Dear ISD/RESA Superintendents and First-line Administrators,

I hope everyone is having a fantastic start to the school year! As we embark on another year of learning and growth, I want to reassure you that we are here to provide the support and resources needed to support you and your first-line administrators. Please contact me with any urgent needs at (231) 720-5794. Here are three important updates and events I'd like to share:

Here are my three things:

• Legislation: A big thank you to our Legislative Committee members who are working to ensure they connect your thoughts, ideas, and comments regarding our work this fall and as we prepare for the next budget cycle. Here are the minutes from the last legislative committee meeting (in case you missed it). Plus, we have a legislative Zoom meeting on September 12 for ISD/RESA superintendents and their legislative affairs representatives. (Invite was previously sent).

• Membership Survey: We want to hear from you! MAISA Board Members will contact their region's ISD/RESA superintendents within the next few weeks to gather your thoughts and feedback (some have recently completed this work). The information collected will be shared with me at the MAISA Board Meeting in September. I invite our superintendents to participate fully, sharing your thoughts and ideas on how our organization and I can better serve you and, ultimately, our students. Please consider, once again, the following four links that may assist you in this process: 



• Draft Executive Director Goals for 2024-25
• Network Goals
• Strategic Plan TriFold 
• MAISA Board Member Responsibilities

• PingBoard: Over 400 MAISA members are now on PingBoard, where you can find contact information and roles related to MAISA, including ISD/RESA superintendents, MAISA staff, networks, committees, departments, and locations. In one app, you have it all! No more searching directories and files. At some point, you received a welcome email from PingBoard. MAISA will use the app to help our superintendents and network leaders get to know each other, understand each other's skills and strengths within our networks, and help new members make connections. Pingboard is not public; only invited MAISA members can see your information. You can create a Pingboard account or log in via Google when registering. Please get in touch with Barbette Lane at blane@gomaisa.org if you need any help getting connected or need us to resend an invitation. 

Lastly, we have included a Know Before You Go piece below regarding MASA's 2024 Fall Conference. As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

We are Better Together,

j

Dr. John Severson

MAISA Executive Director

In this edition of the InSiDe Update:

• Welcome, MAISA new hires!
• Early Math Institute/Early Literacy Coaching Institute follow up
• Stories From the Field
• MAISA staff Making an Impact
• Back to School with EduPaths
• PreK for All Toolkit
• MLC/RWR Smore newsletter
• 2024-25 MAISA Board and General Membership calendar updates
• ISD PR Network Communication Center
• MiEWIMS Lunch and Learn webinar
• MAISA Sessions at 2024 MASA Fall Conference
• 2024 ISD Superintendent Early Childhood Summit
• Michigan DataHub's 2nd Annual Users Conference
• TRAILS is hiring!
• MAISA is hiring!

MAISA Announces Key Hires for New Positions

Lansing, Mich. — The Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephanie O'Dea as the new Instructional Systems Director and Amy Brauer as the new Early Childhood Administrators Network Director. These appointments mark a significant step forward in MAISA’s continued commitment to educational leadership and the advancement of early childhood and instructional services across Michigan.

Stephanie O'Dea brings more than 20 years of experience in the education sector to her new role as Instructional Systems Director. She most recently served as the Senior Education Advisor to Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Prior to her work in State government, Stephanie was the Associate Superintendent of Instruction at Montcalm Area Intermediate School District, where she oversaw instructional services across the district. Her leadership experience is further highlighted by her service on the General Education Leadership Network (GELN) Executive Board, including a term as Chair, which gives her a unique perspective as she steps into her new role leading the network.

Stephanie holds a master's degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Educational Leadership from the University of Michigan-Flint, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Spring Arbor University. Additionally, she holds certifications in secondary education and K-12 administration. She is a proud parent of three Michigan public school students. Stephanie will be starting in late September.

Amy Brauer joins MAISA as the Early Childhood Administrators Network Director, bringing with her a rich background in early childhood education leadership. Most recently, Amy served as the Director of Early Childhood Services at St. Joseph County Intermediate School District, where she was responsible for overseeing key programs, including Early Head Start, Early On, the Great Start Collaborative, and the Great Start Readiness Program. Her role involved strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and program development, with a focus on ensuring equity and high-quality services for children and families. Amy will be starting next week.

Amy holds a master’s degree in Public Administration in Educational Leadership from the University of Michigan-Flint and a Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Michigan University. Additionally, she holds certifications in education and administration.

We would also like to welcome Barbette Lane, MAISA Office Manager, and Melissa Reinelt, MAISA SCECH Coordinator, to the team!

ISD leadership, educators, researchers, and coaches from across MAISA’s 56 ISDs gathered at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, August 5-8, for two events; the Early Math Leadership Institute (August 5-7) and Early Literacy Coaching Institute (August 7-8)! 

Dr. Maisie Gholson, an educator and researcher from the University of Michigan, spoke on day one of the Early Math Leadership Institute about student-centered early mathematics learning.

Both events brought together subject matter experts and thought leaders to identify and discuss best educational practices to support Michigan’s pre-K through grade 5 students.

LaTonya Barber, MAISA's Event Coordinator, was honored by the Global International Alliance with an Honorary Doctorate in Humanitarianism for her tireless humanitarian work.

Barber's work, spanning decades, includes some of the following:

• Volunteerism and advocacy for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities
• American Sign Language (ASL) educator and interpreter
• assisting the unhoused and other underserved communities
• Produced the "I’m Every Woman Expo" in Detroit to inspire collaboration and networking and to provide resources for women.

Barber also received the 'Spirit of Detroit' award for the expo from the Detroit City Council!

Rachel Fuerer, Director of Special Education at Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD and Director of MAISA’s SEILN Network, was awarded the 2024 Marvin Beekman Award by the Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education (MAASE).

The Beekman Award is the highest of MAASE honors in recognition of excellence, impact, and significant contribution within the field of special education.

Welcome Back, Educators!

EduPaths is kicking off the 2024-25 school year with new resources to support educators and students throughout this school year!

Click below to view the latest resources and to explore FREE courses and FREE SCECHs!

Thanks to a historic investment in the FY 2025 state budget, access to free, high-quality PreK has expanded in Michigan! Beginning this fall, all Michigan four-year-olds can qualify for free PreK. Attending a quality PreK program has a positive impact on a child’s life by preparing them for success in kindergarten and beyond. Michigan’s PreK program, through the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), is ranked #1 in the nation for quality.

Spread the Word!

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is working to promote PreK enrollment across the state through events, media outreach, paid advertising, and more.

To help you communicate with the communities you serve, MiLEAP has created a toolkit for school districts, PreK providers, and other partners, which includes:

• Social media posts and graphics
• Flyers
• Email blast content and newsletter articles
• Templates for direct mail
• And more!

Access the toolkit here

Materials may be used as-is or may be customized by ISDs and PreK providers to give families specific information about available programs and enrollment instructions, including the addition of GSRP, Head Start, and/or local program logos. Please note that translated materials and other resources will be added to the toolkit in the coming weeks.

Check out the Summer 2024 MLC Smore newsletter highlighting the work of MAISA's partnership with the Michigan Learning Channel that brings the Literacy Essentials to life through the broadcast series Read, Write, ROAR!

To view the newsletter, click here.

The 2024-25 MAISA Board and General Membership meeting calendar has been updated!

The following two items were updated:

2025 MAISA Spring Meeting dates have been changed:

• AASA has moved the date of their annual conference for 2025 and it was brought to our attention that their new dates would overlap with the previously-scheduled MAISA Spring Meetings dates. 
• The new meeting dates for MAISA's Spring Meetings, hosted by Genesee ISD, will now be Monday, March 10 through Tuesday, March 11, 2025. 

2025 Summer Conference location has been solidified:

• This year's summer conference will be held at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth. We look forward to working with Bay-Arenac ID, Saginaw ISD and Tuscola ISD!

Please reach out to sfranck@gomaisa.org with any questions. 

The full calendar is listed below and can be found here!

Fall MASA Conference

Dr. Nick Ceglarek, Superintendent, and Ryan Jarvi, Director of Communications, both of Northwest Education Services, will present Limitless Potential: A Practical Toolkit to Influence Public Perception of Special Education at MASA's Fall Conference on Wednesday, September 18, at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Traverse City from 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm.

We invite you to attend to learn how this new statewide tool will help communication and build support for special education throughout Michigan.

The toolkit is a collaboration of the ISD PR Network, Special Education Instructional Leaders Network (SEILN), Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education (MAASE), and Michigan School Public Relations Association (MSPRA).

This toolkit will also be discussed at the Fall 2024 MAISA meeting.

Canva training is coming this fall

Our toolkit development and implementation partner, MSPRA, will host a virtual training session via Zoom on using Canva to customize the Limitless Potential Toolkit for school districts throughout the state in early October. It will be open to all ISD and local school district communicators. Details to follow.

Connecting throughout the year

The ISD PR Network will host its first meeting of the 2024-25 school year on September 6, 8:00 am to 10:00 am, via Zoom. The meeting will feature a legislative update, a speaker on the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment, an update on the Limitless Potential campaign, and other hot topics.

2024-25 ISD PR Network meeting schedule:

• Friday, September 6: virtual from 8:00 am to 10:00 am
• Friday, October 25: in person (with remote connect) from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm at Eaton RESA in Charlotte with buy-your-own-dinner the evening before for those who can make it. 
• Friday, January 24: virtual from 8:00 am to 10:00 am
• Friday, April 11: in person (with remote connect) from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm at Washtenaw ISD in Ann Arbor with buy-your-own-dinner the evening before for those who can make it. 
• Friday, June 13: virtual from 8:00 am to 10:00 am

To be placed added to the listserv, contact Gerri Allen at gallen48@juno.com.

Want to learn more about MiEWIMS, a key tool for student success?

On September 12, from noon to 12:30 pm, the MiEWIMS team will host a 30-minute webinar to explore the powerful tool designed to:

• Facilitate Early Warning Interventions: Learn how to effectively identify secondary students at risk of dropping out.
• Enhance Monitoring Systems: Understand the processes that can help in timely and impactful interventions.
• Drive School Improvement: Leverage research-backed strategies to support student graduation and success.

What You Will Learn:

• The core features and benefits of MiEWIMS as part of an effective Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System
• The timeline for statewide implementation of MiEWIMS

Intended Audience: 

ISD superintendents, administrators, and other ISD staff focused on secondary students' success

Presenters: 

Tom Johnson and Rich Marshall

Cost: Attending this webinar is free.

Click here to register.

The Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators (MASA) is hosting the 2024 Fall Conference, taking place September 18-20, 2024, at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Traverse City, Michigan.

During the conference, MAISA will host the September Board of Directors and MAISA Administrative Committee meetings, along with multiple breakout sessions on several topics, including special education, PreK for All, improving literacy, and more.

Wednesday, September 18

MAISA Board of Directors meeting: 8:00 am to 10:00 am

Administrative Committee meeting: 9:00 am to 10:00 am

Session: Having the Courage to Break Borders: Uniting ISDs for Enhanced Learning Solutions

• Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024, from 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm
• Location: Council Room
• Contact/Presenters: Diane Talo and Bruce Umpstead

*MAISA complimentary session for 2024

Session: Limitless Potential: A Practical Toolkit to Influence Public Perception of Special Education

• Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024, from 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm
• Location: Michigan E/F room
• Presenters: Northwest Education Services' Dr. Ceglarek, Superintendent, and Ryan Jarvi, Director of Communications
• Contact: Kyle Gnagey

Session: How to Improve Literacy Instruction by Leveraging Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) and GELNs Essential Instructional Practices (EIP)

• Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024, from 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm 
• Location: Peninsula A
• Contact: Heather Phelps

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Session: Growing a Strong PreK for All Program

• Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024, from 12:30 pm to 1:45 pm 
• Location: Council Room
• Contact: Kelly Christman

On October 10, 2024, all 56 Michigan ISD superintendents, leadership teams, and representatives of local community partners that support early childhood programs and services in their regions are set to gather for the ISD Superintendent Early Childhood Summit.

ISD Staff Invited to Attend:

• ISD Superintendents
• Early Childhood Leaders and ECAN Members
• Instructional Leaders and GELN Members
• Special Education Leaders and SEILN Members
• ISD Communications and Marketing Leaders and ISD PR Network Members

External Partners Invited to Attend:

• Great Start Collaborative/Family Coalition Leaders
• Help Me Grow Leaders
• Early On Leaders
• Other Community Partner Organization Leaders

Hotel Rooms?

Northern Site:

Northern Center, 1401 Presque Isle Ave, Marquette, MI 49855

Click here to register for the Northern Site

Southern Site:

Eagle Eye Golf Club, 15500 Chandler Rd, Bath Twp, MI 48808

Click here to register for the Southern Site

This event will be hosted by MAISA and its Early Childhood Administrators Network in collaboration with the Early Childhood Operations Team (ECOT). ECOT is a multi-agency team that includes members from MiLEAP, MDHHS, MDE, and MAISA.

5.00 SCECHs can be earned by attending the Summit.

The Michigan Data Hub team has announced the 2nd Annual MiDataHub User Conference dates!

When: October 14-15, 2024

Where: Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire, Michigan

Registration: Sign Up Today!

Are you ready to elevate your data game? Join us for the 2nd Annual Michigan DataHub Conference! Whether you're a superintendent, technology director, SIS administrator, or part of the support staff, this event is tailor-made for you.

Picture this: two action-packed days at the beautiful Shanty Creek Resort, surrounded by industry leaders and like-minded professionals, all eager to dive into the latest in data management and integration. It's not just a conference—it's an experience.

Why Attend?

• Inspiration: Hear from thought leaders and innovators in the education data field.
• Connection: Network with peers who share your passion for data excellence.
• Knowledge: Gain insights and practical tips to take your data skills to the next level.

Special Highlight: The Call for Presenters is now open! Have a groundbreaking idea or a success story to share? Please submit your proposal and join our lineup of stellar speakers.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of something big. 

Register now and secure your spot at the 2nd Annual Michigan DataHub Conference! The draft agenda has now been posted, too!

TRAILS is looking to hire five local, contracted employees to help identify and support the needs of individual schools implementing TRAILS.

The dedicated local TRAILS implementation liaisons will offer targeted in-person implementation support, such as attendance at overview meetings, securing buy-in, and facilitating TRAILS SEL trainings. Specifically, TRAILS seeks to identify individuals located in the following locations: 

• Eastern Upper Peninsula
• Ingham
• Ottawa
• Saginaw

Please share this information with those in your networks that you see as a good fit!

Questions may be directed to the TRAILS Interim Senior Implementation Manager, Destiny Allen at dallen@trailstowellness.org.

MAISA is seeking a new Classroom Professional Learning and Content Development Project Coordinator to join our team!

To learn more and to apply, go to https://gomaisa.org/job-postings.

Please apply by September 16, 2024.

Visit the MAISA Event Site to view monthly calendars and upcoming meetings and events.