🎓 A successful professional development session has wrapped up at North Arkansas College Agriculture Program! Educators are now equipped with the expertise to implement hydroponics and produce production in their schools, fostering innovation and sustainability in agriculture education and cross-curricular projects. Kudos to all participants for their commitment to advancing teaching practices. #AgricultureEducation #Hydroponics #NewTechnology #ProfessionalDevelopment #ARCTE #OURCTE #NorthArkansasCollege
OUR Educational Service Cooperative sustained significant damage from the recent tornado. Thankfully, no one was in the building at the time, and all of our staff are safe. All professional development sessions will be moved to alternate locations, so please be monitoring the email you use in ESC Works. Thank you for your understanding and support during this time. Stay safe! 🌪️
Dyslexia Interventionists met with Literacy Specialist, Pattie Wheeler, for the final meeting of the 23-24 school year. This was Pattie's final meeting with her group as she handed the reins over to the new Dyslexia Specialist, Amanda Green.
We appreciate out Teachers
It’s been a great week of delivering cookies to the OUR Cooperative schools! We love working with our fantastic teachers! Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!!
Several of the OUR Co-op staff (Nathan Cline, Gwen Rains and Pattie Wheeler) helping Shane Flud with the 28th annual Math Carnival.
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
OUR Cooperative had an exciting day delivering cookies to more of the OUR Cooperative schools! Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
Mentoring Program Specialists, Monica Springfield and Suzanne Grant, began round two today of delivering cookies to OUR Cooperative schools for Teacher Appreciation Week! We are so thankful for all our teachers!
OUR Cooperative Mentoring Program Specialists, Monica Springfield and Suzanne Grant, delivered the first round of cookies for Teacher Appreciation Week! The OUR Cooperative staff looks forward to seeing all our schools this week. We appreciate all that you do!
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to educators in the OUR Co-op area!!!
Dr. Eric Saunders, DESE Associate Deputy Commissioner--Office of District Operations, shared financial information for the 2024-2025 school year with OUR Co-op superintendents.
Congratulations to Dr. Gwendolyn Rains, OUR Co-op science specialist, who recently completed the requirements for an Ed.D. Degree through Arkansas State University. In addition, she was recognized during the College of Education and Behavioral Science 2024 Convocation of Scholars for Outstanding Achievement in the field of Educational Leadership, Ed.D. We are so proud of you, Dr. Rains!!!
Special Education Resource Teacher Academies provide current licensed Arkansas public school educators in grades K-12 the opportunity to earn an additional Special Education Resource endorsement and participate in job-embedded professional development while receiving graduate school credit hours. Educators who obtain this endorsement will be equipped to provide instruction within general education classrooms or offer pull-out supplementary services. All the programs include 12-15 hours of graduate coursework delivered both synchronously and asynchronously, can be completed in one year, and are available at no cost to teachers.
Information on the universities participating and registration links are below:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/educator-effectiveness/educator-support--development/special-education-resource-teacher-academies
Last week Anne Cowie, OUR's Local LEADS Captain, met with early childcare providers from across the region to talk about how to best serve the children, families and communities in the area. The Arkansas LEARNS Act mandates that "local leads establish a comprehensive, locally-led plan for supporting early childhood programs and services." Ms. Cowie shared the 2024-2025 plan with all attendees.
Want to know more? Contact Anne at acowie@oursc.k12.ar.us
#ourleads4kids #earlychildhoodeducation #arkansasdese
The Co-op Technology Coordinators received training on Cyber Incident Response at the ACTC/CIRT Conference last week.
Great opportunity for online PD brought to you by the Arkansas Co-op Technology Coordinators. Search for sessions 520390 or 520393
The second group of leadership teams from OUR Co-op districts participated on Thursday in Session 5 of the Acceleration of Learning Communities of Practice professional learning led by Dr. Ivy Pfeffer of Bailey Education Group. The focus of the day has been ensuring high quality teaching and learning and focusing on strategies to build the professional capacity of faculty and staff.
Leadership teams from OUR Co-op districts participated on Wednesday in Session 5 of the Acceleration of Learning Communities of Practice professional learning led by Dr. Ivy Pfeffer of Bailey Education Group. The focus of the day has been ensuring high quality teaching and learning and focusing on strategies to build the professional capacity of faculty and staff.
Andy Sullivan, DESE Director of Educator Effectiveness, provided information related to best practices to OUR Co-op area administrators on Friday. Areas of focus included End of Year Process for TESS and LEADS within the Educator Effectiveness System.
