August 20, 2019
Hurry! The hotel deadline for the Educators' Call to Action Conference has been extended to August 23, 2019.

AESA's federal advocacy conference dates are September 18-20, 2019 in Washington, D.C. Read on in this newsletter for more information about the conference or visit the website to register. https://www.aesa.us/events/educators-call-to-action-conf.cfm

To book your hotel at the discounted rate, please first register for the Educators' Call to Action conference through AESA's website. In your confirmation email, you will receive more information about how to access the discounted rate.
Member Spotlights
Talking About Utah's ESAs
Recently, Education Talk Radio: Pre K-20 featured Dr. Scott Crane, Executive Director, Southeast Education Service Center, Price, Utah. LISTEN here:

Learn more about the service centers in Utah and the Utah rural schools' annual conference that the Utah service centers sponsor!
Please Welcome the new Cohort of Executives in Residence
April Estrada
Director of Special Populations
ESC Region 10            
Richardson, TX

Valerie Fenn
Chief of ACES Institute
Area Cooperative Educ. Svs. (ACES)
Hamden, CT

Lenny Greaney
Director of Special Education
Bucks County IU
Doylestown, PA

Kelly Ingram
Deputy Exec. Dir., Instructional Services
ESC Region 4
Houston, TX

Dan Mayer
Executive Director
Region V BOCES
Wilson, WY
Robby McGowen
Deputy Exec. Dir., Support Services
Region 4 ESC
Houston, TX

Analicia Nicholson
Assistant Superintendent
Douglas ESD
Roseburg, OR

Megan Timme
Director of Administrative Services
Region 10 ESC             
Richardson, TX

Kathy Whitlock
Executive Director
ESD 112
Vancouver, WA

To learn more about AESA's Executives in Residence program, visit the AESA website. If you are considering participating in 2020-2021, watch for applications in March 2020.
New Affinity Group Forming:
Teaching and Learning
Teaching and Learning
Affinity Group

Does your ESA provide amazing professional development opportunities for teachers that you would love to share with others? Have you wondered what other ESAs are offering to ensure schools are aligning curriculum, instruction, and assessment practices? If so, then this AESA Affinity Group is for you!
 
Participants in the Teaching and Learning Affinity Group will have access to other professionals that support or have a passion for curriculum and instruction.

Join us in creating an online community that assists in the development of outstanding teaching and learning practices in our local educational service agencies.
How to Get Involved

Lead Contact: Heather Fish, Director of School Improvement Services, CESA 5, Portage, WI,  [email protected]
 
Meeting Schedule: TBD

Technology Used: Zoom
 
Visit the " Teaching & Learning " Online Community found in the AESACommunity website.

About the AESACommunity
If you haven't already joined, it's easy!

  1. You must be a staff member of an ESA that is also a member of AESA to join the community.
  2. Visit this website to get started
  3. Then, once you are part of the AESACommunity platform, contact Heather Fish and she can connect you to the Teaching and Learning Affinity Group.

Affinity Groups are great place to post questions, network, and connect with ESAs across the country! Give us a try. Who knows what you will learn!
AESA Working for You :
New Services Available for Members - Communication Audit
Communication Audit
Does your organization's improvement plan point to improving communication within and outside of the organization? An AESA Communication Audit can point you in the right direction!

AESA's Communication Audit is a two-step process. First, the audit is conducted and the results are delivered. Then AESA's communication consultant works with you to put the results into an actionable agency communication plan.

First, our highly-qualified communication consultant will conduct a communication audit onsite using surveys, focus groups, interviews, and a review of the communication processes and products currently developed by your agency. The results of the audit are shared with the executive director, and his/her designees. Then, she will work with your designated staff to develop a preliminary communication plan. Your written communication plan is the result of collaboration with your staff using local audit results, researched best practices, and in consideration of the agency's goals and needs. For more information, contact Joan Wade , AESA Executive Director.

Advocating in Tough Political Times
Don't Miss the 2019
Educators' Call to Action Conference
Pre-Conference on Wednesday, September 18

1-4 p.m. Advocating for Education during Tough Political Times
The importance of the educator's voice cannot be understated. In this session, AESA’s legislative liaisons have gathered experts who will provide tips on how to continue to be heard, even during these tough times. (Separate registration fee required.)

All are welcome to join us for the Welcome Reception at 5 p.m.

Thursday and Friday, September 19 and 20

Sessions with experts; time for you to advocate on "The Hill".
This conference provides in-depth information that ESA leaders need to equip them for their advocacy in both Washington D.C. and at home.

AESA's Legislative Advocacy Team connects participants with experts on the legislative topics. This year's agenda includes:

  • Expanding Post-Secondary Pathways Beyond College

  • Educator Shortages

  • Student Data & Privacy

  • Education Finance & Funding

  • Census

  • Mental Health & Medicaid Panel

Visit the website for up-to-date information on topics and invited speakers.
Resources to Help You in Your Job
Talking to children about terrorist attacks and school and community shootings in the news is not easy, and yet it is very important. This guide offers advice on how to talk to children about tragic events, such as shootings and terrorist attacks that they are likely to hear about on the news. Feel free to share this guide with the schools in your region.  https://www.schoolcrisiscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/guidelines-talking-about-tragedies.pdf

The big back-to-school 2019 issue of the online journal  "Accessibility, Compliance & EQUITY (AC&E) " is now available at  www.ace-ed.org . It's full of great information!