Title I Network

Complete Your Equity-Focused Needs Assessment and Next Step Planning

Presenters: Valerie Schmitz & Mary Jo Ziegler

Cost: $15 for the day includes lunch

Description: Equity is a term we hear constantly in education, and yet, do we really know what it looks like and sounds like? How do we know if we've reached it? What are the components? How do we get there? 

We will explore the necessary considerations in moving our schools and districts toward more equitable outcomes for all of our students.

This June 16 session will be face to face at CESA 2 all day, with lunch provided. 

About the Presenters:

Mary Jo Ziegler has worked in diverse educational settings for over 30 years. The first 15 years of her career were spent in classrooms teaching grades 2-8. After earning an M.S. in Reading, she moved into an instructional coaching and intervention role at Sherman Middle School in Madison, Wisconsin. A second Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership led to roles as district instructional resource teacher, a literacy coordinator, PK-12 director of instruction, and DPI consultant. Across the years, MJ has worked to support educators as they design engaging and effective learning opportunities that motivate achievement by building routines and scaffolds to guide students through successful learning experiences.

Valerie Schmitz, PhD is the Senior Director of Continuous Improvement for CESA 2. In this position, Valerie leads the regional work for educator development and district implementation of the Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System, as well as data analysis and school improvement. Valerie has deep expertise in this work, serving as the Educator Effectiveness Coordinator at CESA 6 for the past four years. She has assisted districts with implementation of both Educator Effectiveness and the Effectiveness Project. She also has deep expertise in data analysis, systems analysis, and school improvement. Valerie has earned a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Instructional Design for Online Learning as well as an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. She also holds a M.Ed. in Technology Education as well as an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership.

Dr. Sonja Hollins-Alexander is the Director of Professional Learning for Corwin Publishing. She has been in the field of education for 24 years with 18 of those being in educational leadership at the school, district and higher education levels. During this time, she has served as a school social worker, teacher, assistant principal, principal, coordinator, assistant director and director of professional learning, and chief of staff in two Metro Atlanta, GA school districts. She has served on numerous United Way non-profit boards in the community and most recently served as the affiliate board president for Learning Forward, GA. She currently serves on the National Affiliate Leadership Council for Learning Forward.

Dr. Nicole Law is a passionate educator who provides professional learning to schools and districts across the country. As a Corwin Professional Learning Consultant, Nicole presents content on Culturally Fortifying Practices, dimensions around equity and creating equitable teaching spaces, teacher clarity, Visible Learning, professional learning communities, organizational analysis, literacy instruction, leadership improvement practices and structures, data analysis models, school improvement practices, metacognitive teaching and learning, strategies for success in cognitively rigorous instruction and effective teaching methods for English Learners. She also partners with school and district leaders by providing executive coaching focused on measuring and monitoring school improvement structures.

Cancellation Policy: Registered participants will receive a refund if they cancel prior to 3 working days before an event, minus any material costs that have already been incurred. Cancellations must either be made on MyQuickReg or by emailing cancel@cesa2.org. Because of our commitment to the presenter and the food vendor, participants who cancel less than 3 working days prior to the event or who do not attend the event, will be billed the full fee. CESA 2 reserves the right to cancel any event. Registered participants will be notified via phone and email if a cancellation occurs and will receive a full refund. 

Inclement Weather Policy: Every effort will be made to hold an event. CESA 2 will notify participants via email as soon as possible if an event has been cancelled due to weather conditions.

Disclaimer: CESA 2 will do its best to accommodate general dietary requests; if your dietary need is very specific or severe, you may want to bring your own lunch to ensure your comfort and health. CESA 2 does not assume liability for adverse reactions to food consumed or items one may come into contact with while eating at a CESA 2 event. If you have a dietary need or food allergy, please go into your MyQuickReg profile and update the special accommodations section. Notice of a special dietary need must be made 2 weeks in advance of the event.

By registering for an event with CESA 2, participants agree to grant to CESA 2 and its authorized representatives permission to record digital photos and/or video, of their participation. Participants further agree that any or all of the material photographed may be used, in any form, as part of any future publications, brochure, or other printed materials used to promote CESA 2, and further that such use shall be without payment of fees, royalties, special credit or other compensation. If you do not wish to have your photo or image used, please contact us at info@cesa2.org.

In-Person Events: Restrictions on our in-person events due to COVID-19 have been lifted. We will be responsive to what's happening within our communities, and guidelines from the CDC and local health agencies for future offerings and will update guidelines when necessary.