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Upcoming Professional LearningRegister now for the MPS/UNO Superintendent Approved +39 Summer Graduate Courses.Registration deadline is 3/15/23. Flyer with details.Quick LinksLeadership & LearningLeadership & LearningIn This Issue:Leadership & Learning Website2022-23 Scholarship InformationProfessional Learning ResourcesSubmit ideas for future professional learningWho's Who in Leadership & LearningTech News Nice to Know InformationStrategic PlanningProfessional LearningCultural Competency OpportunitiesAll people can learn and growMPS BeliefOpen Now!March 17, 2023 Hourly Staff will have another opportunity to complete online professional learning. For more information, please view this flyer.

Leadership & LearningWho's WhoWhat makes you #Proud2bMPS? Dedicated stakeholders supporting scholars in everyday interactions makes me #Proud2bMPS! How do you serve others through your role in Leadership and Learning? Service is my WHY. I have the privilege of workingalongside classroom teachers, paraeducators, administrators, hourly staff, guest teachers and families...among many others. These invested stakeholders VALUE our district and our minute-by- minute impact on the world. I support Induction Programming, Instructional Coaching, CADRE, and other duties as assigned! Leadership & LearningMeet Janet CookLeadership & Learning Facilitator Our department maximizes staff potential and impacts student achievement through systems of support that foster continuous personal, building and district growth. Specifically, we provide guidance for the strategic plan, leadership, induction, professional learning, instructional coaching, and staff & administrator evaluation. This month, learn more about this DYNAMIC DUO, who drive the MPS Induction program and much more! Meet Kim Rice, Leadership & Learning Facilitator What makes you #Proud2bMPS? I am proud to be part of a district thatbelieves that each and every individual isvalued and nurtured...we meet individualswhere they are at and provide opportunitiesfor growth.How do you serve others through yourrole in Leadership and Learning? I serve others as a "thought partner". Incoaching, it is a WIN-WIN for both of us.Growing others is my passion!

SMART Notebook Screenshare?Inking over slides while in presentation mode?Tech NewsTech NewsTech NewsLEADERSHIP & LEARNING NEWSLETTERBe sure to watch social media the week of March 13-17th as we launch IXL Excitement Week! This is the first year that all MPS elementary students have had access to IXL for reading and math. IXL is an immersive learning experience that students may enjoy at school and at home! MPS Instructional Technology Facilitators will be out and about highlighting teachers as they share their IXL experiences.Principal, Nicole BurtonDo you miss?The Chrome extension Annotate offers those features and so much more!For a preview, check out the quick screencast (no sound) by clicking on the image.

Pick ONE Domain of MIM (Planning, Instruction, Assessment, Learning Environment or Professionalism). Highlight the heck out of MIM! Use a green highlighter to mark those indicators that you determine as strengths. Highlight your opportunities for growth in yellow. How might you capitalize on one of your strength areas and focus on an area of opportunity?Capture 3-5 minutes of video footage in your classroom. The video could be of you or students or both. As you view the footage, below are 2 resources you might utilize.What is reflection for you?As education practitioners, we are often encouraged to reflect and act. This notion of reflection, like differentiation or universal design for learning, bears different meaning for different individuals. What in the following descriptions resonates with you? Merriam Webster defines reflecting as “to think quietly or calmly”. Instructional coaching guru, Jim Knight, defines reflection as “looking back, looking at, and looking ahead.” Jennifer Gonzales, Cult of Pedagogy blogger, explains that “to learn as much as possible from a reflection on your teaching, you have to let your gut talk.”Reflection can be powerful and purposeful. When you pause to gain awareness of the instructional reality in your classroom, then you can utilize this information to determine next steps. Your REFLECTION turns into ACTION.Although the Millard Instructional Model (MIM) is often used as an evaluation tool, MIM is equally valuable as a reflection tool. Watch Your Students Watch Yourself After viewing, what might be a goal area as you design your next instructional moment? What might success of this goal look and sound like? How might you continue to gather feedback towards this goal? L E A D E R S H I P & L E A R N I N GProfessional Learning

Reflection does not need to be an individual practice. There is power in colleague-to-colleague reflection. Your conversation might focus on one instructional moment, one individual student, or even one assessment. Together you might look back, look at or look ahead. Check out these questions you might use as you chat with a colleague! Peer to Peer Reflection Questions PLC Questions (Plus) as a Reflection ToolWithout reflection, an experience often evaporates. How might you create a pause…reflect on a moment…notice strengths to celebrate…name a growth area to set a goal? This is the power and purpose of reflection!Click on the image below to reflect on recent professional learning across the District.

NICE TO KNOWL E A D E R S H I P & L E A R N I N GEducation often uses the model of Strategic Planning for their continuous improvement process. Millard Public Schools has utilized strategic planning since the 1989-1990 school year as the mechanism for school improvement. Strategic planning allows our District to refine our systems, evaluate our critical issues, and positively impact achievement and engagement across all 35 schools in Millard. In August of 2022 MPS once again engaged in the Strategic Planning process.On August 1st & 2nd, 2022 and again on January 20, 2023 a team of 35 invested parents, students, teachers, administrators, and community members came together to rewrite the Millard Strategic Plan.What is Strategic Planning?MPS 2022-2023 Strategic Planning Team

Action Team Strategy #1Action Team Strategy #2Action Team Strategy #3MPS Action TeamsStrategy 1: We value our changing demographics and will maximize our systems, educational programs, and instructional practices to ensure high levels of academic achievement and growth for all students.Strategy 2: We will be the destination school district of choice by strengthening our competitive programs and innovative offerings to retain and recruit students and staff.Strategy 3: In partnership with our community, we will effectively tell the story of Millard’s excellence and increase support for our district and public education.During the fall semester, three action teams met to develop the specific results and the action plans for these three strategies. Thank you to everyone who participated!Click here to view the 2023 Millard Public Schools Strategic Plan.

Contributing Artists: Steve TamayoSara Rowe Supporting Artists: Richard Harrison Hugo ZamoranoMillard Diversity Council SpotlightNative & Indigenous PeoplesSaturday, April 8th (1:00-7:00 pm)UNO Sapp FieldhouseSAVE THE DATE: Saturday, Sept. 23rd32ND Annual IntertribalPowwowFort Omaha Campus, Metro CCROAD TRIP: Genoa Indian IndustrialBoarding School MuseumWambli Sapa Memorial PowwowReopens Memorial Day Weekend 2023If you’re interested in any of these opportunities, complete this short form and we can connect you with other colleagues in Millard who are also interested! The mission of the Genoa U.S. Indian School Foundation, a non-profit organization, is to collect and preserve the history of the Genoa U.S. Indian Industrial School and promote the heritage of the school, which was in operation from 1884 to 1934.The Powwow is named “Wambli Sapa Memorial Powwow” to honor the legacy of Fred LeRoy, a prominent Ponca leader and respected elder, who passed away. Fred LeRoy was a great friend and supporter of the Native students on the UNO campus.Celebrating Native American cultures. The Powwow honors the traditional dance, music, artistry, oral history and foods of various tribes across Nebraska and the surrounding region including Omaha, Ponca, Santee Sioux and Winnebago.Cultural competence is the ability to value,understand, advocate and interact with/forpeople of cultures different from your own.Lead Artist:Aaron OlivoMap for all South Omaha Murals Take a self-directed walking tour of the South Omaha Mural Project. Experience a unique way to learn about the diversity and history of South Omaha. “Ancestral Voices” (above) celebrates four local Native American tribes.The mural is located at 2402 N Street. South Omaha Murals Walking TourListen and value the experiences of others. Recognize and accept cultural differences.Challenge our own biases, thoughts, and behaviors. Accept differences in opinions while clearly and concisely striking down anyand all forms of harassment, discriminationand intimidation.Link to Interest SurveyOur Millard Staff Diversity Council has identified a few local opportunities to learn about the diverse cultures in our area.A link to an interest survey is included below if you are interested in this optional professional learning opportunity.Click here to download the flyer.