Students from West Alexander Middle School participate in a hands-on science lesson with Professor Jeff Goodman in the RCOE in July 2021!
Together Again!
Welcome back to the 2021-2022 school year! This year, we are starting off our year TOGETHER in almost all of our classes, schools, and districts, and it feels so good to see people in person! From Open Houses with parents and students in the hallways, to classes at full capacity, to students on fields, playgrounds, and busses--life couldn't get any better, for now!
We were especially thrilled to host Alexander County Schools' students and administrators, as well as Caldwell County Schools' administrators in our building in July! The Reich College of Education was alive with fellowship, learning, collaboration, and celebration! As always, we welcome ALL of our partners to our building and campus at any time, to explore all that Appalachian has to offer you! Contact me to ask more about how you can use our facilities, take a tour of our building/campus, and/or borrow resources and materials! You are part of the Appalachian family, so y'all come on home when you can!
We wish all of you a safe and happy return to the year! Our prayer is that we can all remain TOGETHER as long as possible in the days, weeks, and months to come!
"Alone we can do so little; Together we can do so much!" ~Helen Keller
Dr. Betsy Rosenbalm, NBCT
Public School Partnership, Director
NC New Teacher Support Program, Regional Director
Reich College of Eduction, Office 404 G
Appalachian State University* (704) 657-0764
rosenbalmem@appstate.edu
The Partnership is Growing, Again!
We are THRILLED to welcome our New Public School Partner: WSFCS!
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Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, located in the piedmont of NC and led by Mrs. Tricia McManus, was formed in 1963 with the merger of the Winston-Salem and Forsyth County districts. It is the fourth-largest system in North Carolina and the 81st-largest in the nation. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools serves more than 52,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 with the goal of providing a quality education for each child. The school system has 44 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, and 13 high schools. Seven specialty schools bring the system-wide total to 78. We are excited about collaborating and learning alongside our new friends in the WSFCS District!
Mini-Grant Opportunities!
How can YOU use up to $1000 for classroom needs?
The Appalachian State University Partnership Mini Grants are intended to support collaborative projects between Appalachian State faculty members and our Public School Partnership members who are connected to practicums, clinical internships, professional development opportunities for teachers, and/or student learning activities in P-12 environments. The funding for such projects should not be used to take the place of current monies, but should be used to expand or refine existing efforts, and/or to begin new initiatives.
Current partnership districts who are eligible for such grants are: Alleghany County, Alexander County, Ashe County, Avery County, Caldwell County, Burke County, Elkin City, Newton-Conover City, Watauga County, and Wilkes County Schools, as well as the NC School for the Deaf, the Appalachian State Academy at Middle Fork, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.
To apply for a mini-grant for up to $1000 towards a classroom project or research project in our region, please complete this form by October 1, 2021:
Great things are on the horizon for NC NTSP in the App State Region:
We are almost doubling the number of Beginning Teachers (BTs) we are serving this year in the App State Region! We are moving from supporting 63 to almost 120 BTs in 2021-2022!
We are hiring 3 new coaches, and we will soon have a total of 4 coaches in our App State Region! They will be announced to the Partners soon!
We will be serving 9 to 10 school districts/Public School Units this year, including: NC School for the Deaf, the Appalachian Academy at Middle Fork, Alleghany County Schools, Ashe County Schools, Watauga County Schools, Yadkin County Schools, American Renaissance School, Elkin City Schools, Newton-Conover City Schools, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools!
We offer three core services to our BTs, including weekly coaching, regular PD for the district, and a comprehensive 2 day BT Institute for all of our participants! We also offer virtual statewide content area support and a plethora of additional resources!
If you are interested in utilizing the NC NTSP in your district, contact Betsy Rosenbalm at any time (rosenbalmem@appstate.edu)!
We had a successful first year with the NBCTApps National Board Support Group last year, and we are ready to offer continued support, mentoring, and professional development for our teachers in the field again this year! If you are considering embarking on the National Board Certification process for yourself this year, check out our FREE VIRTUAL upcoming support events in the coming months! Sign up to attend at the link below!
Our schedule of virtual offerings includes:
September 13, 2021 (3:45-5:15): Using Technology Effectively/Constructing a Quality Video
October 11, 2021 (3:45-5:15): "Using your Resources and Finding Support" by Dr. Beth Edwards
November 8, 2021 (3:45-5:15): Three Types of Effective Writing
December 13, 2021: NBPTS Panel (Q&A with newly certified and/or renewal candidates)
Winter Break: Work on your own (Reading, writing, and editing with your NBCT mentors/ on your own)
January 10, 2022 (3:45-5:15): Content-Specific Meetings
February 14, 2022 (3:45-5:15): Tips and Tricks from the National Board Office!
March 14, 2022 (3:45-5:15): Self Assessment and Self-Care Processes; Content-Specific Meetings
April 11, 2022 (3:45-5:15): Finalizing Products & the e-Portfolio; Content-Specific Meetings
May 9, 2022 (3:45-5:15): Celebration of Submission!
Please fill out this brief registration survey by September 13, 2021 to take advantage of these great supports! You will be contacted with more information via email, upon completion of this form. Interested Candidates Complete THIS Form!
Mountaineer Readers Update
We are gearing up for another great Appalachian State Football season, and that means we are preparing for our amazing readers across the Public School Partnership to come to campus to celebrate their hard work, as well!
As a reminder, this summer, media coordinators at each PSP elementary school passed out the student reading log sheet and the promotional flyer to all 1st-5th graders!
When the students return to school in the fall of 2021, students will need to turn in their COMPLETED reading logs to the school-level media coordinator by the first Wednesday of the school year.
School media coordinators need to tally the student log sheet totals and complete THIS FORM electronically to submit to Dr. Rosenbalm no later than Friday, September 24, 2021. There is no tally sheet to email in this year.
Dr. Rosenbalm will inform schools of the winners by Friday, October 8, 2021. More award details will accompany the announcement of the winners in October, but please make note that the grand prize winners will be invited to participate in the November 13, 2021 football game at Appalachian's Kidd Brewer Stadium against South Alabama! Here is an additional promotional flyer to find out more about the prizes available to schools, classrooms, and students for reading excellence!
"Back to School" Resources!
Take the time to review this EXTENSIVE list of resources, sorted by subject area for ALL of your teachers' virtual needs! App State Web Resources
Who has free educational resources, materials to loan, coordinated professional development, and free access to National Parks for fourth graders? The US National Park Service provides an array of resources on its web page, many of which are available for free. Tell your fourth graders how to get their free passthrough the Every Kid Outdoors program and share the great outdoors with kids and their families!
For a bi-weekly email with essential news and resources for all of those who care about our youngest learners, subscribe to Early Bird.
Engaging Opportunities for YOU!
1) AIM2021
NCDPI is hosting a new conference, AIM2021, at Raleigh Convention Center on Nov. 29-Dec 1. Teams of teachers, principals & district leaders from across NC will come together to learn, collaborate & network while celebrating the incredible work of schools & teachers. More details soon!
2) Teaching for Black Lives: FREE Teacher Study Groups
The Zinn Education Project (a project of Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change) is excited to announce that generous donors have funded Teaching for Black Lives Study Groups for the 2021–2022 school year.
This is a free professional learning opportunity. Each study group will receive:
Teaching for Black Lives book for each participant (up to 20) and Teaching for Black Lives Discussion Guide
Rethinking Schools magazine subscription for each participant (up to 20)
Introductory workshop featuring one or more editors of Teaching for Black Lives
Access to several invitation-only webinars and workshops (panel discussions on current events, curriculum workshops, campaign planning)
Closing event featuring one or more editors of Teaching for Black Lives
Access to a network of other teacher study groups across the United States
The structure and format can vary according to the goals of the group.
Over the past month, Professors Fitts and McClure in the RCOE have been holding a workshop series to assist Latinx immigrants (and children of immigrants) in developing digital stories. They wrapped up their work last week and are planning to have a reception and viewing/ discussion of participants' work on Saturday, August 21 at 5pm in the College of Education. All are invited!
4) TuPortal STEM Project
Looking for resources to support Hispanic students in STEM?
The TuPortalSTEM project of the NC Society of Hispanic Professionals provides a variety of resources and information in both English and Spanish. Check out the extensive list of STEM Competitions in NC as well!
5) Upcoming NWRESA PD Opportunities Fall 2021
Special Area PLN
This year we are beginning a PLN for special area teachers (art, music, physical education). This group will meet virtually 4 times during the school year 3:45-5:00 Each session will start with a whole group session then we will go to breakout rooms by content area for sharing and collaboration.
Participants in this 3-day workshop will explore and collaborate with fellow educators to create standards-based personalized learning resources and experiences for students aligned to North Carolina’s 4 Pillars of Personalized Learning. In this hands on workshop, participants will create learner profiles that focus on the whole child and inform learning paths and competency-based progression. Participants will create and refine standards-based individualized learning paths and share them on the GoOpenNC platform and learn classroom management strategies for personalized learning classrooms.
Feedback is all about growth. Effective feedback should make a person feel good about where they are and get them excited about where they are going. However, giving feedback to others can often be uncomfortable, especially when it feels critical. This half-day session will explore the foundations of creating a culture where feedback is welcome and sought out for professional growth. We will clearly define the components of “effective” feedback and practice techniques for giving feedback in ways that feel supportive without creating tension and resentment. Yes, it is possible!
October 7, 2021
WCS Stone Center, North Wilkesboro
Youth Mental Health First Aid
October 21, 2021 9:00-5:00
WCS, Instructional Training Room, North Wilkesboro
NWRESA AIG Training -ONLINE Dates to be determined More information coming soon
Dr. Ruby Payne- Emotional Poverty
November 1, 2021 1:00-3:00
Please contact CAO in each district for registration information
John A Walker Center, Wilkes Community College
6) Request for Proposals: ADAPT!
2021-22 PSP Governing Board Meeting Dates
(Superintendents, mark your calendars!)
Sept 17th, 10am to 1pm (lunch will be served)
Dec 3rd, 10am to 1pm (lunch will be served)
Feb 11th, 10 to 1pm (lunch will be served)
April 29th, 10am to 1pm (lunch will be served)
We will plan to meet in Room 417 in the RCOE, with an optional Zoom link for those who still prefer to meet virtually. We can't wait to be together again!
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