MSAA Matters
November Volume I
"Believe in the possibility that we can strive to be antiracist from this day forward."
From author Ibram X. Kendi in the book: How To Be An Antiracist
November 3rd
Well, we can welcome this first week of November sun as a plus over last week's October Nor'easter. It is hard to believe that we are in the second to last month of 2021! Here at MSAA we know the challenges that administrators have faced opening up this school year have been enormous and we know at times overwhelming.
Not to sound like a broken record but we are here to help you in a myriad of ways. Our support ranges from professional development, to Ring Central networking gatherings, to furthering the work in the field through committees, to our Twitter chats. We offer timely professional development in person, synchronous or asynchronous and our PD is specifically curated to meet your needs and the needs of your teachers, counselors or paras. Check out the PD list below.
If you have not joined a standing or ad-hoc committee, consider connecting with colleagues in this important work. If you are a PK-8 administrator help the Elementary Committee plan for the February 12th EdCamp or the Spring Conference on March 10th & 11th. Join the AP committee and help plan for their special Assistant Principal Conference on April 12th. These are just a few of the examples of our constant collaboration and commitment to working with colleagues. There are spaces on our Middle and High School committees as well as our Urban Committee where you can help plan for the Urban Best Practices Summit on January 6th. You may also be interested in the joint MSAA/MIAA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee that is planning a DEI Youth Summit on January 19th as well as other DEI initiatives.
Please join us at our Ring Central Gatherings (see below for days and times); bring your questions or suggestions for future topics or just come and get reassurance from colleagues that we are all pretty much experiencing the same celebrations, challenges, heartaches and fatigue! But yet our students still make us laugh and bring us joy; they are the reasons we do what we do! There are so many ways to become involved in MSAA - we just ask that you bring your expertise to the table!
Important Updates/Reminders
Massachusetts Partnership for Youth
Please check out the Massachusetts Partnership for Youth upcoming November Webinars Click here for the link to several webinars. There are some timely and relevant topics. Such as
Understanding Your Own Cultural Identity and the Impact of Systemic Racism on Education or
Creating Safer Spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth & Families are just two examples.
#MSAA Chat
#MSAAChat is on the second Tuesdays of the month September - June at 8:00 PM. The next chat is Tuesday, November 9th. Thank you to our facilitators: Marty Geoghegan, Bob Silveira, and Brian McCann!
DESE MSAA Early Learning Team
2021-2022 Elementary School Principals Networking & Professional Development Series
Book Group Discussions (all 3:30-5:00 p.m.)
All book group discussions will take place across two dates, and attendance at both is encouraged but not required. Discussions will be facilitated by MSAA, MAECTE and Department staff.
· November 9 and 17, 2021 – Can We Talk About Race? by Beverly Daniel Tatum (Registration is open. Click here for additional events in our PD series for PK-8 Principals.)
· January 19 and 26, 2022 – Purposeful Play: A Teacher’s Guide to Igniting Deep and Joyful Learning Across the Day by K. Mraz, A. Porcelli, and C. Tyler
Please consider joining us for some deep and meaningful discussions.
Horace Mann
See below for some important information on Student Loans. Click here for possible loan forgiveness.
Current Articles/Videos/Podcasts
Included in this edition are four articles from various sources that I believe you will find interesting and in some cases inspiring. The first article is from Ed Week and highlights leaders across the country who are worth learning from.
The second article is from Learning for Justice and this timely article speaks to the challenges of misinformation online and what we need to do to save our schools and democracy. It posits that digital literacy education must be among the solutions.
The third article features current principals. In A New Study, Principals Highlight Pandemic Innovations and How They Will Change Schools in the Future
NAESP releases first-of-its-kind research that shows the impact on the principal profession from 2020-2021 and what principals need to help students and schools recover and succeed.
The fourth article addresses the growing concern about teachers who are thinking of leaving the profession and what we as administrators we can do to help.
Latest Articles, Videos, and Relevant Resources
Save the Dates
Thursday, January 6th Urban Best Practice Summit
Wednesday, January 19th DEI Youth Summit
Saturday, February 12th ED Camp Live 8:00 AM 12:00 PM @MSAA Forge Park
Thursday, March 10th 2:00 PM 5:00 PM; Friday, March 11th 8:30 - 3:00 PM our PK-8 Spring Conference is back! Devens Commons
Monday, April 4th Ed Camp Play 2.0 in partnership with DESE - Virtual
Tuesday, April 12th Assistant Principal Conference In-person @ Doubletree Hotel Milford
MSAA Position Papers
DESE LATEST RESOURCES
RING CENTRAL GATHERINGS
See member email for links to these gatherings!
There will not be a meeting on the Monday holidays.
1st Monday of the Month High School Administrator Gatherings 3 PM
PK - 8 Gathering @ 4:00 PM
2nd Monday of the Month Assistant Principal Gatherings 3 PM
3rd Monday of the Month Middle Level Administrators 3 PM
4th Monday of the Month All Level Administrators 4 PM
MSAA PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FALL 2021
Professional Development Opportunities
Live/In-Person
November 9, 2021 Special Education IEP/Evaluation Team Leader, Special Education, presented by Emily Dean, M.Ed.; M.A., Register
November 17, 2021, Components of a Multi-Tiered System of Support and the Role, of the SST (Student Support Team) How do Both Structures Impact Teaching and Learning?, Curriculum and Instruction, presented by Dr. Curtis Bates, Seaside Educational Consultants, Register
December 1, 2021, Strategies for Motivating the Low-Motivation Learner that Every Teacher Should Use Curriculum and Instruction, presented by Dr. Roseli Weiss, Ribas Associates and Publications, Inc, Register
December 6, 2021, How to Reinvent Schools and Learning for Your School/District, Leadership and Administration, presented by Maureen Gilman, Seaside Educational Consultants, Register
December 8, 2021, Specially Designed Instruction (SDI): What it Is and What it Is Not, Special Education, presented by Abby Hanscom, Athena Educational Consulting, Register
December 10, 2021, Re-JOY-ning the Math Class! - Math Openers, Routines, and Experiences to Build MATH Positivity and Better Discourse, in Your Classroom: Elementary, Mathematics, presented by Marcie Abramson, Athena Educational Consulting, Register
December 14, 2021, RTI interventions and the SEI Classroom, Special Education, presented by Laurie Sullivan, Athena Educational Consulting, Register
February 10, 2022, Understanding and Addressing Implicit Unconscious Bias in Our Schools, Safe and Supportive Learning Environments, presented by Karen Dodd Antonelli, M.Ed., Ribas Associates and Publications, Inc, Register
Asynchronous - Learning Portals open Oct 1, 2021 through January 15, 2022
The Inclusive Classroom: Reaching Students of ALL Abilities, through Co-teaching and Creating Tiered Interventions, Curriculum and Instruction, presented by Dr. Judy Ann DeLucia, Seaside Educational Consultants, LLC, Register
Classroom Management: Keys to Maximizing Opportunities, for Student Learning, Curriculum and Instruction, presented by Dr. Curtis Bates, Seaside Educational Consultants, LLC, Register
Differentiated Instruction to Promote Maximum Learning Recovery, Curriculum and Instruction, presented by Carol Gregory, Ribas Associates and Publications, Register
Learning Recovery, Curriculum and Instruction, presented by Cynthia Marchand, Ribas Associates and Publications Inc., Register 4 Graduate Credits Available
Succeeding with English Language Learners, English Language Arts, Dr. Cindy Crimmin, Ribas Associates and Publications Inc., Register Approved by DESE for the 15-PDP ELL License Renewal Requirement
Restorative Justice, Leadership/Administration, presented by Dr. Curtis Bates, Seaside Educational Consultants, LLC, Register
How to Deliver Effective Feedback: Addressing What Matters Most to Improve Professional Practice, How to have a Difficult Conversation!, Leadership/Administration, presented by, Dr. Judy Ann DeLucia, Seaside Educational Consultants, LLC, Register
Effective and Stress-Free Parent Communication, Leadership/Administration, presented by Jared Procopio, Seaside Educational Consultants, LLC, Register
Expanding Math Mindsets: Digital Tools & Resources, to Engage Middle & High School Students, Mathematics, presented by Brian Skeffington, Seaside Educational Consultants, LLC, Register
Understanding the Differentiated Instruction Classroom: A Certificate Program for Paraprofessionals and Assistant Teachers, presented by Carol Gregory, Ribas Associates and Publications, Inc., Register
Succeeding with Students with Special Needs: A Certificate Program for Paraprofessionals and Assistant Teachers, presented by Bill Simmons, M.Ed., Ribas Associates and Publications, Inc., Register
Succeeding with English Language Learners: A Certificate Program for Paraprofessionals and Assistant Teachers, presented by Dr. Cindy Crimmin, Ribas Associates and Publications, Inc., Register
SEL in the Classroom: A Certificate Program for Paraprofessionals and Assistant Teachers, presented by Dr. Deborah Brady, Ribas Associates and Publications, Inc., Register
Positive Anxiety - Making the Shift, Safe and Supportive Learning Environments, presented by Patric Barbieri, Seaside Educational Consultants, LLC Register
Bridging the Gap: Connecting Academics and Social Emotional Learning to Maximize Student Learning, Safe and Supportive Learning Environments, presented by Maureen Gilman, Seaside Educational Consultants, LLC, Register
Getting Back on Track: Using PBIS Strategies to Create Safe and Supportive Classrooms, Safe and Supportive Learning Environments, presented by Maureen Gilman, Seaside Educational Consultants, LLC, Register
Sustaining Educator Wellness for the Long Haul, Safe and Supportive Learning Environments, presented by Christopher Dodge, Seaside Educational Consultants, LLC, Register
Social-Emotional Learning in the Classroom: The Gateway to Learning Recovery, Safe and Supportive Learning Environments, presented by Dr. Deborah Brady, Ribas Associates and Publications, Inc., Register
1 Graduate Credit Available
Succeeding with Students with Special Needs, Special Education, presented by Bill Simmons, M.Ed., Ribas Associates and Publications, Inc., Register Approved by DESE for the 15-PDP Special Education License Renewal Requirement
Recovering Learning Loss for Students from Low Income Homes, Special Education, presented by Dr. Roseli Weiss, Ribas Associates and Publications, Inc., Register