technology Integration and Innovation: As technology continues to shape the future of education, we are investing in resources and training to ensure our schools are equipped with the latest tools and practices. Our focus is on enhancing digital literacy, fostering creativity, and preparing students for the challenges of the 21st century.

Looking Ahead

The road ahead is filled with possibilities, and while we know there will be challenges, we are confident that, together, we can overcome them. Our strength lies in our collective commitment to excellence and our shared vision of a brighter future for all students in our region. As we move forward, I encourage you all to stay connected and engaged. Your feedback, ideas, and involvement are crucial to our continued success. Let us embrace this new academic year with enthusiasm, determination, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Coastal Plains RESA and for all that you do to make our schools and communities vibrant and successful.

Wishing you a productive and inspiring year ahead!

Wes Taylor

Executive Director

Welcome to Latonya Mitchell as our new Mathematics Mentor.

Welcome to Tammy Sellers as our new School Climate & Wraparound Specialist

Coastal Plains RESA would like to welcome everyone back for the FY25 school year. May this year be filled with many success stories. CPRESA is committed to supporting our twelve districts. Workshops and trainings are already underway. You may visit our website for a listing of upcoming events. If you need to update your account in Learning Stream, click here for more information.

"A good education can change anyone. A good teacher can change everything." -unknown

Regina Purvis

Professional Learning Director

New ELA Resources Released to Support Training & Implementation! GaDOE has published two new resources to aid you in your exploration and training/implementation phases of Georgia’s K-12 ELA Standards! Please reach out with additional questions. District & School Implementation Recommended Planning Template: This template outlines four phases of district- and school-level standards implementation, describing the tasks and responsibilities for four target areas of implementation: leadership, curriculum, professional learning, and communication.
Correlating Georgia’s K-12 ELA Standards with the Georgia Early Literacy Act: This resource provides useful information for three significant terms in the Georgia Early Literacy Act in the first section and illustrates specific correlations between the Georgia Early Literacy Act and the ELA standards in the second section.

I am pleased to serve as the Coastal Plains Regional Literacy Coaching Specialist for our twelve districts! I will be working alongside district and building-level instructional coaches to ensure the expectations of Georgia’s Early Literacy Bill (HB538) are being met in all our schools. This endeavor will likely look different from district-to-district and building-to-building, so our collaborative sessions will take place in varying settings and be adapted to fit the need(s) of those attending. One person from each district has been designated as my point of contact and will be in touch with you regarding our first face-to-face meeting. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or comments. I’ll see you soon!

Jessie Russell, Ed.D.

RESA Literacy Coach

K-12 Mathematics Instructional Videos. GaDOE is proud to present our Georgia's K-12 Mathematics Instructional Videos from their collaboration with GPB. This video series provides in-depth information and professional learning for Georgia’s K-12 Mathematics Standards. Information and resources are shared to support the implementation of the state-adopted mathematics standards for all grade levels, K-12. Educators can come here to see the extent of the standards expectations for student success.

I have updated my website to include quick videos and lots of technology tips for new and veteran teachers. You can find info on GaDOE's GaConnects suite, artificial intelligence, and links to free online apps and resources for education. Technology Takeaways

Two of my most recent videos share ways to make websites more accessible for students and teachers:

Use Chrome Reading Mode to display a text-only version of a website and adjust text size and more

Install Read & Write for Chrome and have any website read aloud

Leanne NeSmith

Technology Specialist

Happy Back to School! We're celebrating our 10th year of Growing Readers! From small beginnings to incredible milestones, we are grateful for every friendship, smile, and shared moment. Growing Readers recognizes that effective professional learning is collaborative, ongoing, and embedded in practice. The two-year initiative engages teachers in both offsite professional learning sessions and onsite coaching support through rounds. Growing Readers coaches partner with teachers to experiment with new practices and refine reading instruction together. Growing Readers is a kindergarten through fifth grade professional learning opportunity that provides consistent and high-quality professional learning to teachers on evidence-based reading instruction. The project aims to support teachers in increasing the number of children reading at grade level. This is a statewide RESA initiative, in which all 16 RESAs in Georgia participate in the project. The project is funded by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement and the Georgia Department of Education. Find out more about Growing Readers by visiting our CPRESA website.

Stephanie Butler,

stephaniebutler@cpresa.org

Growing Readers Specialist

• NEW! Classroom Conversations Season 5. Ashleigh Wright of Southeast Bulloch County High School talks about how dialogue circles can make a difference in your classroom!

One of the best resources teachers have is each other! Collaboration is key!

WG Nunn’s Principal, Tara Moss, assistant principals and leadership team members participated in collaborative planning centered on the redelivery of the Federal Programs Conference along with finalizing their School Improvement Plan for the 2024-2025 school year. WG Nunn’s administrators and leadership team members also participated in collaborative planning with a focus on their FY25 Short Term Action Plan and how to make teacher clarity planning a cohesive process within their school.

Gene Christie

Creacy Sermons

School Improvement Specialists

Welcome back to a new and exciting school year! As we step into this academic year, the South Georgia Learning Resources System (South GLRS) is thrilled to continue our partnership with the twelve school districts within the Coastal Plains RESA. We are committed to supporting your dedication to excellence in education and look forward to collaborating with you in innovative and impactful ways. We will be providing training in several key areas, including:

• Co-Teaching: Enhancing collaborative teaching practices to better support all students in inclusive settings.

• Evidence-Based Practices: Implementing instructional strategies that are proven to be effective through research.

• High Leverage Practices: Focusing on practices that have a significant positive impact on student outcomes.

• Assistive Technology Support and Services: Expanding our support for assistive technology to ensure all students have the tools they need to succeed.

• Behavior Support: Offering guidance and strategies for positive behavior interventions and supports.

Professional Learning Opportunities for Georgia's Tiered Systems of Supports (GATSS):

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Learn how to effectively analyze and utilize data to inform instructional decisions and interventions across all tiers.

• Universal Screening and Progress Monitoring: Implement and interpret assessments to identify students’ needs early and track their progress throughout the year.

• Evidence-Based Interventions: Explore a range of targeted interventions proven to be effective for students requiring additional support.

• Tier 1 Instructional Strategies: Strengthen core instruction with practices designed to benefit all students while reducing the need for additional tiers of support.

• Tier 2 and Tier 3 Intervention Strategies: Gain expertise in implementing more intensive, targeted interventions for students who require additional or individualized support.

• Fidelity of Implementation: Ensure that interventions and supports are carried out consistently and effectively across all tiers.

• Collaborative Problem-Solving: Engage in team-based approaches to address student needs and develop action plans that support student success.

The South GLRS team is here to support you every step of the way, and we look forward to the incredible achievements we know you and your students will accomplish. Thank you for your continued commitment to the success of all students. Let’s make this school year one to remember!

With best wishes for a successful year,

Dane Heard, GLRS Director

Amber Stevens, GLRS Coordinator

Haroleen Bailey, GLRS Administrative Assistant

Congratulations to Samantha Napier and Tesha Larkins from Valdosta City for representing Coastal Plains RESA as 2 of 30 individuals throughout the state of Georgia being selected for the GaDOE School Social Work Advisory Council. Council members will collaborate on school social work topics while providing valuable feedback to the Office of Whole Child Support.

Educators are professionals who have developed a very specialized vocabulary that allows them to

communicate very precisely with their colleagues, but it often puzzles parents and the general public. This vocabulary can be useful, or it can be a barrier to creating a common understanding of those important concepts to engage school staff and parents to meet the pressing needs of students. Terms like "differentiation," "formative assessment," and "IEP," are crucial for educational professionals but can sometimes confuse parents or others outside the education community.

When educators and parents do not share a common understanding of these terms, it can create

barriers to collaboration, which is essential for supporting students effectively. Clear communication

is key to building partnerships between educators, parents, and the broader community. It is helpful

to demystify educational jargon by explaining these terms and abbreviations in accessible language

and offering concrete examples to help everyone understand the implications in the classroom.

Below are a few examples of educational terms with simpler explanations and practical applications

that can help parents and others understand their meaning and importance.

1. DIFFERENTIATION

• Educational Definition: Differentiation is the process of tailoring instruction to meet the needs of students.
• Simple Explanation: It means the teacher changes the way lessons are taught to make sure that all students, whether they learn quickly or need more time, can understand and grow.
• Example: In a reading class, the teacher might give one group of students a simpler text to read while another group works with a more challenging text. Both groups are learning the same skill (like identifying the main idea), but at different levels.

2. FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

• Educational Definition: These are ongoing assessments that help teachers monitor student learning and adjust instruction as needed.
• Simple Explanation: These are “check-ups” that help teachers understand how well students are learning while a lesson is still being taught.
• Example: A teacher might give a short quiz or ask students to complete a quick exit ticket (a brief written response) before leaving class. If many students are confused, the teacher knows to review the topic the next day.

3. IEP (INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM)

• Educational Definition: An IEP is a legal document developed for each public school student who needs special education. It outlines the student’s learning needs, services provided, and how progress will be measured.
• Simple Explanation: This is a customized plan created to help students with learning challenges succeed in school.
• Example: If a child has trouble with reading due to dyslexia, the IEP might include specific reading instruction that suits their needs, extra time on tests, or the use of audio books.

4. SCAFFOLDING

• Educational Definition: Scaffolding is a teaching technique in which educators provide temporary support to students to help them achieve a task, and gradually remove the support as the students become more independent.
• Simple Explanation: It’s like building a ramp to help students climb up and then slowly taking away the ramp as they learn to climb on their own.
• Example: When teaching writing, a teacher might first provide students with a template to guide their essay structure. As students get more confident, the teacher removes the template, encouraging students to organize their thoughts independently.

5. SEL (SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING)

• Educational Definition: SEL is the process through which students develop the ability to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
• Simple Explanation: It is teaching students how to understand and handle their feelings, work well with others, and make good choices.
• Example: A teacher might have a morning circle or group where students share how they are feeling, or work on activities that teach how to resolve conflicts with classmates.

It has been said that “a common language will always precede competency.” Using parent-friendly

explanations accompanied by real classroom examples can help bridge the gap between educators

and parents and create a shared understanding of important concepts that will lead to greater

student success.

Bobby Smith

School Improvement Specialist

These last two years have seen a tsunami of changes in principals and assistant principals across America, Georgia, and within Coastal Plains RESA. Dozens of our principals have changed, and many more new assistant principals have stepped up to fill the void created by retirements, promotions, and transfers.

As the school year’s carousel begins to spin, administrators should take time to come together to exchange ideas and share solutions. Our Principal and Assistant Principal Academies were started over a decade ago to give school level leaders the opportunity to connect with peers to share successes, seek advice, and stay informed on educational trends.

The dates for our first sessions of Leadership Academies are shown below. Please join us at Coastal Plains RESA to share your questions as well as your expertise during these very challenging times for education. Help us welcome this new wave of leaders.

Primary/Elementary 9/11/2024 Auditorium

Middle/High School 9/19/2024 Annex - Room B

Assistant Principals 9/26/2024 Auditorium

(All Sessions are 9 am – Noon.)

As we gear up for a new school year, it’s important to reflect on what makes our schools a

wonderful place to learn and grow. A positive school climate is essential for fostering not only

academic success but also social and emotional well-being. This year, we are committed to

partnering with our districts and schools to provide help, resources, and support any way we

can. We have added a new member to our school climate team.

We are so happy that Mrs. Tammy Sellars has become a part of CPRESA and we want to welcome her to the team. Over the summer we have worked with PBIS teams, distinct teams, and school staffs on Tier 1 boosters. This presentation has a very heavy emphasis on data driven decision making and best practices for classroom teachers. Building strong relationships among students, staff, and families is crucial for a positive school climate. We encourage open communication and invite you to request any support needed from our School Climate Team in these areas.

Mental health plays a significant role in a positive school climate. We are dedicated to providing

resources and support for students’ emotional well-being. As we embark on this new school

year, let’s work together to cultivate a positive school climate where every student feels

empowered to thrive. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and are committed to

making this year the best it can be.

Scott Haskins

Tammy Sellars

School Climate Specialists

The STEM/STEAM Forum 2024 registration is officially open! Use this link to register and save your spot - STEM STEAM Forum 2024 – GaDOE Community!

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