CUSP's blog

The School Leaders Network has two exciting events approaching!

February 11, 2010- It’s the LAW! School Law Update

Attorney Ginny Tate from Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane will present an update on current school law, recent changes and an overview of pertinent cases.  This discussion of law is important to school leaders and administrators and should generate a current and engaging discussion on the impact of these laws in daily processes.

March 19, 2010- Jennifer Abrams: Having Hard Conversations

This full day workshop features national presenter and renowned education consultant Jennifer Abrams.  The topic will focus on dealing with conflict and interpersonal communications in the role of school leader or administrator.  For more information on this opportunity, see this flyer.

If you are interested in either of these events and would like to RSVP or get more information, call the CUSP office at 774-929-3002 or email cusp@umassd.edu.

The School Leaders Network Presents…

Legislative Breakfast with Representative Stephen R. Canessa

The SLN is hosting another exciting event on Friday, December 11th.  School leaders will have the opportunity to network over breakfast and then discuss today’s topics on education reform with State Representative Stephen R. Canessa.  Canessa is a member of the Joint Committee on Education.  For more information, check out the flier.

Are you a paraprofessional?

Are you interested in earning a Bachelors degree?

Would you like to help elementary students with disabilities?

Would you like to become a teacher?

Journey into Education and Teaching is holding a major recruiting session Thursday, November 5, 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Bristol Community College’s New Bedford Campus (188 Union Street).

What is JET?

JET is a program designed for paraprofessionals to earn a Bachelor’s degree and teaching licensure in elementary education and moderate disabilities.  For more information, click here.

If you are interested in this program and can make it to the information session, please RSVP to Jenna at 508-678-2811, ext. 4025.

If you are currently majoring in science, math or engineering (STEM) and would like to teach after graduating, CUSP’s Noyce Scholars Program has a great deal to offer: $10,000 annual scholarships to STEM majors who agree to become teachers after graduating.

A grant from the National Science Foundation is making it possible for STEM majors to realize their dreams to teach while also bringing qualified teachers into high need schools.  Maths and science teachers are greatly needed in schools with high levels of families living under the povery line.  By becoming a Noyce Scholar, you will not only recieve scholarships, but also be given support in your endeavors of becoming a teacher.  Most importantly, you will be bringing math or science to students and schools who greatly need support in these subjects (Fall River, New Bedford, Brockton, Taunton or Wareham).

If this sounds like a challenge that interests you, and you would like to apply to become a Noyce Scholar, check out the Noyce website for information, and attend one of the following information sessions:

October 22, 12:00-1:00pm, Charlton College of Business (CCB) room 115

November 3, 12:00-1:00pm, CCB 115

November 12, 5:00-6:00pm, Frederick Douglass Unity House

November 17, 3:00-4:00pm, CCB 115

If you missed the TEACH! information session this past Thursday, there are two more opportunities to get the details on the opportunity to become a liscensed teacher in the Southcoast.

Thursday, October 29, 2009 4:00-5:30 PM

-OR-

Thursday, December 3, 2009 4:00-5:30 PM

Come find out what the TEACH! program has to offe, and how you can gain initial liscensure to teach whether you be a recent graduate or a career changer.  TEACH!is a one year alternative teacher preparation program that offers a great deal of support to those looking to take on the challenge of teaching.  For more information about the program, click here.

Do you have a creative idea for your classroom, but lack the funding to make it a reality?  Perhaps you’d like to organize a parents’ night or a workshop or lecture within your school; whatever your idea may be, if it will help to enhance the learning experience for SouthCoast students, the Education Compact wants to help.

The SouthCoast Education Compact is currently offering fifteen Teacher Incentive Mini-Grants to help improve curriculum within a number of subject areas including the humanitities, language arts, science, math, reading, arts and cultural projects.  Only one grant per school will be awarded, and grants received may be up to $250.

These Mini-Grants may be applied for by any public, parochial or charter school teacher with two years experience in the Southcoast Compact school district at the elementary or secondary level.  The deadline for application is Monday, November 2, 2009.

To download the application form and obtain further information, visit The Southcoast Education Compact’s home page.

This summer, I attended the fourth annual Robert Noyce Teaching Scholarship Conference in Washington, D.C. along with Karen O’Connor, Executive Director of CUSP, and Dr. Trina Crowley, Associate Director. The conference, which was organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), included many speakers, workshops and a poster presentation by attendees. This year’s theme was “Building Excellence in STEM Teaching.”

One keynote speaker from the conference, Steve Robinson, Special Advisor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, entertained us with his personal journal, from his time as a classroom teacher to the moments he spent in President Obama’s office, when the President asked him what the biggest problem was in his classroom.

We also heard from a panel of Noyce Scholars, talented STEM majors who are given generous scholarships to become K-12 teachers. They shared their personal experiences about being first year teachers and how the Noyce Scholarship Program helped them along the way.

CUSP’s Noyce Scholarship Program is recruiting its second cohort of new teachers. Follow the link for the latest news.

The 2009 Conference Program Book, with biographies of speakers and poster abstracts can be found here (pdf), and the AAAS article about the conference is here.

Katie Powell designed this poster that we presented at the conference

The SeaQuestered writing retreat is coming up November 6-8, 2009. Join teachers and writers from across the state for a special gathering in picturesque Centerville, Cape Cod. Whether you are a beginning or experienced writer, this relaxing retreat will energize and inspire you. SeaQuestered provides a safe space for writers to uncover their own unique writing voices. Our retreat provides a supportive atmosphere to awaken creativity. You will receive encouraging and constructive feedback to identify your strengths and improve your writing. This retreat is designed to foster a community of writers while being accessible to writers at different stages of their craft.

Download a flyer and registration form (pdfs)

Have you attended SeaQuestered before? Please feel free to use the “Comments” link below to share your thoughts about the experience.

In September’s Nonprofit Breakfast Brief for nonprofit leaders and employees, Linnea Michel, Esq. will address the legal processes of establishing and managing nonprofit organizations. Topics will include:

• Filing incorporation documents;
• Compliance with fundraising regulations;
• Obtaining federal tax-exempt status; and
• Revising bylaws

Michel is the director of the Community Development Clinic at the Southern New England School of Law. The Clinic offers free legal representation and educational materials to nonprofit organizations in the SouthCoast community.

Thursday, September 17, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Download a flyer and registration form (pdf)

The Center for University, School & Community Partnerships (CUSP) announces a year-long, three-credit graduate course for mentors, induction coordinators and administrators in need of cultivating their individual mentoring skills and building strong mentoring programs for new teachers.

“This class refined skills I already possessed and equipped me with additional tools (including worksheets and resource materials) to better mentor other teachers.” (2007)

Based on Mentoring in Action—a month-by-month curriculum developed by Dr. Carol Pelletier Radford, director of UMass Dartmouth’s nationally recognized TEACH! SouthCoast teacher preparation program—this course systematically guides participants through practices and activities designed to meet the needs of new teachers throughout the school year.

Veteran teacher and mentor, Karen DeRusha, will lead the course, which will take place on eleven Thursday afternoons from September to May: 9/17, 10/1, 10/15, 10/29, 11/12, 12/10, 1/14, 2/11, 3/11, 4/8 and 5/13.

“I would recommend this course to other teachers and the school administration since there is a great need for this type of program to ensure retention of new teachers.” (2009)

The course will cost $1,122 or $918 for educators in SouthCoast Education Compact member districts: Fall River, New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Rochester, Somerset, Swansea, Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett and Westport.

Click here to view a printable course flyer. Then, click here for a registration form.