The Connection

Tell your friends and family to prepare their resumes, district job fair season will soon begin! Mark your calendars for upcoming job fair dates. Metro RESA will update the lists from our 12 metro districts throughout the spring. Please check metro district HR/Employment pages for more information.

The Metro RESA Statewide Job Fair will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at the Georgia International Convention Center. Last year we had over 40 Georgia districts represented all in one place! Mark your calendars for this incredible opportunity. Educator registration will open soon! Check our official Metro RESA Job Fair page for the most up-to-date information.

Join GaDOE with Metro RESA this February 18th for the Winter 2025 Virtual Teaching & Learning Summit. For more information about session topics and times, view the Metro RESA Special Session page for more information. To receive links and communication for the upcoming event, click here to register.

Enrollment Opens January 6, 2025!
iLEAD Tier I and Tier II Leadership Certification
https://www.mresa.org/ilead/home

Since 2016 the Metro RESA iLEAD program has provided Educational Leadership certification to hundreds of leaders in the Metro Area and beyond! The iLEAD program is one year, cost-effective and job-embedded! Detailed program and application information is on our website at https://www.mresa.org/ilead/home

Please also visit our Graduate Spotlight page at https://www.mresa.org/ilead/ilead-graduate-spotlight to see what completers share about our program. We look forward to serving you!

For more information, contact Metro RESA's iLEAD Tier I and II Coordinator, Carmen Havrilla at carmen.havrilla@mresa.org

Join Metro RESA for an upcoming webinar focused on student engagement/student voice. We will have Nona Ullman, CEO & Founder of LessonLoop, on our call along with leaders Dr. Kyra M. Caldwell Templeton, Ph.D. Caldwell Templeton and Keith I. Glass Glass from Atlanta Public Schools. We will be diving into strategies that will unlock the power of student voice to enhance engagement and learning for all students. You don't want to miss this conversation. Register Today!

When: Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 11:30 AM

Registration: Click Here

Behavior Learning Series with Amie Dean

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!

• Wednesday, January 29, 2025: Register Now! Behavior Interventions That Work
• Time: 8:30 AM Arrival, 9:00 AM Start Session, 3:30 PM Dismiss

Metro RESA will be hosting GaDOE specialist, Tiesha Reed, for an exciting two-day workshop focused on personalized learning for students. The FREE two-day workshops will be filled with strategies and activities used to promote student-centered practices and differentiation in the classroom. If you are looking for professional learning that is fun, exciting, intentional and leaves you ready to head back to school to implement new tools, this is the workshop for you! K-12 educators, intervention staff, instructional coaches, and curriculum leaders are invited to attend.

When: February 6, 2025 and February 7, 2025: Register Now

Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Location: Metro RESA Campus, 1870 Teasley Drive SE, Smyrna, GA 30080

Cost: Free Workshop!

Reimagine educator preparation through collaborative partnerships at this spring's Metro P-20 Collaborative convening. We had an incredible day of learning at the fall 2024 convening at Mercer Atlanta Campus where experts from the metro shared collaborative partnership support between K-12, Higher-Ed, Non-Profits, and Private Sector partners. This spring will highlight creative collaborations and available grant funding supports available to K-12 and Higher-Ed institutions. Kennesaw State University has generously offered to sponsor lunch on campus for all attendees. Registration is currently open for the March 28, 2025, convening. Register Here. Find more Metro P-20 information on the Metro RESA website.

View the GaTAPP presentation today. Visit the Metro RESA GaTAPP pages for more information.

If you are not employed but want to be "pre-approved" for the program so that you can seek employment, you will need to complete the online application process between January 1st and May 1st of each year.

Are you ready to elevate your students’ ability to think, communicate, and succeed in science? In this FREE engaging and practical workshop sponsored by the GaDOE, we will explore effective strategies for developing academic language in the context of 3-Dimensional Science learning. Academic language is the bridge between everyday speech and the specialized vocabulary and structures students need to engage with complex scientific concepts.

Whether you're an educator teaching science at any level (elementary, secondary, ESOL, Special Education, etc.) or someone supporting students in mastering scientific literacy, this workshop will provide you with the tools and techniques to empower your students with the language skills necessary for academic achievement.

Date: January 24, 2025

Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Metro RESA Campus, 1870 Teasley Drive, Smyrna, Georgia 30080

Register: Click Here

Contact: Reagan.Biwott@mresa.org or visit the Metro RESA Science resources by clicking here

What You’ll Learn:

1. The Role of Academic Language in Science: Understand why academic language is critical for comprehension, critical thinking, and academic success in science.

2. Strategies for Teaching Science Vocabulary: Practical, research-backed approaches to teach key scientific terms and concepts in ways that students can understand and retain.

3. Developing Syntax and Discourse: Techniques to help students construct precise, coherent scientific explanations and engage in meaningful scientific discourse.

4. Scaffolding Academic Language: Discover how to scaffold complex language structures to support students' language development from basic to advanced levels.

5. Engaging with Multimodal Resources: Learn how to integrate visual aids, models, and digital tools to reinforce academic language in science contexts.

Why Attend?

1. Build your confidence in teaching students to read, write, and speak about science in a rigorous way.

2. Equip students with the academic language skills they need to succeed in standardized assessments, college-level science courses, and future careers.

3. Collaborate with fellow educators to share best practices, challenges, and solutions in fostering language development in the sciences.

Join us for a hands-on, engaging workshop designed to support early childhood educators (PreK-2nd grade) in integrating 3-dimensional science into their teaching with minimal preparation time. We will explore three dynamic curricula—Getting Little Feet Wet, Trees and Me, and Growing Up Wild—that provide rich, interactive activities for young learners to connect with the natural world.

In this workshop, participants will:

• Learn how to incorporate the three dimensions of science (disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts) into early childhood education and outdoor programming.

• Explore how each curriculum supports Science GSE and phenomenon-based learning, fostering curiosity and critical thinking in young students.

• Experience science through the lens of fun and accessible activities like exploring water ecosystems, learning about trees and their ecosystems, and discovering wildlife habitats.

• Gain practical strategies for using these curricula to introduce children to foundational scientific concepts through hands-on activities and nature-based exploration.

• Walk away with simple, ready-to-use strategies and activities to get children outside, curious, and actively learning about the world around them.

When: March 11, 2025 from 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Where: Metro RESA, 1870 Teasley Drive, Smyrna, GA 30080

Cost: $129.00

Registration: Click Here

Are you ready to elevate your instructional expertise? Enhance your math teaching skills with the 2024-2025 Exploring Georgia’s Learning Plans Through Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices Series! Join the Metro RESA team in an immersive professional development experience designed to deepen your understanding of research-based instructional strategies. This series focuses on the NCTM’s Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices, aligned with Georgia’s K-12 Mathematics Standards.

Find more information on the Metro RESA website. Sessions cost $99/session. Registrants wishing to participate in all three sessions must register for Session I, Session II, and Session III.

Session 3 Workshops: Goals - Procedural Fluency, Productive Efforts of Learning, and Student Thinking (Elementary K-5 Sessions Only for Session 3)

Tuesday, January 28, 2025: Kinder-First Grade Register Now

Thursday, January 30, 2025: Second-Third Grade Register Now

Tuesday, February 4, 2025: Fourth - Fifth Grade Register Now

Following the success of Metro RESA's Mathematics Diving Deeper Series, the MRESA ELA Team has rolled out a similar series for K-12 English Language Arts educators. Each separate training session will focus on a domain of Georgia’s new K-12 English Language Arts Standards. Participants will have opportunities to collaborate to deepen their understanding of the Big Ideas, Standards, and Expectations for each domain. The Overview and Practices workshop sessions will provide an overview of the alignment and structure of the new standards. Participants will then dive deeper into the Practices Domain, designed so that students will continuously cultivate key practices that will sustain their literacy endeavors throughout their K-12 education experiences and beyond. To learn more about the Metro RESA ELA Team or more ELA workshops, visit the Metro RESA website.

Foundations Domain 2024 Sessions: 9 AM - 3 PM

• Spring Session: Monday, February 10, 2024 (Grades 6-12) - Register Now

Following the success of Metro RESA's Mathematics Diving Deeper Series, the MRESA ELA Team is rolling out a similar series for K-12 English Language Arts educators. Each separate training session will focus on a domain of Georgia’s new K-12 English Language Arts Standards. Participants will have opportunities to collaborate to deepen their understanding of the Big Ideas, Standards, and Expectations for each domain. The Overview and Practices workshop sessions will provide an overview of the alignment and structure of the new standards. Participants will then dive deeper into the Practices Domain, designed so that students will continuously cultivate key practices that will sustain their literacy endeavors throughout their K-12 education experiences and beyond. To learn more about the Metro RESA ELA Team or more ELA workshops, visit the Metro RESA website.

Spring 2025 Texts Domain Sessions: (Repeat of Fall 2024)

Tuesday, March 11, 2025: Elementary Session Register Now

Wednesday, March 12, 2025: Secondary Session Register Now

The Fall 2024 sessions of the GaDOE Launch Tour were a success! There is still time to register for the Spring 2025 sessions in March 2025. 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!

• Tuesday, March 4, 2025: Elementary Session Register Now
• Friday, March 7, 2025: Secondary Session Register Now

We want to welcome our newest team, Let's Read, Georgia (LRG) to the Metro RESA support network of specialists. In April of 2023, HB 538 was signed into law. This historic bill addresses the literacy deficit in Georgia and identifies components for systematic improvement. Georgia’s Early Literacy Act includes several components that your MRESA Let’s Read, Georgia Literacy Coaching Specialists can support district and building leaders in implementing. We look forward to partnering with you in this work to get Georgia READING! Visit the team's new website pages to learn more.

You will find upcoming professional learning and job-alike supports on the LRG informational pages. To meet the team members and find out who to contact for your district, click here. The LRG team is ready and excited to serve our districts in K-3 literacy!

If you want to receive K-3 literacy information first, sign up today to be included in the Metro RESA LRG K-3 Mailing List. Click Here to Register

Join the Let's Read, Georgia (LRG) Metro RESA Team for immediate support. Free Literacy Support!

Find more information on the LRG Metro RESA website pages today.

• Job-Alike Lunch and Learn Virtual Half-Time Huddles Register Now

1. February 26, 2025
2. May 14, 2025

• Professional Learning Sessions

1. Science of Reading: The How on January 15, 2025 Register Now

At our Winter Metro RESA Whole Child Supports Regional Meeting, hosted by Tutored by Teachers our District teams focused on advancing Tier I school improvement efforts by exploring essential systems, policies, procedures, and infrastructure for the future implementation of GaMTSS. Check out this video where we hear how academics, behavior, well-being, and more are each impactful for MTSS.

• Learn more about MRESA Whole Child Supports
• Learn more about Tutored by Teachers

The office of Whole Child Supports has started a Monthly Mental Health in Schools newsletter. Please subscribe to stay abreast of new information, tips and techniques, and additional insight on the mental health in our schools. Also, feel free to email Granville Freeman for any requested "deeper dives" that may interest you or submit an article of interest that you feel others would benefit. He can be contacted at granville.freeman@mresa.org

Purpose: To provide a range of strategies educators can use every day to foster a restorative climate in their school.

Target Audience: District and School Educators and Staff, anyone who works with children, adolescents, or families.

This is a two-day training series. Those who register must be present for both days.

Day One: Introduction into Restorative Practices Day Two: Circles training.

Restorative practices is an emerging social science that focuses on how to strengthen relationships between individuals as well as social connections within communities. It is a positive step forward in helping students learn to resolve disagreements, take ownership of their behavior, and engage in acts of empathy and forgiveness. During this two-day training, participants will learn fundamental theories and practices for engaging with students, staff, and parents in their school setting. Topics include how to set high expectations while being supportive, how to provide direct feedback and ask questions that foster accountability, and the most effective methods to resolve common conflicts. Participants will also learn to facilitate circles, an essential process for creating a positive learning environment and school culture. Circles may be used to build social capital, resolve social problems, and respond when harm occurs.

The sessions will meet from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

2024-2025 Workshop Dates:

• Thursday, February 27, 2025 and Tuesday, March 4, 2025 (participation required for both dates)- Click Here to Register

For more information about the Metro RESA Restorative Practices: Introduction and Circles Two-Day Workshop or to inquire about setting up a training for your district, please contact Leah.Black@mresa.org and/or Granville.Freeman@mresa.org.

Target Audience: District and school educators and staff, anyone who works with children, adolescents or families

QPR suicide prevention training, also known as gatekeeper training, provides people without professional mental health backgrounds to recognize the warning signs of suicide and intervene effectively to question, persuade, and refer. Through interactive learning modules and real-life scenarios, educators will learn how to become frontline responders in promoting mental health and suicide prevention within their communities. Become empowered to save lives by connecting students in crisis with appropriate resources, referrals, and support.

Learn more about the Metro RESA Whole Child Supports Team and view additional 2024-2025 workshop offerings on the Metro RESA Whole Child Supports professional learning resource pages.

2024-2025 Training Opportunities:

• Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - Click Here to Register

• Location: Virtual - Link to be sent at least 48 hours prior to workshop date

• Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am

For more information about the Metro RESA OPR: Questions, Persuade, Refer Training or to inquire about setting up a training for your district, contact Michelle.Sandrock@mresa.org

Purpose: To teach skills for providing initial help to young people experiencing mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, psychosis, and substance use disorders.

Target Audience: Teachers, School staff, coaches, people who work with youth

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a training primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people by teaching them how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or is in crisis. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Participants will learn how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

Learn more about the Metro RESA Whole Child Supports Team and view additional 2024-2025 workshop offerings on the Metro RESA Whole Child Supports professional learning resource pages. After registering for the training the participants will be directed to sign up on the MHFA website to complete some pre-work which must be completed prior to the workshop.

Location: Virtual

2024-2025 Workshop Dates/Times:

• Tuesday, February 25, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM - Click Here to Register
• Tuesday, April 22, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM - Click Here to Register

For more information about the Metro RESA Youth Mental Health First Aid Workshops or to inquire about setting up a training for your district, contact Granville.Freeman@mresa.org

Visit Metro West New Website Pages Today!

Metro West Georgia Learning Resource System (GLRS) is a part of the statewide network of eighteen sites to provide professional learning, technical assistance and resources to educators, leaders, and families students with disabilities.

Metro West GLRS serves the following Local Education Agencies: Clayton County, Cobb County, Douglas County and Forsyth County; Atlanta Public Schools and Marietta City Schools, as well as more than thirty Metro Area State Charter Schools (LEAs)

We provide professional learning opportunities for specified target audiences within the districts that we serve, in addition opportunities are also made available to other districts served by Metro RESA. These opportunities include in-person, virtual and hybrid options. Custom-designed professional learning opportunities are conducted based on school district request meeting the unique needs of the LEA.

The Metro West GLRS Team provides professional learning, technical assistance and coaching school districts regarding various topics such as:

• General Supervision-Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), IEP Support and Development

• Specially Designed Instruction

• High Leverage Practices and Evidence-Based Practices

• ​Supporting and Implementing Graduation and Dropout Prevention Initiatives.

• Conducting Comprehensive Data Analysis

• Supporting new special education teachers, leaders and instructional coaches

• Transition planning and assistive technology support

January is Gifted Education Month in the State of Georgia, and the perfect time to learn more about Metro RESA’s Gifted Endorsement Program. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights estimates that six percent of public school students are enrolled in gifted and talented programs. In the State of Georgia, approximately twelve percent of students are identified as gifted. According to the Georgia State Board of Education, a gifted student is one who demonstrates a high degree of intellectual and/or creative abilities, exhibits an exceptionally high degree of motivation, and/or excels in specific academic fields, and needs special instruction and/or special ancillary services to achieve at levels commensurate with his or abilities. It’s up to Georgia educators to identify and serve these special students. The Gifted Endorsement Program through Metro RESA can prepare you to recognize and provide the proper differentiated instruction to support the gifted youth in your school or district. Whether you’re looking for ways to differentiate in the classroom, earn funding for appropriate gifted services, find and advocate for gifted and high-achieving students, or serve gifted students in special programs, the Gifted Endorsement will prepare you to meet the needs of your learners and local school. If you’re interested in learning more about the Metro RESA Gifted Endorsement Program, check out our website at Gifted Endorsement - Metro Regional Educational Service Agency.

Do you want to start right away? If so, you’re in luck! We are currently enrolling for a new cohort that starts in January 2025. You can learn more information at the Gifted Endorsement Information Flyer. Finally, support your gifted students and high achievers today with best practice strategies! Here are just a few recommended approaches to try in your classroom: • Project-based learning • Prepare high-interest activities for earlier finishers • Allow choice in assignments • Gamify learning…..make it fun! • Work with students to set goals and track the data

Learn More: Click Here

Metro RESA Contact: Kimberly.Gregory@mresa.org

Metro RESA Dyslexia Direct Mobile Contact: 470-242-1216

The Dyslexia 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 Dyslexia Endorsement to a current standard Georgia Professional Certificate.

Metro RESA offers 14 endorsement programs. Visit the Metro RESA Endorsement Overview page for more information.

Learn More: Click Here

Metro RESA Contact: Iris.Im@mresa.org

Are you interested in being an MTSS Coordinator in your school or school district? Join the MTSS Facilitator Endorsement Program. During this 3-course endorsement, you will explore the history and foundations of RTI/MTSS/SST, the problem-solving model, and develop plans for successful implementation.

Our Open Course Cohort model is a 100% asynchronous/self-paced version of the endorsement and registration for this cohort is ongoing. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please view the admission requirements and tuition costs on our MTSS Facilitator Endorsement website page.

There has been a surge of interest in the Online Teaching Endorsement recently. Several teachers are interested in joining a cohort in January 2025. The endorsement was not scheduled to be offered again until summer 2025, however, if we have enough interest to form a cohort in January, we can plan to offer one. Please complete this interest form is you would be interested in joining a cohort in January: Click Here.

For more information on the Online Teaching Endorsement, visit our website.

The 24-25 Teacher Leader Cohorts are underway. Candidates have just completed Course 1: A Foundation for Teacher Leadership. Throughout this particular course, candidates have been examining theory and research relating to leadership, motivation, facilitating change, communicating effectively, team building, and creating and sustaining professional learning communities by engaging in a wide variety of assignments and activities.

Course 1 feedback from candidates:

• "I really enjoyed the presentations of the 7 Habits. I enjoy learning from fellow colleagues. I appreciate the flexibility of this course as well."
• "Our instructor's confidence and knowledge of leadership practices is inspiring."
• "The course is structured in a way that supports my learning and growth as a full-time educator"

We anticipate beginning the new cohort in September of 2025. Crystal Ricks (TLE Coordinator) welcomes the opportunity to partner with you to host an informational/interest meeting for your school and/or district.

If you are interested in receiving more information about the Metro RESA Teacher Leader Endorsement, please complete the Teacher Leader Endorsement Interest Form linked below.

Click here for the form.

Teacher Leader Endorsement informational page

Visit the Metro RESA School Improvement pages to learn more about the incredible work this team leads around the metro Atlanta area!

Visit their Spotlight On the Metro page to celebrate successes across the metro.

Leading and living above the line is a mindset practice adopted by the KIPP Vision Primary Leadership Team for 2024-2025 school year. Leading and living above the line is recognizing your position in creating circumstances, having an awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and desires in yourself and others, and being open to new possibilities. The practice of living and leading above the line allows KIPP leaders and teachers to reflect and ask the question, “What can I learn from this?” and then find creative and sustainable solutions to challenges that impact student achievement. At KIPP Vision Primary, the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) meets each week for Academic Progress Monitoring meetings (APMs). They examine student academic progress from formative and summative assessments using an APM protocol. The Academic Progress Monitoring Protocol allows the leadership team to question, lean into and systematically learn from their student data to make immediate adjustments to teaching and learning, as well as inform opportunities for professional learning for teachers. KIPP Vision Primary leaders live above the line by removing blame and making excuses but take the time to examine the headlines and investigate the root causes through data analysis. The goals of the APMs each week are to assess progress on select standards for students’ academic outcomes, diagnose the top priority for what students’ need for their learning, as well as examine adult practices, routines, and/or systems that contribute to the success or gaps in student achievement. KIPP Vision Primary leaders engage in robust discussions to implement meaningful and sustainable action steps such as reteaching opportunities before and after school, small group instruction focused on specific skills and standards, utilizing additional resources that are aligned to Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSEs), as well as coaching support to change teacher practice or routines through by modeling during collaborative planning. KIPP leaders live out their mindset practice to consciously lead above the line through these weekly accountability meetings called Academic Progress Meetings.

Learn more about KIPP Vision Primary in Atlanta- Click Here

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!

New! K-3 Literacy

K-5 ELA

Secondary ELA

K5 Math

Secondary Math

K5 Science

Secondary Science

Whole Child Support

To reach specific Metro RESA staff, the best place to find direct contact information will be through our online staff list located on our website at www.mresa.org.

Email: registrar@mresa.org
Website: https://www.mresa.org/
Location: 1870 Teasley Drive, Smyrna, GA, USA
Phone: 770.432.2404
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroRESA
Twitter: @MetroRESA