January is School Director Recognition Month in honor of directors' commitment and volunteer work for schools, intermediate units and communities. As a thank you for their service, CSIU honored its Board members and presented gifts of wooden triangle book stands made by CSIU Work Foundations+ students with the help of Terri Locke, Director of Special Education and Alternative Placement; Jessica Harry, Special Education and Off-Site Facilities Support Program Supervisor; and Rob Welch, Building Trades Teacher. These supervisors and teachers are pictured below with students Jeremiah Mordan and Isaac Hackenberg and their families who presented at the board meeting. 

From the Vault: Each year, our Work Foundations+ students work with guest artists Geoff Craven and KJ Reimensnyder-Wagner to reflect on gratitude through songwriting and performance. Last year, the students wrote this song thanking school directors for their service: https://youtu.be/v5zP2-xjROk.
 

CSIU Board members serve on both their district’s and CSIU boards. Their service is unpaid even though they make key decisions that drive public education by voting on budgets, adopting policy, and conducting comprehensive planning.

School directors across PA indicate their primary reason for serving is to give back, contribute to public education, and improve student educational outcomes. 

Thank you, CSIU Board of Directors, for supporting CSIU programs and helping us all live our values of service, excellence, equity, and innovation! 

Read this Did You Know page to learn more about the 4,500 school directors that serve PA’s 500 public school districts.

Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) recognized its 2023 Afterschool Champions at the 2023 EMPOWER, Pennsylvania’s Out-of-School Time Conference. The conference was held in Lancaster, PA, Dec. 7-9 and featured a keynote by Dr. Khalid Mumin, Ed.D., Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Additionally, nine champions were celebrated for outstanding work in developing, supporting, and promoting high-quality after-school and out-of-school time programs. The awards align with PSAYDN’s mission to promote sustainable, high-quality out-of-school time youth development programs through advocacy and capacity building to enhance the welfare of Pennsylvania’s children, youth and families. #ServiceToOthers

   CSIU receives Grant to Build Educator Pipelines  

The CSIU was selected by the Pennsylvania Departments of Labor & Industry and Education to design a registered apprenticeship program template for teacher career pathways to be used by school districts across the Commonwealth. The sustainable model for teacher training includes strong partnerships with various stakeholders, including community colleges, higher education institutions, workforce development organizations, government agencies, and local education agencies. These partnerships, encompassing a wide geographic range, are vital in addressing urban, suburban, and rural areas' unique needs.

The Certified Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program in Pennsylvania (TAP.PA) aims to train paraprofessionals and teachers' aides who want to become certified elementary and secondary teachers.

The CSIU also began enrolling students in the first wave of the PDE-funded Paraeducator Grant Initiative. This pathway provides paraeducators a path to earn their associate degree, which dovetails with the registered apprenticeship model upon completion. Overall, 12 individuals, five from regional school districts and seven from CSIU programs were enrolled. This pathway for school district participants is funded through a state grant with a nominal contribution from their home districts. CSIU staff receive total funding according to the current CSIU Professional Development policy. In partnership with Luzerne County Community College, the CSIU will support participants in obtaining an associate's degree in education that is transferable to various educator preparation programs.