WCTA is pleased to host the first ever Western Maryland Education Practices Summit on August 2, 2024. The summit will be on EDUCATIONAL EQUITY & OUR SCHOOLS: What Does it Mean for Western Maryland?
The free event will give Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) members in Carroll, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties the chance to network with other members from the region while earning credits/points for licensure renewal.
Since September, WCTA President Carol Mowen has been working to bring professional development resources offered by MSEA to Washington County to make it easier for Washington County’s MSEA members to have access. This includes certificated members and educational support members that belong to WCTA and WCESP respectively.
“MSEA offers outstanding PD opportunities for members, but western Maryland members have historically had to travel to Baltimore, Annapolis, or Ocean City, to participate,” said Mowen. “This event has been planned by the MSEA local presidents and UniServ directors of the 5 western Maryland counties specifically for our region to bring these resources to our doorstep.”
Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided on site. The day long event will be held at the Washington County Public Service Training Center.
The following sessions will be offered at the summit, and each participant may choose to attend up to three sessions. (See additional details below.)
- Blueprint: What’s up with Certification & Licensure? MSEA Center for Educational Policy and Practice (CEPP)
- Introduction to Building Classroom Culture Using Restorative Circles – Lauren Weaver
- Trauma-Informed Wellness Practices in the Classroom – Eleanor Jones
- Trauma, SEL, and Verbal De-escalation – Evan West
- The Community Circle – Building Positive Learning Environments, Relationships, Respect – Monifa Nero
- Lessons & Legacies About Our Historic Communities – What We Learned from “The House on Jonathan Street – Carol Mowen and Mary Fortson (WCTA) with Russ Hodge, Executive Producer and President of 3 Roads Communications, Inc.
- ESP Power and Respect: Topics from the ESP Conference – Evan West
- Community Cultural Wealth (Asset-Based Lens vs. Deficit Based Lens – for all roles) – Tina Dove
- Equity and the NBC Process – Danielle Jones and Josh Davidson
- Organizing and Advocacy: A Look at the History of MSEA and NEA – Sean McKillop
In addition, the afternoon includes a panel discussion on the Promise & Intent of the Blueprint, moderated by incoming MSEA Vice President Nikki Woodward.
Registration is open through July 25, 2024. Click here to register!
For more information or for inquiries, please contact Mowen (301-797-7682).
EVENT SCHEDULE
- 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
- 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Workshops Session 1
- 10:55 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Workshops Session 2
- 12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. LUNCH (Provided)
- 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Panel Discussion on the Promise & Intent of the Blueprint
- 1:55 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. Workshops Session 3 OPTIONS TBD)
- 3:10 pm – 3:30 pm Closing Remarks / Evaluations / Next Steps
OPTIONAL ADD ON for Participants:
3:30 Post-Summit Informational Session on the Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and NEA Member Benefits
Workshop Descriptions:
- Introduction to Building Classroom Culture Using Restorative Circles– Lauren Weaver: In this workshop, Lauren Weaver, Restorative Practices Educator and MSEA member from Harford County will lead us through the essentials of restorative practices and how to use circles as part of a wholistic approach to classroom culture.
- Community Cultural Wealth– Tina Dove: MSEA Equity Organizer Tina Dove will show us a different perspective on wealth and opportunity for our students and the communities they come from. Instead of seeing opportunity and advantage simply through the lens of individual wealth, when we see it through all of the assets our students bring and that their communities hold, we can see how to access all the diverse gifts they hold.
- Trauma Informed Wellness Practices in the Classroom– Eleanor Jones: Anne Arundel school counselor and MSEA member Eleanor Jones will show us how to take care of ourselves and manage the trauma our students bring with them to the learning environment. Managing student behavior shouldn’t have to mean we are stressed to our limits. Eleanor will give us practical strategies for how to balance our work and sanity.
- ESP Power and RESPect– Evan West: MSEA Organizational Development Specialist Evan West has worked with Education Support Professionals for over 20 years and knows how invaluable the work ESPs do is. This workshop centers on what respect and power for ESP looks like and how we can get it through empowering better communication and learning to tell our stories to build power.
- Equity and National Board Certification– Danielle Jones and Josh Davidson: NBCT Josh Davidson and MSEA Organizational Development Specialist Danielle Jones look at how the process for becoming a National Board Certified Teacher functions and how the process is ensures equity for all participants.
- The Community Circle: Building Positive Learning Environments- Monifa Nero: Harford County Educator and MSEA member Monifa Nero shows us how restorative circles are used to build healthy communities of learners at all ages and ability levels.
- Lessons and Legacies– Carol Mowen, Mary Fortson and Russ Hodge- In “The House on Jonathan Street” a one-hour documentary (2023), the 3 Roads Team tells the story of the rise and fall of the African American community in small rust belt towns and cities across America. Hodge will share some of the lessons learned about Maryland’s and Hagerstown’s past and present through the project. WCTA members will add their perspectives about the documentary as well.
- Trauma, SEL and Verbal De-escalation in the Classroom– Evan West: This workshop provides practical, next day skills for identifying, assessing and de-escalating problematic student behavior while giving a basis for understanding that behavior through the lens of trauma and social-emotional learning.
- Blueprint: What’s Up With Certification and Licensure– Queen Nwafor and Frank Skinner: Confused by the newest MSDE certification and Licensure requirements? Come and learn from MSEA’s Frank Skinner and Queen Nwafor from the Center for Education Policy and Practice how to interpret and use the new regulations. Believe it or not, they are more flexible now and you can benefit from knowing how to access them!
- Organizing and Advocacy: A Look at the History of MSEA and NEA– Sean McKillop: MSEA ESP Organizer and long-time ESP UniServ Director Sean McKillop will provide a look at the history of MSEA and NEA members organizing for power and change. MSEA and NEA have advocated for and won significant improvements through the collective voice of our members. Knowing that history can help us understand better how we got here and what we can do in the future.