JULY 2023 | Monthly news for and about the staff of Northwest Education Services | |
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Time of Transition
North Ed Team,
This month we simultaneously have the pleasure of welcoming two new faces to our Board of Education and a sense of grateful regret in recognizing the departure of two others.
We must thank Jim Carpenter and Jason Tank for their years of service to North Ed’s board. Both Mr. Carpenter (14 years) and Mr. Tank (six years) have served with a strong commitment to education and doing what is best for students. Their leadership, support and steady presence on the board has been very much appreciated.
Please join me in congratulating Beth Lajko and Lisa Thomas as they begin their six-year terms representing Grand Traverse County on the North Ed board! Ms. Lajko resides in the Kingsley Area Schools district, where she founded the Kingsley PTO and previously held a seat on the school board for more than 25 years. Ms. Thomas lives in the Traverse City Area Public Schools district and currently serves as the dean of students at Northwestern Michigan College. Both have several other notable accomplishments and experiences, and we welcome their expertise and perspective as we look ahead to the first meeting of this new board at 8 a.m., July 11.
Additionally, our CFO transition plan is now underway. Shawn Biddle is working closely with Linda Bielecki to learn the finer details of her new role. We wish Linda well in her retirement, effective Sept. 1, and extend our sincerest gratitude for her leadership and service. Considering Shawn’s background and her work as North Ed’s director of finance, we are confident she will succeed as North Ed’s new CFO.
We are also fortunate to have a new Special Education service area supervisor in Kerri Ferris. Kerri has been with North Ed several years, starting as a teacher assistant and currently serving as a teacher consultant. She will oversee a portion of the TCAPS district and non-public schools in our area, as Jennie Morgenstern transitions to a teacher consultant role. Jennie’s desire to have a more direct impact on education in the classroom, coupled with Kerri’s administrative experience through a past employer will prove beneficial to our students, schools and staff at North Ed.
As always, thank you for everything that you do. Please find time to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday and the company of friends and family this summer.
Respectfully,
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Dr. Nick Ceglarek
Northwest Education Services Superintendent
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Nora Cosnowski
Accountant
Previous work: Dennis, Gartland & Niergarth
Education: Livonia Churchill HS, Ferris State University
Interests: Crocheting and long walks with her husband
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Brooke Juday
Nutrition Facilitator
Previous work: TCAPS Nutrition Educator
Education: Central Michigan University
Interests: Hiking, biking, paddle boarding, gardening and cooking
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Leanne Laucky
Secretary, Life Skills Center
Previous work: TCAPS Blair Elementary School
Education: St. Francis High School, Central Michigan University
Interests: Enjoys reading, swimming and gardening.
Fun Fact: Is the mother of four sons
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SAILORS on Deck!
North Ed Administrative Assistant for Special Education Nikki Sheehan was honored by the Board of Education on June 13 for her dedication to the value of Excellence as recognized by her colleagues through the SAIL Organizational Recognition System (ORS).
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SAIL(ORS): Organizational Recognition System
Use the form linked below to nominate a colleague who has gone above and beyond in their work. That colleague will receive an email copy of your nomination. One person is selected from the pool of nominees each month to be recognized by the North Ed Board of Education.
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Disability Pride Month
Summer SPOILER ALERT: July isn’t just about grilling out, going to the beach, boating in the sunshine or all of the other fun summer activities we enjoy. July is also known as Disability Pride Month, celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is a civil rights law, signed on July 26, 1990, that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places open to the general public. Disability Pride initially started as a single day of celebration the year ADA was enacted, with Boston, Massachusetts, leading the way with a Disability Pride Day Parade. In July 2015, 25 years after the signing of the ADA, Disability Pride became a month-long commemoration. To learn more about the Americans with Disabilities Act, go to https://www.ada.gov/. Hear from young people about what Disability Pride means to them, or learn more about Disability Pride history.
Disability Pride Month celebrates people for “embracing their disabilities as integral parts of who they are by reclaiming visibility, [and] rejecting the shame and internalized ableism” often felt by those with seen or unseen disabilities, according to the American Bar Association. If you would like to learn how you can participate in this month of recognition, check out this article, “11 Ways to Celebrate Disability Pride Month”.
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“I am different but not less.”
~ Temple Grandin ~
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If you read the newsletter in your email inbox, you may be missing the full story! | |
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In Other News...
The State of Michigan announced its 2023-24 budget, which includes significant investments in education, from increasing special education funding and expanding preschool, to supporting transportation funding equity and more. Click below to read a summary from the Michigan Department of Education.
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Funding in the amount of $66.4 million was also included for Talent Together, an initiative led by 48 intermediate school districts, including North Ed, that aims to address the educator shortfall facing Michigan schools. With funding secured, the program will begin creating new pathways for those aspiring to become teachers starting this fall. | |
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Summer Work Hours
For employees working during the summer, North Ed’s summer hours will be from June 12 through Aug. 25. Year-round staff will also have the opportunity to work four-day weeks by working longer hours each day, if approved by their supervisor.
Employees interested in following the four-day week schedule should work with their supervisor to determine if that is possible. Departments must ensure employee coverage and services are available Monday through Friday.
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$500 Referral Bonus Continues
North Ed staff can earn a $500 bonus for successfully referring someone who joins our team for any of the following positions:
- School Social Worker
- Speech and Language Pathologist
- Special Education Teacher
- Teacher Assistant
- Paraprofessional
Due to an ongoing need to fill several positions, this opportunity will remain in place until vacancies are filled. Simply email the name of your referral to HR Generalist Jaime Walton. If that person is hired, you will get a $500 bonus in your paycheck.
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Google Drive for File Storage
TECH TIP: Help reduce strain on North Ed’s on-site software and network by transferring files to Google Drive from the C:\, H:\ and T:\ drives. Other benefits of using Google Drive for file storage:
- Access files from anywhere with an internet connection, and without using a VPN (virtual private network).
- Files are backed up for disaster recovery purposes.
- There’s unlimited space!
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WiredTC Registration is Open
WiredTC, a professional “edtech and more” learning conference, will be held Aug. 8 at Traverse City Central High School, 1150 Milliken Drive, Traverse City.
Keynote speaker Alexis Dahl – a self-described science communicator, storyteller and artist based in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – will discuss her passion for creating science-based videos and helping other people tell their own educational stories.
Registration is OPEN and FREE to all educational staff in North Ed’s region who register with a promo code. Refer to a May 23 staff email for the code or contact NorthEdNews@NorthwestEd.org.
SCECHs are available. To see more information about the conference, visit www.WiredTC.net.
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Food Rescue
Thanks to a partnership with Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan, students from the Life Skills Center have gained some valuable employability skills this year by repackaging almost 21,000 pounds of nutritious food that is sent out to serve the needs of families across northwest Michigan.
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Save The Date
Join us for the 28th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa on Sunday, Sept. 17. Register TODAY!
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Creekside School: Crews were installing the foundation for a building expansion at Creekside School late last month. The project includes a secure entrance, administration offices and a conference room, along with repurposing existing space for instructional purposes. The project is anticipated to be substantially complete by November 2023. | |
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New Horizons: Occupancy was permitted in June for the two additional New Horizons classrooms at Traverse Heights Elementary School. Summer school students and North Ed staff were pleased with the new space and additional storage for equipment. Other work already completed or scheduled to be finished by the start of the 2023-24 school year includes upgraded flooring and lighting, secure entry improvements, updated fire alarm system and redesigned parking lot/bus loop. | |
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Tech Services Department: Finishing touches are being done on the new Tech Services space in the Arnell Administration Building. The space has been redesigned to be more efficient and improve access from the main entrance lobby at Arnell. | | |
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Happy Birthday!
See who celebrates in JULY
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North Ed Apparel Store Open 24/7
North Ed swag is available for purchase. Order direct from our approved supplier. It's easy! Browse the North Ed online catalog TODAY!
Website link location:
Intranet/North Ed Brand/Be a Brand Ambassador
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Board of Education Links
General Resources
COVID-19 Resources
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Communication Links
Technology Services
Need help with a technology issue? Try this:
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Northwest Education Services
1101 Red Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684
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