January 25, 2023 Edition
IN THIS EDITION.. Tech Support Applications Due by Jan 31 | Montana STEM Summer Institute Updates | SSoM NEW Upcoming PD | SSoM Program Links | GRANT Opportunities | SSoM Partner Resources | Joke of the Week | Addt'l Resources | About SSoM
LAST CHANCE! APPLICATIONS DUE BY JAN. 31st
TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT ASSISTANT
Part-Time (with potential to grow to Full-Time)
Permanent, Remote Position | Awesome Team | Great Benefits
Due to overwhelming response, the deadline to submit applications
will be January 31st. Thank you all for your interest!
The Technology Support Assistant will work closely with the SSoM Infinite Campus Support Team and the SSoM Medicaid Billing Program Specialist to provide frontline support to our client school districts on matters related to the Infinite Campus Student Information System and the Relay (formerly CompuClaim) Medicaid Billing software suites.


We will be accepting applications until this position is filled.

5th Annual Montana STEM Summer Institute
July 31 - August 2, 2023
MSU - Bozeman Campus


CONFERENCE UPDATES
February: Break Out Session Proposal Submission Opens

March: Registration Opens For Everyone

Now accepting New Advisory Group Members!
If interested, please contact Melissa Tovaas, SSoM Executive Director
mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264
PAST PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIAL
"The 2022 Montana STEM conference was fantastic. I really learned a lot of practical ideas that I can take back to the classroom. The instructors were very knowledgeable and helpful and I found a renewed interest in Science that I had lost as a student, years ago. I look forward to attending again and letting others know about this great opportunity.”
-Charlie Struna, Missoula Co. Public Schools Middle School Librarian & 8th Grade Math Teacher
SSoM PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
FLATHEAD VALLEY IEFA INSTITUTE
8am - 3pm May 17 &/or 18
Location in Kalispell TBD
$20 per person per day

Join us for one or both days of IEFA learning with award-winning Montana educators, Jordann Lankford-Forster (Bright Trail Woman) and Miranda Murray.

The Flathead Valley IEFA Institute will provide foundational information concerning the seven “Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians” and tools to implement Indigenous content into your curriculum. Participants may not feel comfortable or know where to begin, and that is OK. The facilitators will provide you with the support and sustainable resources to advance cultural content and Native resources in your classrooms, no matter where you are in your IEFA implementation. Participants will gain instruction and crucial essential understandings as diverse perspectives are important for all students’ success.

Registration Coming Soon - Stay Tuned for Details
INFINITE CAMPUS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
YEARLY EVENT SERIES (YES) Feb 7 - 8, 2023 | Virtual

The YES live professional development event includes timely instruction on a wide array of Infinite Campus topics that will easily save you and your staff hundreds of hours during the school year. Click here for details & registration.
Mary Anne Skinner, Director of Infinite Campus Support Services
maskinner@mt-schools.org | (406) 256-7306
UNDERSTANDING & SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH DYSLEXIA & OTHER READING DISABILITIES
An online, self-paced course brought to you by SSoM and designed by literary expert and consultant, Genevieve Thomas
Available through June 30, 2023 | Register Here

$20 discount for SSoM Members | 11 OPI Renewal Units
SSoM PROGRAMS
SSoM PROFESSIONAL LEARNING Program Details
MECC CURRICULUM CONSORTIUM Program Details
Contact: Executive Director, Melissa Tovaas
mtovaas@mt-schools.org | (646) 831-7264
SSoM INFINITE CAMPUS SUPPORT Program Details
Contact: Director of Infinite Campus Support Services, Mary Anne Skinner
maskinner@mt-schools.org | (406) 256-7306
SSoM MEDICAID BILLING PROGRAM Program Details
Contact: Medicaid Billing Program Specialist Lisa Waterman
Lwaterman@mt-schools.org | (406) 272-0073
SSoM CO-OP FOOD PROGRAM Program Details, FAQ, & Resources
Contact: Purchasing Manager Jennifer Brekke
jbrekke@mt-schools.org | (406) 580-7547
5 GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
IMPROVE YOUR SCHOOL'S KITCHEN WITH
SNF EQUIPMENT GRANTS

Apply now for one (or more) of FIVE available grants
through the 2023 SNF Equipment Grant Program.

Deadline to apply is March 31, 2023. Apply today!

  1. The Winston Foodservice Equipment Grant program will award up to 10 pieces of equipment, valued up to $100,000, to one school district in need of improving its school meal kitchen facilities.
  2. The recipient of Vulcan Equipment Grant from ITW/FWE will be awarded up to $50,000 worth of Vulcan equipment that suits their school district’s needs.
  3. The Hobart Equipment Grant, also from ITW/FWE, awards up to $35,000 worth of Hobart equipment for their school district.
  4. The Food Warming Equipment (FWE) Equipment Grant awards the winning school district with multiple pieces of equipment, valued at up to $25,000.
  5. The Collection Equipment Grant brings together Cambro Manufacturing, Innoseal Systems, Sterling Manufacturing and Sterno Delivery to help upgrade school kitchens with multiple pieces of new equipment.
SSoM PARTNER RESOURCES

COLLABORATIVE CLASSROOM
K-12 TUTORING & SUMMER SCHOOL
RESOURCES


Learn how SIPPS® (Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words) can set K–12 students up for success this summer and prepare them for even greater success in the 23–24 school year. Register & receive the recording!

SPOTLIGHT: Why the Read2Succeed Tutoring Program Chose SIPPS to Support Its Youngest Readers Learn how the Read2Succeed (R2S) tutoring program uses SIPPS to support kindergarteners and their R2S tutors.

Genevieve shares from her 10 years of experience using SIPPS as a Tier 2 intervention for foundational reading skills during the school year—and in a summer reading-intensive program.

Please visit the Events Calendar for a complete listing of upcoming webinars & events.

Questions about getting your district involved with Collaborative Classroom? Contact:
Melissa Tovaas, Collaborative Classroom Liaison | mtovaas@mt-schools.org
MSU SCIENCE MATH RESOURCE CENTER (SMRC)
Brainstorms! Newsletter January 2023 Ed.

Welcome! In this newsletter we share cool opportunities for Montana STEM educators of all grade levels, subjects & settings, including upcoming PD workshops through MSU and our partners, grant applications, STEM resources, STEM events & contests for students, and more. Subscribe here!

STEM OPPORTUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
Research Experience for Teachers in Engineering - February 4 is the deadline for elementary teachers to apply for a six-week paid summer research experience at MSU. The experience includes a stipend plus housing and travel expenses.

MSU Research in Action continues in Spring 2023 - Our fall MSU Research in Action series included meeting an MSU engineering student who studies insect flight; an MSU chemistry post-doc who is working to understand how methanogens use pyrite as a nutrient; and an MSU engineering student who is developing low-cost tests for diseases such as Alzheimer's.

FREE STEM PD ON DEMAND
Supercharge Your Classroom with Montana Field Science Data is a free, self-paced course for educators that consists of five modules. Through these modules, educators will learn to incorporate datasets from authentic Montana research projects into their own classroom.

Check out the full January 2023 edition for more STEM opportunities!
JOKE OF THE WEEK
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
MT OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

OPI Education Compass - January 2023 Edition
MONTANA PBS EDUCATION
January 10, 2023 | Issue 71

Hiding in Plain Sight Virtual PD Series

Montana PBS Education: Learn at Home, Too!

Join Our Facebook Group - MTPBS Teachers
For more information about Montana PBS Education, please contact:
Nikki Vradenburg, MT PBS Director of Education | nikki@montanapbs.org
All 5 Montana CSPDs offer FREE VIRTUAL PD in their regions. Click for details:
ABOUT SCHOOL SERVICES of MONTANA
SSoM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit education service organization committed to unlocking the full potential of every child in each and every school we serve across the state. We accomplish this by providing a wide variety of professional learning activities and business services designed to meet the specific needs of Montana’s educators and administrators. Interested in supporting our work? Click here to make a donation, and be sure to read all about our organization on our website.

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