Webinar on December 14 at 1:00 pm ET: Student and Staff Mental Health Needs

We know that student mental health is at a crisis. We also know that many school-level staff members, who do all that they can do to help their students, are suffering. What can schools and districts do for the well-being of their students and their staff?

Join us December 14 at 1:00 pm ET for an important webinar on student and staff mental health needs. This session will be run by our partners at LEGAL ONE, a provider of education law workshops, online courses, and webinars for school leaders and teachers on critical legal issues.

The webinar will provide an overview of legal issues as they relate to mental health and training that will focus on recognizing and addressing various mental health issues. Participants will discuss the review and revision of school and district policies and procedures related to staff and student well-being, with time for discussion of scenarios in order to assist staff in recognizing and addressing these issues.

(Note: Since this has already happened, we will share video of it soon.)

ISA’s Women of Color Education Collaborative: Apply to Join by December 21!

ISA’s Women of Color Education Collaborative (WOCEC) is a career and professional learning support network for women of color education system leaders. The WOCEC mission is to provide a safe and supportive space for women of color leaders with programming uniquely designed to enhance leadership skills, build strong bonds between participants, and promote and prioritize self-care and healing.

The WOCEC is accepting applications from women of color education system leaders (superintendents, assistant superintendents, and other district/central office education leaders) to join the next WOCEC cohort. There is no cost to participate, and you can apply to be part of the WOCEC cohort or to receive executive coaching only. The deadline is December 21.

(Note: The deadline has passed but you can read about the WOCEC here.)

Coaches’ Corner: Math Coach Andrea DeVico

ISA coach Andrea DeVico has more than 12 years of teaching experience in mathematics and special education. During the last 6 years, she has been coaching and supporting math teachers as they strive to create authentic learning experiences for their students. She has developed culturally relevant standards-based curricula for many math courses, focusing on problem-based and project-based learning. Her most recent achievement is the development of a 100% autistic program at a public high school in the Bronx where every student is receiving targeted individualized support. Andrea has her BA from Temple University, an MS in math and special education from St. John’s University, and master’s in educational leadership from Lehigh University.

Which teacher of yours do you feel most impacted your coaching approach? Why?

I’m sure people talk often about that one teacher in their childhood who inspired them. And don’t get me wrong: Mr. Foresta, my high school math teacher, was inspiring and probably one of the biggest reasons I went into teaching. But the teachers who have impacted my career and my coaching the most are the teachers I currently surround myself with. They are my closest friends. I had the great privilege of starting my career at a school full of inspiring, energetic, early career teachers. We banded together, and as the years progressed, we have found ourselves shifting and evolving within the field of education, being each other’s cheerleaders and challengers every step of the way.

What do you enjoy most about your coaching work?

Everyone needs a coach; everyone has room to grow, and we all need to do the hard work of pushing each other toward growth. When I’m supporting teachers with their own growth, this often ranges from first year teachers who are developing into the champions their students need to teachers with 3–-5 years experience who are honing their skills and gaining momentum to veteran teachers who are developing into team leaders and instructional coaches themselves. I believe strong coaching can alleviate burnout and strengthen our school communities.

What was your most memorable moment with a student or students when you were teaching?

Graduation is a big moment, memorable and emotional. But to get to this point, all the small moments add up. I have discovered in my own teaching that the most memorable and impactful moments are tied to igniting a passion or discovering confidence. It’s all the moments from 9th to 12th grade that I would experience with my advisees—from discussions on whether water was wet to team-building exercises of strategy and collaboration to intimate conversations about our most vulnerable moments. My advisees have always formed long and lasting memories in my teaching.

What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Oh, that’s easy: raspberry fudge torte in a sugar cone in the early days of summer, arm and arm with my mother.