CSIU Program Highlight: Professional Leadership Day (PLD) Highlights
CSIU’s 2026 Professional Leadership Day brought more than 500 employees together around the theme of what it means to be an ambassador for CSIU and “The CSIU Way.” The day focused on being ambassadors for the programs, people, students, families, and communities CSIU serves. Through powerful personal stories, staff saw how service, excellence, equity, and innovation come to life across the organization. The day also created opportunities to reflect and reconnect, including a visual reflection experience with United Nations Peace Ambassador Ibiyinka Alao, story circles with Susan Jordan, and conversations about how CSIU is approaching artificial intelligence thoughtfully and safely. Four employees were recognized as ambassadors who exemplify CSIU’s core values, reinforcing the larger message of the day: every CSIU employee has a story to tell, a community to serve, and an opportunity to be an ambassador for the work that changes lives across our region. To watch all PLD videos, including award winners’ videos, the Years of Service Milestones video, and those recognized through Living Our Values video, click PLD Videos.
Start of Year PD Gatherings As we prepare for the start of the 2026–27 school year, teams across the CSIU have been actively engaged in back-to-school professional development, planning, and team-building activities. Staff from Early Childhood, Special Education, Act 89, North Central Secure Treatment Unit, and Substitute Teacher programs, among many others, participated in sessions designed to strengthen both professional practice and our collective readiness to serve students, families, and schools in the year ahead.
Photo:2026Substitute Teacher Summit
In addition to program-specific training and required annual updates, many teams focused intentionally on organizational culture, communication, and collaboration. Activities included reviews and application of DiSC working styles, team-building exercises, opportunities to welcome and connect new staff, clarification of roles and expectations, and conversations around effective communication and teamwork. These activities provided important opportunities for staff to reconnect, strengthen relationships, and establish shared expectations before programs and schools are fully underway.
While the content varied across programs, the common focus was clear: building strong teams, strengthening our culture, and ensuring staff are prepared to provide high-quality, responsive services to those we serve. These annual back-to-school gatherings are an important investment in our people and help establish a positive foundation for the work ahead.
Cyber Shield 2026
Cyber Shield 2026 is the largest annual Department of Defense cyber training event, bringing together over 1,000 participants from 44 states and territories and 23 countries to collaborate and strengthen cyber capabilities on a global scale.
Eric Shearer, Network Administrator, represented CSIU at Cyber Shield 2026, which was held at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Arkansas. In his role, he supported a simulated cyber incident by helping coordinate information requests between teams. This experience reinforced the importance of clear documentation, strong change-management practices, and direct communication during a cybersecurity event. It also helped strengthen CSIU’s relationship with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s cyber unit for future collaboration.
This summer, in alignment with CSIU’s exploration of global opportunities through the Association of Education Service Agencies (AESA), four CSIU ambassadors traveled abroad to learn about the culture and education systems of the countries they visited.
Dr. Theresa Bartholomew shared her reflections on the trip through social media, endorsed by AESA. Below is a summary of her observations.
“Participating in an AESA Educator Field Study reinforced the value of stepping outside our own cultural and educational contexts to better understand and question the systems in which we work.
Through visits to schools, universities, and international organizations, as well as conversations with students, educators, and community leaders, I gained insight into both the differences and similarities among educational systems. From students’ desire for stronger connections between academic theory and the workforce to their striking level of independence and responsibility within their schools, these experiences challenged assumptions about what education must look like and sparked new thinking about our own practices. Just as international travel once helped my students develop greater curiosity, flexibility, and cultural awareness, this experience demonstrated how educator field studies can provide powerful professional learning. By experiencing another system firsthand, educators return home better prepared to examine familiar practices with fresh eyes, identify possibilities for innovation, and approach their work with greater openness and humility.”
Click the link to read the Educator Field Study in Austria and Hungary full essay.
Upcoming Board Meeting: September 16, October 21, and November 18
