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NorCal Educator's Digest
August 2024
Quick Access
- NorCal Educational Leadership Consortium: A Commitment to Transformative Education in Rural Communities
- NorCal Educational Leadership Consortium (NorCal ELC) Programs for 2024 - 2025
- Resource Spotlights
Take a Closer Look!
NorCal Educational Leadership Consortium: A Commitment to Transformative Education in Rural Communities
The NorCal Educational Leadership Consortium embodies a transformative approach to education, aiming to improve access, opportunity, and inclusion for students and adults, particularly those who are systematically marginalized and historically underserved in rural communities.This approach emphasizes that every individual should have the chance to thrive in an equitable educational environment.
Design Features of the NorCal ELC Learning Agenda
NorCal ELC programs are designed with consideration for adult learning theory. Most programs engage participating educators in inquiry, and design and testing of interventions that emerge from local data and address local problems to create solutions that bring better outcomes to students and the school community. This approach is rooted in key principles, ensuring that the goals of equity, collaboration, and continuous improvement are met.
Equity Focused
All sessions are crafted to help school and teacher leaders explore and enhance their knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards achieving equitable outcomes for students. At the core of all NorCal ELC educational activities is a focus on deepening an understanding of equity and finding the supports that students and adults need to thrive.
Collaboration
NorCal ELC programs promote collaboration among colleagues at local school sites and across the region. Our goal is to help educators connect with each other, and increase their capacity to engage in teamwork that embodies distributed leadership, and increases professional and personal agency. As a 21CSLA regional provider NorCal ELC collaborates with the 21CSLA State Center and other regional projects.
Learning Stance
Participants are encouraged to adopt a learning stance centered on inquiry. Key habits such as curiosity and humility are emphasized, fostering a culture of ongoing learning and growth. Reflective continuums around Equity, Leadership, Continuous Improvement, and Team Development anchor the work and provide guides to inform leader development and growth for individuals and collectives (teams).
Frequency and Duration
NorCal ELC programs recognize that improvement and transformation take time. Our Local School Teams Program, the Principals’ Collaborative Support Network, and Individualized Leadership Coaching provide support and guidance throughout the school year. Sessions are hosted once or twice a month, mostly virtually to maximize connection and minimize professional time needed to participate. Programs recommend that time also be allocated for on-site work.
Expert Facilitation & Coaching
NorCal ELC actively seeks and uses participant feedback. We want to know what we can do to help you address your needs. Sessions are designed and facilitated in response to continual participant feedback. This includes engaging participants in reflection, dialogue, and planning. Individualized coaching is also available from highly experienced North State educational leaders.
Building Community in the Rural North
A core objective is to develop a community of educators who can connect, share, and support each other throughout the year and beyond. This community-building aspect is essential for fostering a supportive network that extends beyond the impact of the program. To date, 953 educators have been served by NorCal ELC since 2020.
Conclusion
The NorCal Educational Leadership Consortium and its accompanying design features provide a robust framework for educational leaders and teams in rural communities and small schools to transform their practices. By focusing on equity, continuous improvement, and community building, this approach aims to create an educational environment where all individuals can thrive and most importantly, achieve desired outcomes for students. Why not get involved in this unique professional learning project?
For more information, see NorCal ELC’s 2020-2023 impact brochure(opens in new window) or reach out to Dr. Mike Kotar, mkotar@csuchico.edu.
NorCal Educational Leadership Consortium (NorCal ELC) Programs for 2024 - 2025
NorCal ELC Local School Teams Program
Interested in receiving a stipend to engage in school improvement and develop leadership skills? Here is your opportunity!Would you like to make improvements in your school/LEA/COE with a small team of educators? The NorCal Educational Leadership Consortium (NorCal ELC) is entering its fifth year and offers guidance, a structure, tools for improvement, professional learning, and stipends for each participant. Learn more about our services as we recruit local school teams for the 24-25 school year.
Access the 2024-25 Academic Program flyer for more information and to apply. You can also view the information session recording and slides here.
If you have questions, reach out to mgulbransen@csuchico.edu.
NorCal ELC Principals Collaborative Support Network for 2024-25
This Network is for you if you are a school principal who wants to join a collaborative community of practicing principals.
This successful and established Principals Network can support Principals and Assistant Principals with learning and networking. Its primary objective is to help principals create coherent and effective systems of instruction in their schools; as well as explore strategies to develop teacher leadership using a “case study consultancy approach to address local problems of practice” model of inquiry.
Learn more about the PCSN with the resources provided below.
- 21CSLA PCSN 2024-25 Program Information(opens in new window)
- PCSN 2024-25 Program Calendar (Google Doc)
- 21CSLA PCSN 2024-2025 Application/Enrollment Form - CLOSED
NorCal ELC Individualized Leadership Coaching
Would individualized coaching help you improve your professional skills or solve problems you are facing? Consider joining one of these expanded leadership coaching pathways. Each pathway includes coaching designed just for you and participation in newly revised Leadership Academies (8 sessions). Features include leadership learning with regional experts, content focused on collaborative team development, how to assist others through coaching, how to scale improvements that work, and how to sustain evidence-based school transformation.
In 2024-26 we have additional funding from CDE for coaching expansion. Team Leads (in the Local School Teams Program) will continue to participate in Leadership Academies and Individualized Coaching. We have created two new pathways for more coaching opportunities. The time commitment for both of these should be about 5-7 hours per month.
- Administrator Coaching Pathway -- For LEA leaders who hold Administrative Services Credentials and want individualized coaching support to improve their practice or address a specific problem. We provide an opportunity for those in administrative positions who wish to connect to experienced coaches who can offer insight and expertise, as well as current administrators who may be experiencing similar challenges in their respective positions.
- Teacher Leader Coaching Pathway -- For teachers and other educators such as instructional coaches, school counselors, and teachers on special assignment (TOSA’s) who have leadership responsibilities and desire to further develop their skills as a leader through coaching individualized for them. We also provide an opportunity for educators serving in these roles to receive 1-1 coaching from experienced leaders for change as well as networking opportunities with those in similar roles.
21CSLA Shasta Region UTK Modules 2024-25
NorCal ELC is offering 21st Century California School Leadership Academy (21CSLA) UTK modules in the Shasta Geo Region in the 2024-25 Academic Year, both virtually and in-person. Watch this space for the modules selected and their respective flyers to register. For each module, NorCal ELC is offering a $250 stipend to participants upon completion.
Resource Spotlights
CCEE Launches Revamped Resource Website to Support California Schools
- CCEE is excited to unveil a brand-new look and website for the California Statewide System of Support (SSOS). This launch marks a pivotal moment in our mission to enhance and clarify the support available to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) throughout California.
Edutopia’s Designing Your Classroom Resource Series
- Edutopia has curated a brand-new collection of articles and videos—packed with research-backed insights and actionable strategies—to help find a layout that works best for you and your students. Topics range from optimizing your classroom walls to creating an environment that supports a wide range of executive functioning skills. Access the resource link here.
New UDL Guidelines
- CAST’s updated UDL Guidelines are based on new research and feedback from practitioners. The UDL Guidelines 3.0, released in July 2024, builds upon earlier versions and emphasizes addressing barriers rooted in biases and systems of exclusion. Check out the resource at this link.
Rural (In)Equities Building Understanding and Offering Solutions
- This report, written by the Small School District Association and Thrive seeks to “find practical solutions that can re-orient the decision-makers, policymakers, and leaders to rural learning institutions.”