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Focus Schools – Mind the Gap!

The Institute for Excellence in Education is excited to work with your school to close the achievement gap! Our Focus School Package helps your school diagnose and treat the critical issues leading to the achievement gap. This package also includes a wellness component by helping your school leadership plan and maintain high levels of performance for all students.


Diagnose

Learning Walk: 2 IEE coaches will spend a day at your school, talking with your staff and gathering data to help identify the critical issues leading to the achievement gap in your school.

Treat

Part 1: Your 5-member school leadership team attends the first day of our Mind the Gap Seminar on January 22, 2015. Your team will work side by side with our instructional and leadership coaches to develop a comprehensive plan for your school to create quick wins in student achievement and begin closing the achievement gap. Your team will also have the opportunity to network with and learn from other Focus Schools who are also working to mind their gap.

Part 2: Your school will receive the support of an IEE coach to help the leadership team implement their new plan in the building. The IEE coach will spend 4 days onsite at your school, focused on supporting your staff to implement the goals the leadership team outlined at the Mind the Gap Seminar.

Wellness

After your plan has been implemented and is operational in your school, Day 2 of the Mind the Gap Seminar brings your leadership team together again to analyze your student achievement data and measure your level of success. Day 2 will be held on April 30, 2015. Your team will again have the opportunity to network with and learn from other Focus Schools.


This Focus School Package includes:

  • An objective Learning Walk conducted by 2 IEE coaches
  • Mind the Gap 2-day seminar: January 22 and April 30, 2015
  • 4 days of focused Gap Coaching and in-school implementation support by an IEE coach
  • Cost: $5,000

Register your five person leadership team today!

[button color=”red”]Registration Closed[/button]


Facilitators

Benson2014Patricia Benson is the founder and former director of the Center for Excellence in Education, a k-12 professional development organization now known as the Institute for Excellence in Education. Under her direction, the Center received national recognition and awards for marked increases in student achievement at schools they serviced. Patricia served on the Board of Directors for Michigan ASCD, is a member of Learning Forward and the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform, and is a certified Cognitive Coaching Agency Trainer. A frequent presenter at state and national conferences, Patricia is the author of High Performing Teams and several professional publications.

 

Hoelscher2014Steve Hoelscher has over 30 years of experience working in schools in a variety of positions from teacher to counselor, principal, and school board member. During his tenure as a middle school principal, his school was recognized for its academic excellence, social equity and developmental responsiveness, and for demonstrating gains in student learning. He is the former director of Michigan Middle Start and has served on the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. Steve is currently a leadership coach for the Institute for Excellence in Education and supports schools with leadership, cooperative learning, and middle-grades best practices. Steve’s specializes in Understanding by Design and facilitates professional development workshops that help teachers develop unit and lesson plans that promote teaching for meaning and understanding.

 

Krajenta2014Dr. Mary Alice Krajenta has served as an instructional, data and leadership coach for the Institute for Excellence in Education for the past 7 years. With over 35 years of classroom and school administration experience, Mary Alice is a renowned presenter who trains educators on using data to inform instruction. She is a member of the Michigan Education Research Association and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Mary Alice received her Ed. D. from Western Michigan University and also has degrees from Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan Universities. Mary Alice also served as the education consultant for the first World Rabies Day, co-sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control.

 

Nizinski2014Dave Nizinski brings over 30 years of experience as a principal and teacher to his role as a leadership coach at the Institute for Excellence in Education. For the past 11 years, Dave has guided improvement efforts in schools throughout Michigan by providing ongoing leadership coaching and facilitating professional development workshops for educators. He is a member of The William Glasser Institute, the National Middle School Association, the National and Michigan Associations of Elementary and Middle School Principals, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and is a certified Cognitive Coaching Agency Trainer. Dave holds multiple educational certifications and earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Saginaw Valley State University.

 

Nofs2014Tracy Nofs is a Leadership Coach for the Institute for Excellence in Education and has over 30 years’ experience as a principal, teacher, speech pathologist, and dean of curriculum. A frequent conference presenter and workshop facilitator, Tracy now coaches educators across the country on implementing leadership and curriculum best practices. She is a member of Central Michigan University’s High School Reform Initiative and the Michigan Schools to Watch Appointment Committee. Tracy earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University and holds several education certifications.

 


Event Registration Cancellation Policy

Transfer: Registrations are transferrable, but not refundable. Substitutions for persons attending can be made up to one day in advance of the event without charge.

Cancellation by Participant: No refunds will be given, but a voucher for attendance at another Institute for Excellence in Education event will be offered and will be valid for one full year.

Cancellation by IEE: In the event of circumstances beyond its control, the Institute for Excellence in Education reserves the right to amend or cancel any event. If the Institute for Excellence in Education cancels an event, registrants will be offered a full refund.

 

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