The 2016 Task Force on Educational Equity called for all Kirkwood staff members to participate in universal training that promotes shared understandings about bias, identity, equity, and cultural responsiveness.

VABB Academy: In lieu of an on-site foundational workshop, staff are now invited to participate in this asynchronous video academy, with recorded sessions of Dr. Sharroky Hollie talking with a live audience.  Videos can be viewed anytime after June 15, with reflection activities interspersed and a live Q&A with Dr. Hollie in July.  Learning will focus on culture, academic vocabulary, and classroom management, with practical activities you can use immediately with students.  This is the third and final time the foundational workshop is being offered to all Kirkwood staff.  All certified staff who have not yet participated should plan to attend.  For additional information, visit https://www.culturallyresponsive.org/virtual-offerings.

CLR Summer Institutes: Teachers, instructional coaches and district leaders will have the opportunity to dive deeper into the mindset and skillset of cultural responsiveness through a three-day, synchronous, virtual intensive training. Any KSD staff member who has previously attended a CCRTL Foundational Training may attend, with the expectation that you continue your own learning, adjust classroom practices accordingly, and be willing to work with other KSD colleagues on issues of equity.

K-5 Literacy with The Literacy Link: KSD has engaged consultants from The Literacy Link to facilitate ongoing professional learning in support of K-5 literacy.  Each K-2 and 3-5 session will include a specific literacy focus paired with time to explore these practices for online and blended environments.  Half-day sessions this summer include topics listed below:

• A Comprehensive Approach to Literacy
• High-Impact Instructional Practices in a Literacy-Focused Environment
• Foundational Literacy Skills in a Blended Environment
• Literacy Goal Setting for Student Engagement
• Monitoring Student Literacy Goals in a Blended Environment

Race and Culture in American Life and History: In this free online course, learners will deepen their understanding and appreciation of ways in which race, ethnicity and cultural diversity have shaped American institutions, ideology, law, and social relationships from the colonial era to the present. Race and ethnicity are ideological and cultural categories that include all groups and individuals. Hence, this course is designed in significant part to take a broad look at the ideology of race and cultural diversity in America’s past and present.

Teaching Black History Conference: All educators are invited to the 3rd annual Teaching Black History Conference, hosted by the Carter Center for K-12 Black History Education at the University of Missouri. The conference is for K-12 educators, community educators, and persons interested in the learning and teaching of black history. Workshops will focus on the conference's theme, Teaching Black Herstories, where presenters will help attendees understand the historic contributions of Black women throughout the globe. Black Herstories explores the distinct lived experiences and frameworks that deepen our understanding of the entanglements of race, class and gender and enrich our analysis of what it means to be human and how we get free. This conference will now be held virtually, with half of the presenters sharing live on July 24-25 and additional presentations offered throughout the year, as part of the CARTER history club professional development sessions. 

“What the world is enduring right now is of universal concern. This will be stressful for even non-traumatized parents/children. For children and parents who already experience ongoing toxic stress, this will be an additional stressor on their already very worried minds/bodies.”

Trauma-Informed Resilient Schools: Numerous studies point to the lasting effects of trauma on children and adults.  The stressful uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic will only compound these concerns.  Resiliency will be necessary to help us move forward, and our staff will be better prepared to support students when we are well-informed.  Any interested KSD staff member can take this free online course through STARR Commonwealth.  Once enrolled in the course, you will have access to materials for one calendar year.

Trauma-Informed School Conference: This comprehensive, two-day trauma-informed conference is designed for educators, school administrators, school personnel, mental health professionals, and community partners. The conference will give you the understanding, knowledge, and tools you need to successfully create a trauma-informed learning environment, whether it is in a single classroom, a whole school, or an entire district.

Trauma and Resilience Virtual Conference:  Starr Commonwealth's virtual conference is designed for helping professionals who work with children, adolescents, and families including, but not limited to: teachers, school administration and staff, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and hospice workers. Registrants will have access to their choice of live sessions, as well as the Q&As that follow. Recordings of all sessions each day will be available the following day.

The Science of Well-Being: In this free online course from Yale, you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. As preparation for these tasks, Professor Laurie Santos reveals misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change. You will ultimately be prepared to successfully incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life.

ISTE U Microcourses: Shifting face-to-face learning to digital spaces is no easy task. How can you ensure that students receive an equitable, high-quality learning experience in a digital environment? These 1-2 hour, skills-based courses will help you deliver engaging student learning experiences in an online or blended environment. Whether you’re new to online learning or are a veteran, you’ll gain fresh insights and easy-to-implement tips for teaching online.  Some courses are currently discounted in price, ranging from FREE to $25 per course.

• Ensuring Equity and Inclusion in Online Learning (FREE)
• Assessing Learning in Online Environments
• Creating Community in Online Classrooms
• Designing Online Learning Experiences

Schoology Foundations: This asynchronous online course serves a a review for current users and an introduction to those new to our LMS. Design course elements and prepare materials for the new school year. Organize files & folders and develop assignments & assessments to fit specific needs within your Courses. Foster collaboration with Discussions and Media Albums.  Support student organization and executive functioning with Calendars and My Resources. Build community with colleagues in Groups and promote communication with parents using Messages.

Schoology Next Steps: This asynchronous online course takes our LMS to the next level as you prepare materials, design course elements and consider how you'll engage students to advance learning in the year ahead. Explore differentiation tools with Grading Groups & Individually Assign as well as create self-paced learning opportunities with Completion Rules as we plan lessons designed for online learning.

Finding Balance in a Digital World: A blended learning environment relies on technology resources that bridge face-to-face and virtual instruction. Grow your instructional efficacy and engage in the student learning perspective using our core apps to create instructional videos, ensure engagement in Zoom and more to provide virtual hands-on learning experiences for our students.

JumpStart Plus Technology Course for Thoughtful Educators: By guiding you through a series of hands-on projects, JumpStart gives you the confidence and skills to make smart, pedagogically sound choices about the tech you use in your teaching. Although this course does not focus on distance learning, all of the modules are applicable in distance or face-to-face situations, and course graduates have said that it helped them feel much better prepared for emergency remote teaching.  The Basic version of this course, which is self-paced, can be taken at any time during the year.  We will coordinate internal conversations among staff members taking the course through KSD ($149).

ISTE Summer Learning Academy: This three-week PD program features synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities about online teaching and learning, including four ISTE U Microcourses, 12+ live webinars with your peer experts including ISTE authors and ISTE Certified Educators, access to a personal learning forum and fun weekly prizes. Get the strategies, tools and connections you need to succeed online or in any learning environment.

Spend just 1-2 hours a day gaining practical new skills for teaching in online environments – with fun Friday giveaways.  The schedule includes two-hour live interactive webinars from peers. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in self-paced ISTE U Microcourses on the following topics:

• Creating Community in Online Classrooms
• Designing Online Learning Experiences
• Assessing Learning in Online Environments
• Ensuring Equity and Inclusion in Online Learning

Modern Classroom Essentials:  This free safe-paced course from The Modern Classroom Project guides participants through several online modules.  Examples focus mostly on 6th-12th grade, but teachers of all grade levels can benefit greatly from the learning.  Topics explored include

• Creating high quality blended instruction
• Designing effective self-paced structures
• Teaching and grading for mastery