Leveraging Leading for Excellence: Empowering All Learners through Collective Efficacy

, ,

This workshop focuses on leveraging collective efficacy to drive school improvement, with a strong emphasis on support for neurodiverse students and a variety of learning profiles. Designed for school leaders, it provides strategies to enhance collaboration among leadership, learning support, counseling teams, and parents. By implementing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) participants will gain practical tools to create learning environments that support both academic and social-emotional development for all learners.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Enhance Team Collaboration
  2. Develop unified approaches to support all learners, aligning with MTSS.
  3. Promote Inclusive Leadership: Implement shared leadership models.
  4. Foster a Positive School Culture
  5. Strengthen Community Partnerships: Build effective communication channels with families.
  6. Gain practical leadership tools and techniques for fostering effective teamwork.

SENIA Academy Link

Find resources for this course and others on SENIA Academy

Universal Design for Learning: Supporting Teacher Efficacy

, , ,

Building collective teacher effectiveness enhances student outcomes more than feedback and classroom management combined (Hattie, 2015).  As teachers begin to understand the principles of Universal Design for Learning, they soon ask, “How do I apply these principles to my lesson design process?”  This session is designed for those who possess an understanding of the “what” and “why” of UDL and collaborate with teachers as they navigate the “how.”

Learning Outcomes

  1. Exploring  the UDL design process: clear, relevant, rigorous goal, identifying barriers, using the UDL Guidelines to find new instructional strategies in creating or revising lessons
  2. Reviewing and practicing several approaches that support teachers in designing lessons to meet the widest range of learner variability in a classroom. These include: Plus One, Troubleshooting Approach, and Journey Mapping.
  3. Explore a conversation map that guides teachers through the UDL design process.

SENIA Academy Link

Find resources for this course and others on SENIA Academy

Leading the Co-Instructional Model: The Administrator’s Role

, , ,

As schools invest in the Co-Instructional Model as a service-delivery approach, administrators play a key role in ensuring its successful implementation. Join us as we explore the necessary components of a model that supports teachers, enhances student outcomes, and fosters a culture of collaboration.  A preferred, but not required, prerequisite is attending The Co-Instructional Model: It’s More Than Co-Teaching session.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Consider the steps needed to plan for and begin implementing a Co-Instructional Model.
  2. Explore strategies and structures that create clarity around practice and support teachers to be successful in each of the 4 parts of the model, including
    1. Considering scheduling challenges;
    2. Creating collaborative agreements;
    3. Supporting effective co-planning;
    4. Using the co-teaching models as a resource in classroom observations.
    5. Facilitating regular check-ins with co-teachers.

SENIA Academy Link

Find resources for this course and others on SENIA Academy

The Co-Instructional Model: It’s More Than Co-Teaching

, , ,

The Co-Instructional Model is a comprehensive service-delivery model designed to enhance the implementation of a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). Far beyond traditional co-teaching, the Co-Instructional Model integrates four key components—co-planning, co-teaching, co-assessing, and co-reflecting—to ensure intentionality and impact in meeting the needs of all learners. Participants will explore how this collaborative approach fosters equitable access to instruction, strengthens student support across all tiers, and builds professional capacity within teams

Learning Outcomes

  1. Co-Planning: Learn about planning strategies and structures that support the expertise and efficacy of both teachers in lesson design and delivery. 
  2. Co-Teaching: Develop a shared understanding of the six models to enhance clarity and effectiveness for teachers and administrators.
  3. Co-Assessing: Discover ways to involve both teachers in the assessment process to inform instruction and support student growth.
  4. Co-Reflection: Consider structures for regular reflection that strengthen and sustain co-teaching partnerships over time.

SENIA Academy Link

Find resources for this course and others on SENIA Academy

Supporting Teachers in Planning for Intentional Differentiation for Advanced Learners

, ,

This session will focus on what the best practice “look-fors” are in terms of classroom differentiation for learners at all levels, particularly those at the higher end. 

Participants explore practical strategies and review expectations of the teacher within a Tier 1 classroom setting, including the use of universal screening data, formative & summative assessments, and classroom observations that inform instructional planning. They will also explore how individualized and small-group instruction, support from learning support personnel, and collaboration with other professionals and invested parties can ensure that students’ needs are being met within a mixed-ability classroom.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Explore practical strategies and review expectations of the teacher within a Tier 1 classroom setting, including the use of universal screening data, formative & summative assessments, and classroom observations that inform instructional planning
  2. Discover how individualized and small-group instruction, support from learning support personnel, and collaboration with other professionals and invested parties can ensure that students’ needs are being met within a mixed-ability classroom.

SENIA Academy Link

Find resources for this course and others on SENIA Academy

Education for all: Creating Life Centered Education Services

, , ,

As the population of the world includes 1-3% of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, chances are you already have students in your community who require more intensive services or you are working with families who have children who need these services and are not at your school.​​ This session will use the example of the American International School of Johannesburg’s experience to guide school leaders and teachers in the first steps of developing and implementing life-centered education services.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Define Life-Centered Education – Who requires this level of service? What are the essential aspects of this level of service? What post-secondary transition planning is necessary?
  2. Align Vision – What community commitment and understanding is required? What language and learning is needed to build momentum for the development of LCE services?
  3. Reflect on Current Practices – Identify existing strengths and areas for growth in your schools’ approach to Support Services and in partnership with local resources.
  4. Identify First Steps for Expanding Services– Develop an initial action plan for integrating life-centered education within your school communities.

SENIA Academy Link

Find resources for this course and others on SENIA Academy

Financial Models, Part One and Two

, ,

Since August 2024, the Office of Overseas of Schools has been working with an international task force to develop a business models playbook to assist international schools to expand and enhance the development of student support services programs.

Part One

We will focus on context development – making the case to stakeholders for expanding and enhancing learning support programs, helping school communities move past the myths that inhibit change, and the work of cultivating a culture that embraces neurodivergence. Some time will also be given to sharing stories of success. 

Learning Outcomes

  1. Understand the process of developing a business models playbook for student support services in international schools.
  2. Deepen understanding of the work of clarifying the imperatives for change.
  3. Deepen understanding of the importance of culture and myth management in a change process.
  4. Deepen understanding of approaches to change in an international school.

Part Two

We will focus on the intersection of the business and programming challenges and opportunities of expanding and enhancing learning support services programs. Some time will also be given to sharing stories of success. Part One is not a prerequisite.

Learning Outcomes

  1.  Understand the process of developing a business models playbook for student support services in international schools.
  2. Deepen understanding of the general financial models of growing a learning support program.
  3. Deepen understanding of fee-based models for growing a learning support program.
  4. Deepen understanding of the intersection of staffing, services, and fees to expand and enhance a learning support program.

SENIA Academy Link

Find resources for this course and others on SENIA Academy

Teaching Assistants: Train, Integrate, and Incorporate at the Highest Level

, ,

In this session, we explore the research about developing and retaining teaching assistant talent and some of the solutions to building a strong teaching assistant team through training, supervising, and evaluating.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Gain an understanding of how the use of teaching assistants has evolved over time and the reasons behind their increasing numbers.
  2. Identify and differentiate the roles and responsibilities of teachers and teaching assistants to ensure effective collaboration and avoid role confusion.
  3. Learn to assess and assign teaching assistants to roles that match their strengths and preferences, enhancing their effectiveness and job satisfaction.
  4. Develop a framework for providing thorough pre-service and ongoing training to teaching assistants, ensuring they are well-prepared for their roles.
  5. Implement strategies for the effective supervision and evaluation of teaching assistants, fostering a sense of value and importance within the school community.

SENIA Academy Link

Find resources for this course and others on SENIA Academy