Services
The Institute for Excellence in Education (IEE) provides high-quality professional learning experiences based on Learning Forward’s Standards of Professional Learning. We support school communities in driving lasting change through expert-led development and ongoing, job-embedded mentorship.
Our facilitators guide educators through new processes, while our mentors work closely with teachers, modeling strategies and co-teaching to ensure new practices are effectively applied. Our team offers expertise in leadership, instruction, data, technology, and content specialties. Explore our most in-demand services below:
OUR MOST REQUESTED TYPES OF MENTORING
New Teacher Mentors
New Teacher Mentors help first —and second-year teachers build a successful classroom culture and support student learning. Together, they will examine the common pitfalls of classroom management, work through systems and solutions that keep students on task, and set expectations for a culture of learning in their classroom.
Numeracy Mentors
IEE Numeracy Mentors typically work with math teachers to explore best teaching practices, student engagement strategies, and cooperative learning ideas. A Numeracy Mentor might model strategies or co-teach with the classroom teacher. Discussing and reflecting on formative assessment data can help math teachers make the best decisions for their students.
Literacy Mentors
A Literacy Mentor from IEE typically works with ELA or social studies teachers but has also spent time in science and math classrooms when the opportunity arises. Literacy Mentors could model or co-teach. They might facilitate discussions about how to ensure students are engaged and learning.
Leadership Mentors
Our IEE mentors come from diverse backgrounds and have varying experiences in education. Many of our mentors are former principals or superintendents. IEE Leadership Mentors work closely with school leaders to help them navigate the ups and downs of principalship.
Culture and Climate Mentors
Schools often focus on social-emotional learning alongside academic rigor. Culture and Climate Mentors can help implement systems that promote positive behavior. They might discuss appropriate reward systems and help make disciplinary decisions. They look to create a safe atmosphere where students feel safe to explore their thinking and are excited to learn.
Data Mentors
IEE Data Mentors can help schools organize and prioritize the constantly pouring data. They often break down NWEA data, standardized test results, and pre- and post-test data and look for trends. Teachers and school leaders sometimes feel overwhelmed by incoming data; our Data Mentors can help ensure data drives decision-making.
Focused Instructional Model Mentors
A FIM Mentor works on-site with teachers to ensure that the Focused Instructional Model is being implemented. FIM Mentors can model and hold reflective conversations with teachers. They can also help organize FIM data and ensure that teachers are comfortable implementing the system.
PDS FOR TEACHERS
Teachers are the number one school-level factor influencing student success.
COGNITIVE COACHING
Learn Cognitive Coaching to mediate adult thinking and learning. While coaching provides teachers and school leaders with a “thought partner” as they apply their new learning and changes to their practice, Cognitive Coaching systematically changes educator practice and ultimately improves educator effectiveness.
ADAPTIVE SCHOOLS
Learn the Adaptive Schools model to build collaborative capacities in schools. Collaborative capacities hold shared responsibilities for student learning. They value continuous learning and seek opportunities to learn and grow from one another. This model has been hailed as “life-changing” and served as the “a-ha” moment for school leaders across the country.
THE TRAUMA-SENSITIVE CLASSROOM
We all can picture certain students who create diversions when it’s time to work, crawl under the tables to cope, or are silent, hoping to be invisible. These students weigh heavily on our hearts and know how to push our buttons. In this engaging seminar series, participants will learn to identify the characteristics of students living in chronically stressful situations and provide strategies to keep these students invested in the educational process.
RELATIONSHIPS MATTER
Like tilling the soil before planting season, building relationships with students involves hard work, dedication, and continuous effort. More than ever, research on today’s children shows that students need a sense of belonging to attain academic growth. These connections provide the necessary roots for all kids to relate and grow in powerful ways, both academically and socially. Participants will share their current practices with fellow educators and gain new tools for connecting with those hard-to-reach students.
NON-COGNITIVE FACTORS
When faced with academic adversity, students often feel threatened and outwardly display feelings of frustration. Or, they might be excited for the opportunity to problem-solve and work their way through a task. This session will help teachers become familiar with non-cognitive skills, learn how to identify students displaying avoidance traits, and get them back on track and ready to learn. Teachers will also explore ways to teach non-cognitive factors to their students so they can become aware of how their actions affect their learning.
PROVIDING A PRODUCTIVE STRUGGLE
Why are students so quick to ask for help? Because teachers are so quick to give them help! After all, we became educators to nurture children. Our day together will feature classroom structures and strategies that will help students become proficient problem solvers by providing a productive struggle and allowing time for students to exhibit perseverance.
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Increase engagement by harnessing student interests and energy! Participants will learn new strategies for engaging students during instruction, transitions, and reflection. Presenters will utilize current brain research to model various instructional strategies and provide participants with opportunities to consider applications tailored to their needs. Teachers from all levels and subject areas are invited to attend and bring back valuable ideas that can be implemented immediately in their classrooms.
CUSTOMIZED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
In the era of continuous improvement and growth, your School Improvement Plans (SIP) chart your course for new professional learning and improved student success. IEE can help your school meet the goals of your School Improvement Plan by providing professional development tailored to the needs of your educators and the strategies of your SIP. From data dialogues, to PLCs, to academic interventions, to social emotional learning, our IEE mentors have a vast array of experiences and expertise to help move your school forward. Our expert presenters are trained to utilize engaging strategies that build trust and rapport.
IEE is an outcome-based organization focused on your academic success. Contact an IEE mentor today to connect your School Improvement Plan to improved student outcomes. Potential evidence-based topics include non-cognitive skills, the Focused Instructional Model, data analysis, universal design for learning, climate and culture, student engagement, and much more.
PDS FOR PRINCIPALS
Principals are the number two school level factor influencing student success.
COGNITIVE COACHING
Learn Cognitive Coaching to mediate adult thinking and learning. While coaching provides teachers and school leaders with a “thought partner” as they apply their new learning and changes to their practice, it is Cognitive Coaching that systematically changes educator practice and ultimately improves educator effectiveness.
ADAPTIVE SCHOOLS
Learn the Adaptive Schools model to build collaborative capacities in schools. Collaborative capacities hold shared responsibilities for student learning. They value continuous learning and seek opportunities to learn and grow from one another. This model had been hailed as “life changing” and served as the “a-ha” moment for school leaders across the country.
CREATING A COLLABORATIVE CULTURE
Ready to grow a collaborative culture? Participants will unearth the beliefs and values required to sow these seeds. Emphasis will be placed on providing a safe environment where staff members feel secure and enabled to engage in productive dialogue.
FEEDBACK AND EVALUATIONS
School leaders will explore the logistics around teacher evaluation. They will discover the power of a Calibrating Conversation and how it applies to improving teacher efficiency. School leaders will examine the different types of feedback to make choices on which best fits their outcomes. Participants will have opportunities to enhance their abilities to observe, plan and design their evaluation system.
DATA DISCUSSIONS
Join us to begin growing a data culture in your school! School leaders will discuss various strategies, practices, and protocols that will develop a school-wide data culture. Specific topics will include data discussions, visual representations, authentic assessments, and formative assessment.
MIDDLE GRADES SEMINAR SERIES
Together we can "DIY Today" - one young adolescent, one classroom, one school at a time. IEE brings together teams of building principals and teacher leaders to engage in continuous school improvement through a powerful combination of networking and on-site coaching. The seminars provide middle-grades leadership teams opportunities to focus on creating schools aligned with the national and state Schools to Watch (STW) vision and criteria. The learning is further supported through on-site coaching from a qualified Leadership Coach.
TRAUMA SENSITIVE CLASSROOM SEMINAR SERIES
We all can picture certain students that create diversions when it’s time to work... that crawl under the tables to cope... that are silent, hoping to be invisible. These students weigh heavy on our hearts and know exactly how to push our buttons. In this engaging seminar series, participants will learn to identify the characteristics of students living in chronically stressful situations and provide strategies to keep these students invested in the educational process.
CUSTOMIZED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
In the era of continuous improvement and growth, your School Improvement Plans (SIP) chart your course for new professional learning and improved student success. IEE can help your school meet the goals of your School Improvement Plan by providing professional development tailored to the needs of your educators and the strategies of your SIP. From data dialogues, to PLCs, to academic interventions, to social emotional learning, our IEE coaches have a vast array of experiences and expertise to help move your school forward. Our expert presenters are trained to utilize engaging strategies that build trust and rapport.
IEE is an outcome-based organization focused on your academic success. Contact an IEE coach today to connect your School Improvement Plan to improved student outcomes. Potential evidence-based topics include non-cognitive skills, the Focused Instructional Model, data analysis, universal design for learning, climate and culture, student engagement, and much more.
Find Your Solution!
IEE’s services are designed to help your school achieve its school improvement plan goals by offering professional development tailored to your educators’ needs and SIP strategies. Our team provides support through data dialogues, PLCs, academic interventions, and social-emotional learning to drive school progress. By partnering with IEE, your team will gain insights into the latest educational trends and strategies to enhance teacher understanding and improve student achievement. Our expert presenters use engaging methods to build trust and foster collaboration.
