Testimonials That Inspire: Meet educators who were once in your shoes, grappling with escalating discipline issues. They took a stand, implemented our digital literacy strategies, and witnessed a phenomenal transformation in their schools.
Dramatic Turnaround: Imagine a school where students are not only disciplined but also digitally savvy and responsible. These are not just dreams; they are realities being lived by educators who dared to make a change.
The Ripple Effect: Beyond better behavior in classrooms, these educators saw an uplifting change in the entire school culture. A harmonious environment where respect and responsibility are the norms, not the exceptions.
The upcoming webinar on Wednesday, 12/13 at 12:30 PM PST is your gateway to this transformation. Hear firsthand from these educators and learn how you can replicate their success in your school.
Remember, the cost of inaction is far greater than the effort of taking this crucial step. Be the change-maker your school desperately needs.
Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education Don Eichhorn Schools To Watch 2023-24 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THREE MIDDLE SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED AS “Don Eichhorn Schools: Schools To Watch” for the 1st time and EIGHT SCHOOLS RE-DESIGNATED ANNOUNCED IN PENNSYLVANIA
Mechanicsburg, PA - Eleven exemplary Middle Grades Schools in Pennsylvania have been recognized as PA Don Eichhorn Schools: “Schools to Watch” (PA STW) as part of a recognition program developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education (PAMLE), Kutztown University, and the Horace Mann Service Corporation, PA STW has been recognizing schools since 2006-07. The Pennsylvania “Schools to Watch” leadership team has announced that the following schools have met the strict STW criteria and have been recognized:
New Schools
Re-designated for the 1st time. This school was originally recognized four years ago.
Re-designated for the 3rd time – This school was first recognized nine years ago
Re-designated for the 4th time. These schools were originally recognized twelve years ago.
Re-designated for the 5th time – This school was originally recognized 15 years ago
These 11 schools join 38 other Pennsylvania middle-grades schools previously recognized and still active in the STW process. Since our beginning in 2006-07 we have recognized 62 schools across Pennsylvania. Schools opt out of the STW program for multiple reasons. These eleven schools will be recognized at the Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Educations State Conference on February 24, 25 & 26, 2024, at the Crowne Plaza in King of Prussia. Each of these schools will have a local celebration in either May or June of 2024 in their school. They will also be recognized nationally with all the other recognized STW schools across the country in Washington DC at the National Forum’s National Schools to Watch Conference on June 20-22, 2024.
PA STW State leaders selected each school for its Academic Excellence, Developmental Responsiveness, Social Equity and Organizational Structures and Processes. In addition, each school has strong leadership, teachers who work together to improve curriculum and instruction, and a commitment to assessment and accountability to bring about continuous improvement. Bruce Vosburgh, PA State STW Director, stated, “We congratulate these schools for being places that do great things for all of their students. These schools demonstrate that high-performing middle grades schools are places that focus on academic growth and achievement. They are also places that recognize the importance of meeting the needs of all of their students and ensure that every child has access to a challenging, high-quality education. These schools have proven that it is possible to overcome barriers to achieve excellence, and any middle-level school in any state can truly learn from their examples.”
The Schools to Watch selection process is based on a written application that required schools to show how they met criteria developed by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform. Schools that appeared to meet the criteria were then visited by a state team, which observed classrooms, interviewed administrators, teachers, students, and parents, and looked at achievement data, suspension rates, quality of lessons, and student work.
Schools are recognized for a three-year period, and at the end of three years they need to re-apply to continue to be recognized as a STW school. They must also demonstrate progress on specific goals in order to be re-designated. Unlike the Blue Ribbon recognition program, “Schools to Watch” requires schools to not just identify strengths, but to also focus on areas for continuous improvement; thus the three year re-designation. The re-designation process is based on the schools continued growth since their last STW recognition.
Launched in 1999, Schools to Watch began as a national program to identify middle-grades schools across the country that were meeting or exceeding 37 researched based criteria developed by the National Forum. The Forum developed a website https://www.middlegradesforum.org/ that features online tours of schools, as well as detailed information about the selection criteria used in the recognition program. There are now 17 states across the country, which have trained Schools to Watch State Teams, with more than 650 schools recognized across the country.
The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform began as an alliance of 65 educators, researchers, national associations, and officers of professional organizations and foundations dedicated to improving education in the middle grades.
Information about the STW program can be found on the website of the National Forum as well as on the PAMLE website.
https://www.pamle.org/Schools-to-Watchhttps://www.middlegradesforum.org/
Contact person:
Bruce Vosburgh, Director, PA STW bvosbur@comcast.net
Hey PAMLE friends! Check out this great new book, Teaching Joy, about creating a joyful middle school classroom, recommended by #PAMLE22 keynote speaker, Kelly Weaver! A great gift, just in time for the holidays!
https://www.gabrielyanagihara.com/book-order-teaching-joy
We are pleased to be a new participant in Grand Canyon University’s Canyon Educational Participant program (CEP). This program provides PAMLE members with a variety of benefits, such as:
If you are interested in learning more about online degree programs, please contact GCU’s local University Development Counselor, Mariah Drenth-Cormick, Mariah.DrenthCormick@gcu.edu. The local University Development Manager is Haylee Bunnell and can be contacted at Haylee.Bunnell@gcu.edu.
If you would like to learn more about GCU’s traditional campus, you can reach the local University Admissions Counselor at 1-855-GCU-LOPE. If you are interested in learning more about GCU’s doctoral programs, email doctoral@gcu.edu.
Please note that if you are a current GCU student, the scholarship will apply to all your future classes as long as you are continuously enrolled in the program. The 15% scholarship for paraprofessionals and classified staff is available to new students only.
To learn more about GCU, please visit gcu.edu.
The threat of teen sextortion has risen exponentially in the past year. In 2022, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 10,000 tips about the online exploitation of minors; now, in 2023, they’ve already received well over 12,500 reports.
We as educators, administrators, parents and guardians have a responsibility to protect our youth from this growing epidemic. While the numbers may seem daunting, there are steps you can take today to stay informed on this issue and work toward its prevention.
On December 5th, Digital4Good will be teaming up with experts from Snapchat to host an essential workshop on the prevention of teen sextortion. Whether you’re a teacher, counselor, school administrator, or parent, we strongly urge you to join us in December and to spread the word to your network. Learn more and register for free here.
You can also get your entire school educated on the dangers of sextortion by booking an on-campus presentation. We’ll provide you first-hand with the tools you need to prevent your students from becoming victims.
To learn more about our student presentations and to book a date, please visit www.icanhelp.net/student-body-presentations. (Our calendar for 2023-2024 is filling up, so be sure to contact us with your preferred date before it’s booked.)
Thank you for taking the time to read this email! I hope this message does not discourage you, but instead motivates you to take action against this rising threat.
#YOUWILLHELP,
Kim Karr
Executive Director | Digital4Good
Hey Awesome Educator Friends,
You and your students are invited to join us in person for the upcoming 2024 Annual Digital4Good Summit at Google NYC! This exciting event will spotlight 10 student changemakers who have started their own nonprofits or innovative projects to advance youth mental health, bullying prevention, girls in STEM, and more. Only 150 spots are available, so please RSVP as soon as possible by contacting kim@icanhelp.net.
WHEN: Monday, February 5, 2024
WHERE: Google NYC, 111 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10011
TIME: 9AM - 2PM
ADMISSION: FREE for 1 adult and 2 students per school. (6th grade - college-level students)
LODGING: Hotel Edison in Times Square, February 3-5, 2024. Call 212-453-4026 or use this link to make reservations. Please make reservations BEFORE January 4, 2024 AND identify yourself as a Digital4Good attendee in order to receive the discounted group rate ($149 for single room, $219 for double).
Can’t attend in person? No problem! You can still sign up to view the livestream with your students for free. Hosting a watch party in your classroom or school auditorium is a great way to spark classroom discussions and get all of your students inspired to start their own projects for good. A special, Summit-exclusive curriculum will be created to help you engage students and get the most value from this event.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at kim@icanhelp.net. Excited to see you in February to celebrate these student winners!
#YouRock,
Kim KarrExecutive Director | Digital4Good
According to high school students, school-related stressors are the biggest challenge to their well-being. Maybe even more than cyberbullying.
How do we empower students to navigate their lives, both online and offline, in positive and healthy ways?
Let's dive in:
p.s. Do you love The Huddle and want more ways to help students navigate current events, well-being, and social media in high-character ways? Request information about #WinAtSocial!
Students Tell All: What is truly impacting their mental health?
The Gist: Recent surveys conducted by the EdWeek Research Center shed light on a notable difference between what educators believe is impacting student well-being compared to the challenges that students say they are struggling with.
What To Know: While bullying on social media is often pinpointed by adults as the primary source of teen mental angst, the survey findings reveal a different narrative. High school students, it turns out, identify schoolwork-related stressors as their predominant mental health hurdle. This survey raises a crucial question for educators: How can we be tuned in to the stress triggers that impact our students?
TSI’s Take: When creating a plan to help students navigate daily stress, we have to take into account that schools are not the sole cause of this stress, but many students don't always feel at ease discussing stressors from their home and social life with teachers. Recognizing this reality, schools can foster an environment that not only acknowledges academic stressors but also equips students with ways to handle the pressure.
The Gist: One of students’ favorite apps, Instagram, has just unveiled its latest feature: collaborative carousels. Instagram carousels are posts that contain more than one photo or video, which users can view by swiping left on a post through the phone app. Instagram is now making these types of posts collaborative by allowing users to invite others to contribute photos or videos to their post, fostering a sense of community and shared experiences.
What To Know: For educators, staying informed about social media developments, such as Instagram’s new collaborative carousels, allows them to better understand what impacts students' lives outside of the classroom. It's not just about staying informed on new social media updates, but understanding the impact these features can have on students so that educators can support and improve student well-being.
TSI’s Take: Instagram’s collaborative carousels highlight an opportunity for students to play to their core and invite others to join them. By huddling with students on topics like collaborative posting, consent, and privacy, educators can empower students to make choices online that reflect their core values, while they collaborate and show their creativity with their friends.
The Gist: In a historic move, President Joe Biden has signed the first-ever executive order on artificial intelligence (AI). While AI can enhance learning experiences, there are concerns about privacy, discrimination, labor market disruptions, and scammers. This order aims to protect AI users from racial inequalities, deep fakes, and copyright infringement– a significant step towards making AI safer for students.
What To Know: As technology, safety, and education continue to evolve and overlap, this new executive order will have a profound impact on schools as it creates new guidelines that will shape the future of AI and the way students navigate it.
TSI’s Take: It's important to huddle with students about positive technology use and empower them to use tech for good, in and out of the classroom. While the government plays its part in keeping AI users safe, students should continue to protect themselves online and use technology for good.
From FOMO to increased levels of stress, students face the pressures of social media every day. This month, we're sharing resources and insights that empower students (and adults!) to handle the pressure.
Watch this on-demand webinar to explore expert tips from Dr. Catherine Pearlman, founder of The Family Coach and author of First Phone: A Child’s Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety and Etiquette, on how your school can equip students with the habits and skills they need to handle the pressure on and offline.
When you partner with The Social Institute, educators and families gain access to our Platform Playbooks. These are curated and detailed breakdowns of the most popular social media platforms that students are using. Check out our Snapchat Playbook for everything you need to know about equipping students with winning moves to navigate one of their favorite apps.
Forward this email to them and point them to this link!
The Social Institute empowers students to navigate their social world positively — including social media and technology — to fuel their health, happiness, and future success.
It’s the shared effort of teachers, support staff, principals, administrators, students, families and communities that makes education a success. And we know educators are at the center of bringing it all together.
Thank you, this week and every week, for all you do.
We’re your biggest fan!
Horace Mann is a long-time PAMLE corporate supporter. Please visit us at horacemann.com or contact your local agent if we can be of service.
Horace Mann Service Corporation and certain of its affiliates (Horace Mann) enter into agreements with educational associations where Horace Mann pays the association to familiarize association members with the Horace Mann brand, products or services. Contact association.relations@horacemann.com for more information.
EMM-00537-1 (10-23)
Some Spooktacular news from #PAMLE24 Keynote speaker, Jack Berckemeyer
Read more here!
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