Dear MAISA Members,

As the holiday season approaches, we at MAISA want to thank you for your unwavering dedication to our great state's students, families, and communities. Your hard work and commitment genuinely make a difference and inspire hope in those you serve. This season is a time to reflect on the promise of a new year filled with opportunities. As we step into 2025, we look forward to building on the strength and resilience you demonstrate daily.

We also encourage you to take time for yourself during the holiday break. Your well-being is essential—not only for those you serve but for your health and happiness. Rest and recharge—you’ve earned it!

Here are my three things:

• Teaching and Learning - The partnership among ISDs, GELN, Michigan Math Network, and the MAISA Early Math Team exemplifies the power of collaboration in transforming K-5 math education. Together, these organizations champion innovative practices that reimagine classrooms as vibrant hubs of mathematical discovery. By empowering teachers with targeted support, meaningful resources, and professional development, they are equipping educators to inspire confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking in their students. This collective effort, fueled by the support of the 23h grant, not only addresses challenges with creativity and perseverance but also nurtures a growing community of educators who are passionate about advancing student success. Every step forward reflects the shared vision, dedication, and resilience of the collaboration between MAISA and ISD leaders, making a lasting impact on the future of education. We appreciate all of your efforts. You are truly making a positive difference!

• Legislation and MDE - This week, we had two collaborative and impactful meetings with MDE, reinforcing our shared commitment to advancing key educational initiatives. 
• The first meeting, prompted by Dr. Rice, brought together our MAISA literacy team and MDE staff to discuss Dyslexia legislation and chart the next steps. The conversation emphasized partnership and alignment as we explored ways to further support ISDs and LEAs in meeting the requirements of the law.
• The second meeting, the Partnership Coordinating Committee, included MAISA key staff, the MAISA President, Past President, and President-Elect. Together, we engaged in rich discussions on a range of critical topics, including literacy, the 23h process, MDE’s Seclusion and Restraint Task Force, Dyslexia legislation, CTE/Special Education staffing, certification flexibility, and potential CTE expansion. Central to these conversations was a focus on enhancing our collaborative efforts to address these complex issues effectively. While much of this work is in its early stages, the opportunities for synergy and shared progress are evident. We are excited about the potential for meaningful legislative and practical advancements through our combined efforts. More updates will come as this work evolves! Regarding legislative efforts, we continue to work with our partners during Lame Duck. MASA and MAISA and all of our lobbyists are doing a great job. If we get something urgent, it may come from MAISA or MASA. Stay tuned.

• Partnerships: Michigan Virtual AI Summit - I realize many of you may have attended or had staff attend this week’s AI Summit. There were many excellent speakers and breakout sessions. If you did not attend, here is a link to many of the AI resources they presented. Workshops, policies, and numerous resources are available for your use. I am thankful to be on the MV board representing ISDs. I continue to connect with them and other partners as AI continues to grow and impact education and policy across Michigan. 

Once again, thank you for all you do—wishing you a joyful holiday season and a bright start to the new year!

We are better together!

j

• Kindergarten Transition Toolkit 
• Celebrating Early Childhood Success in Michigan 
• ECAN
• Early Math
• Early Math December 2024 Update
• EduPaths Winter Newsletter
• Michigan Learning Channel (MLC) December 2024 Updates
• ISD PR Network Communication Center
• January 2025 EWIMS Training
• Michigan Association of Nurses SCECH course
• Save the Date: Prekindergarten Training of Trainers (TOT)
• Happy Holidays!
• MAISA office closure

Kindergarten Round Ups are just aROUND the corner, and transitioning children from early childhood into K-12 programs is a very important process for Michigan’s early learners, their families and communities, school districts, and early childhood program providers.

That’s why we at MAISA, together with the offices of MiLEAP and MDE, are excited to share free resources, Kindergarten Round Up templates, and communication guidelines for you to share with your Great Start Collaborative/Parent Coalitions, school districts, preschool and childcare providers, trusted advisors, community partners, and ISD consultants.

These materials were created to support the children and families that are transitioning out of a program and into Kindergarten. The materials are designed so you can adapt them to fit your needs.

They include:

• Kindergarten Round Up Customizable Templates: postcards, flyers, letters, emails, text messages
• Book List for Families: Kindergarten Transition
• Kindergarten "Ready, Set, Grow" videos – for sharing on social media
• Kindergarten readiness infographic
• And more!

Easily Access the Materials

MAISA’s EduPaths team has created a module to tour you through all of the materials in an organized manner. They even created a video to show you how to access the module.

This very brief module overviews all the materials and covers the following aspects:

• What Parents Need to Know
• Communication Best Practices
• Templates for Communication
• How to Best Use the Tools
• Sharing Communication Materials with Partners

Background Information

A Michigan Transition to Kindergarten Professional Learning Community (PLC) brought together a diverse group of teachers and administrators with varied background knowledge and experience in leading and planning transitions. The PLC had participants from private child care centers, Head Start, Great Start Readiness Program, Kindergarten teachers, and elementary principals. The task of this PLC was to identify the roadblocks and brainstorm solutions for supporting children and families through the transition into Kindergarten.

Their work together supported them in building clear strategies and developing the systems thinking needed to plan effective and equitable transitions for the children and families in their programs and districts.

As the state of Michigan continues to explore opportunities to create broader systems of support for transitions and build local capacity to produce more comprehensive approaches to transition, key insights from participants of PLC will guide that work. Examples of on-the-ground efforts to make connections among children, families, schools/programs, and communities provide valuable insight into what it takes at the state level to provide needed support and enable policies to ensure all children succeed in school.

To view the Kindergarten Transition Toolkit, click here.

View the full update here.

EduPaths has released its Winter Newsletter just in time for the holidays!

The newsletter features tips to take care of yourself this holiday season, professional learning opportunities, and a list of simple, no-cost learning-enriched activities for families to help keep the learning going over winter break.

Read the full newsletter here.

Here's the December 2024 Smore update about MAISA's partnership with the Michigan Learning Channel (MLC) that brings the Literacy Essentials to life through the literacy broadcast series Read, Write, ROAR!

December 2024 highlights:



• HighScope evaluation shows Read, Write, ROAR!'s impact on family literacy engagement and student success at home
• Kalamazoo RESA and Livingston ESA literacy leaders learning about RWR as a resource to support coaching efforts
• RWR Upper Elementary (Grades 4-5) production wrapping up

Click here to read the full update via Smore!

Best Practice Communication Tip: Reach Staff First

On December 10, 2024, Berrien RESA sent a news release that read in part:

"Berrien RESA, along with Berrien County school districts and local law enforcement agencies, are collaborating to support school safety with the help of the “I Love U Guys” Foundation. The effort, the area's first-ever countywide coordinated school safety plan, brings together public education, the Berrien County Sheriff's Department, Michigan State Police, and local police precincts, creating a uniform intervention and response process," the agency said about the significance of the effort.

View the full release here.

But before the release was ever sent to audiences outside the district, an attractive, easy-to-read "Something New Memo" (see below) was sent internally to district staff with key details, including why the effort is important. Berrien routinely sends this type of memo to communicate a new service, program, or initiative to its staff.

Remember Employees are Vital

• Communicate with staff first so they can help support your efforts to spread the word.
• They are an essential part of your communication team. 

Review your Communication Efforts

• How and when do you communicate a new service, program, or initiative to your staff?
• Is it time for a refresh? 

Kudos to Berrien RESA and other ISDs who are collaborating to support school safety with the help of the "I Love U Guys" Foundation. For more information about the "I Love U Guys" Foundation, visit www.iloveuguys.org.

The next ISD PR Network meeting is Friday, January 24, 2025 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am via Zoom.

If you'd like to have a staff member added to the ISD PR Network listserv, please contact Gerri Allen at gallen48@juno.com.

View the full document here.

The MAISA office will be closed for the holiday break from December 24, 2024 to January 1, 2025.

We hope you enjoy time with your family and friends!

Visit the MAISA Event Site to view monthly calendars and upcoming meetings and events.