Ozarks Unlimited Resources

More artifacts from Flippin Elementary!! Knowledge building through the use of HQIM is evident all over the building!! #HEREWEGROW

Literacy Specialist, Pattie Wheeler, just completed the K-2 RISE Academy with these dedicated educators!! So much learning around the Science of Reading and collaboration took place during this time. Learning and growing!!!

🌟 Innovative Discoveries in CTE Education! 🍎🔧 Emilee Tucker, OUR CTE Coordinator, and Gordon Eichelberger, DCTE ESC Regional Specialist & Pathways Coordinator, have visited a total of 11 schools in the OUR Co-Op this semester to foster relationships with DCTE and conduct essential equipment and program checks. Here's a glimpse into the findings from their recent school visits: 1. 🌿 Cultivating Career Opportunities at Yellville-Summit Katherine Quinn has pioneered a work-based learning initiative, offering students a paid Career Practicum/Internship in the greenhouse. This not only extends students' experience in horticulture but also provides networking opportunities. Students gain tangible job experience, setting the stage for future career success - including plans for placement with a local producer upon graduation. A commendable and innovative approach that deserves recognition—other schools, take note! 2. 🔨 Excellence in Organization at Yellville-Summit Rick Ziegler at Yellville-Summit impresses with a spotless shop where organization is clearly a top priority. Amidst numerous ongoing projects, every tool has its place. Rick's commitment to maintaining a well-organized workspace, continuing to obtain updated technology, and teach students applicable skills is truly noteworthy. 3. 🖥️ Transformative Learning Environments at Deer Henry Wooten at Deer has revolutionized student group work with impressive workstations featuring large TV screens. These screens facilitate simultaneous project collaboration and serve as powerful teaching aids. Beyond project work, Henry showcases continuous announcements, updates, and even student achievements, fostering a sense of pride in the program. Notably, his "Food Truck" project engages students in simulating and marketing a food truck, aligning with Digital Marketing standards. 👏 Join us in celebrating these outstanding educators and their contributions to advancing CTE education! Stay tuned for more stories of innovation and excellence. 🚀📚 #CTEInnovation #EducationExcellence #InspiringEducators #OURCTE #ArkansasCTE #WBLinArkansas #SchoolSuccessStories

🌟 Exciting Career Summit Recap! 🌟 We had an incredible time at the See It AND Be It Summit hosted by O.U.R. CTE Department, Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District, and Arkansas Rehabilitation Services on October 17th! 🎓✨ 🚀 Atmosphere: The summit was buzzing with energy, providing a fantastic platform for small group and one-on-one interactions with our industry and resource partners. Shoutout to Berryville, Cotter, Deer, Mt. Judea, Green Forest, Kingston, Lead Hill, Marshall, Norfork, Omaha, Ozark Mountain, Valley Springs, Yellville-Summit for being part of this engaging experience! 💼 What Went Down: Diverse industry representation ✨ Indoor booths and outdoor touch-a-truck 🚚🛠️ Insightful panel discussions 🗣️ Interactive breakout groups 💡 VR Headsets for career exploration 🌐 Technical center collaborations 👩‍💻 Non-profit engagement 🤝 Mountain Home & Harrison Chamber of Commerce involvement 🏛️ Booth Contest: And the winner was... DSI!!!!🏆 📆 Stay tuned for the Spring See It AND Be It Summit: Adulting 101, where we'll dive even deeper into empowering these students for their next steps with life skills, career prep, mock interviews, reverse career fairs, and more ! 🌷 📣 A special shoutout to Signature Bank for generously providing lunch for everyone! 🍔🥗 Looking forward to the next chapter of education and empowerment! 📘🌐 #SeeItANDBeIt #OUR #OURCTE #BetterTogether #ArkansasCTE #NWAEDD #ArkansasRehabServices #EmpowerTheFuture #CommunityDevelopment #BuildingLeaders #CareerPrep

Mt. Judea elementary teachers are learning more about integrating writing in every subject area through Zoom with The Writing Revolution. Thank you to Amber Pirnique (DESE) and Merica Howie (OUR) for making this training possible!

🌟 Thank you to all the amazing Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) teachers who joined us on November 3! 🍎✨ 🤝 Your presence and enthusiasm made our session on making and canning jelly, crafting laundry soap, making butter, addressing program and classroom challenges, and engaging in team-building exercises truly special. 💡 Did you know? A whopping 65% of attendees had been teaching for 4 years or less, making this a fantastic opportunity for both new and experienced educators to connect, share ideas, and strengthen our FACS community. 🎨 We hope the painting session added a creative touch to your networking experience! 🌐 Special Recognition: OUR CTE Coordinator, Emilee Tucker, and OUR FACS Mentor, Deanna Franks (Cotter), are playing a pivotal role in using events like this to build sustainable programs and empower new teachers. By fostering lasting relationships, embedding mentors, and providing engaging classroom tools and technology, we aim to increase retention and create a supportive environment for all FACS educators. 📸 Feel free to share your favorite moments from the event using the hashtag #FACSTeachersConnect. Let's continue to build on the connections made and the knowledge shared. Stay tuned for more exciting opportunities to come! 🙏 Thank you for being a part of this enriching event. Your dedication to education is truly inspiring! 🍏📚 #FACSTeachers #TeacherNetworking #EducationEventSuccess #OURCTE #ArkansasCTE #BetterTogether #TeacherMentoring #TeacherRetention #ThinkOutsideTheBox #InnovativeApproachestoEducation #TeachersSupportingTeachers

It was a great day of chess at the OUR Coop! Grades 3-4 and Grades 5-6 competed in our final two tournaments of the year. Congratulations to our winners! Thanks to all who participated and everyone who helped make these tournaments possible. See you next year!

Arkansas Cooperative Technology Coordinators (ACTC) partnered with DIS and presented multiple sessions at the annual Arkansas Conference of Technology (ACOT). In partnership with CIRT, DESE, DIS, and Forge Institute, the ACTCs organized the Cybersecurity Bootcamp, featuring a full day dedicated to Cyber Prevention and Recovery. Additionally, throughout the event, the ACTCs presented multiple sessions focusing on data responsibility and cybersecurity awareness, equipping districts with valuable resources to maintain the security of their networks.

OUR Cooperative congratulates these wonderful educators on completing the RISE 3-6 Academy with Merica Howie, Literacy Specialist. Quality reading instruction for students in all subjects makes a difference for years to come!

Administrators participating in Day 1 of Daunting But Doable: The Role of the Principal in a Professional Learning Community at Work. This work is being led by Dr. Anisa Baker-Busby from Solution Tree.

The second cohort of District Leadership Teams from OUR Co-op participated in the kickoff of the Acceleration of Learning Communities of Practice Grant today with Dr. Ivy Pfeffer of the Bailey Education Group.

District Leadership Teams from OUR Co-op participated in the kickoff of the Acceleration of Learning Communities of Practice Grant today. The focus of the day has been High Quality Instructional Materials.

Dr. Fowler is collaborating with District Administrators on the LEADS evaluation process.

Pattie Wheeler, OUR Co-op Literacy Specialist, providing training for Yellville-Summit Elementary School staff.

During the OUR Co-op's October Board meeting, Hope Worsham, DESE Asst. Commissioner of Public School Accountability provided updates on the ATLAS Assessments and possible changes that will be recommended for the Accountability System and ESSA School Index/School Ratings.

Arkansas Seniors: Don't miss a final opportunity for a comprehensive review of the upcoming ACT test on October 28th! Fast, effective, and engaging - this review is the perfect refresher to prepare for the upcoming test date. Sessions are THIS THURSDAY 10/26 with two time slots available. Register at: bit.ly/review-registration and don't forget your OnToCollege review sheets!

The annual Junior High and Senior High Chess Tournaments were held today at the OUR Co-op. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to all the coaches and players who attended!

We are thrilled to spotlight Emilee Tucker, our CTE Coordinator, who recently presented at the Arkansas CTE Coordinator Fall Retreat! Emilee's passion for bridging the gap between education and local business and industry is truly exceptional. Her commitment has resulted in a host of partnerships that are making a real impact in our community. Emilee's partnerships include collaborations with: 🤝 Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce 🤝 Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District 🤝 U of A Cooperative Extension Service 🤝 North Arkansas College 🤝 Local community and business leaders These partnerships have led to an array of incredible programs that benefit our educators and students, while promoting economic growth and development. Some of these initiatives include: 📚 Workforce Initiation Network (WIN) Leadership Academy 📚 Book Studies on Workforce Development 📚 Industry Tours 📚 Teacher Externships 📚 WIN Website 📚 Virtual Meetings Between Students and Industries 📚 Magazines 📚 One Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment sent to industries from multiple partners 📚 Work-Based Learning Search on the Harrison Chamber website 📚 Youth Career Summits targeting high-risk youth 📚 Cross-Curricular PD Sessions 📚 Research Station and Farm Tours 📚 Increased FACS, Agriculture, and Business PD Trainings Emilee is no stranger to presenting at a state and regional level on strategies for partnering with business and industry. In 2021, she graced four conferences, including Arkansas ACTE, Region IV ACTE, ADE Summit, and ABEA, to share her expertise. We are proud of the incredible work Emilee is doing to enhance our education system and foster vital partnerships! #OUR #CTECoordinator #EducationPartnerships #CommunityEngagement #WIN #Partnerships #BetterTogether #ArkansasCTE

Curriculum and testing coordinators from the OUR Co-op districts met yesterday to share information related to curriculum and testing updates.

Ozarks Unlimited Resources Education Service Cooperative (OURSC) hosted the Arkansas Cooperative Technology Coordinators for a productive session this week. They received updates on AR Cyber Laws, cybersecurity awareness, and explored Google Workspace collaboration tools. The team also diligently prepared for the November ACOT conference.