As we continue to elevate the impactful work of Indiana’s educators, today we launch another video in the Teachers Who Shaped Us series, designed to shine a spotlight on the positive impact educators make on our students’ lives and on our state.
Last school year, we sat down with a number of Hoosiers to hear more about the educators who influenced their trajectory, including Governor Eric J. Holcomb, Quinn Buckner, Lilly King, and 2022 Indiana Teacher of the Year Sharita Ware. Today, we kick off the video series for the 2022-2023 school year by sitting down with Dr. Allison Barber, president and chief operating officer of the Indiana Fever.
Like several others we have spoken to, Allison’s path has had a number of twists and turns… from six and a half years as an elementary school teacher in Merrillville to working for the American Red Cross, the White House, the U.S Department of Defense, and then launching Western Governors University in Indiana…but her path has always come back to education. While serving in a number of different capacities, the common thread throughout her career has been a curiosity around education, learning, growth, and development…a passion instilled in her throughout her life by her mother, who also happened to be an elementary school teacher!
In the below video, Allison also tells us about another teacher who shaped her life, her third grade teacher, Nan Worch. Allison describes Ms. Worch as a great cheerleader who always pushed her to do more and be her best. And that, too, is her advice for today’s educators…to be your best self and never forget your impact. I think she sums it up best when she says, each of us are where we are today because of people who invested in us…and it so often starts right in the classroom!
Thank you, Allison, for your time in the classroom and for helping to elevate our profession. And thanks to each of you for the positive impact you make for students each and every day!
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This video is the eighth in a series, known as Teachers Who Shaped Us. In this video, Dr. Jenner sits down with Dr. Allison Barber to learn more about the teachers who made a lasting impact on her life.
NEW: Formative Assessment Distributions Are Approved - Next Steps
The Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) approved 2022-2023 Formative Assessment Grant distributions. Review this memo for details. Access this spreadsheet to confirm your corporation’s approved distribution. The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is scheduled to distribute funds to schools over the coming weeks. IDOE provides funds to schools via electronic deposit into Fund 3028. Funds are tagged with the memo line “Remediation Testing'' to reflect current Indiana Code naming conventions. Schools are not required to take any additional action to receive funds. If funds are not received in the corporation account on file with IDOE by Tuesday, October 18, contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment for support.
NEW: PSAT/NMSQT Test Window Approaching
Schools should prepare for the upcoming PSAT/NMSQT administration as important dates approach.
- Testing materials for the primary administration will arrive on Wednesday, October 5. Materials must be stored securely per IDOE and College Board test security policy.
- The primary test administration will occur on Wednesday, October 12, and testing materials must be returned on Thursday, October 13.
Reference the PSAT/NMSQT 2022-2023 Milestones for additional deadlines. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
REMINDER: SAT School Day Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Test Preparation Bootcamp Now Available
IDOE and College Board released SAT School Day FAQs to address frequent questions that high school assessment staff have for the spring Indiana SAT for grade 11 students. This resource addresses questions ranging from accommodations to testing deadlines and more. Schoolhouse.world from Khan Academy is also offering two free online tutoring bootcamps in November and December for students taking the spring SAT. Schools should share this opportunity with students. Registration for the November bootcamp closes on Thursday, October 6. Contact College Board or IDOE’s Office of Student Assessment with any questions.
NEW: 2023 Indiana Teacher of the Year Top Three Finalists Announced
The Indiana Teacher of the Year Screening Committee is excited to announce the top three finalists for the 2023 Indiana Teacher of the Year — Jason Beer of Southwest Allen County Schools, Tara Cocanower of Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District, and Joshua DeBard of Lebanon Community Schools. The 2023 Indiana Teacher of the Year will be announced in October. Details on the top three finalists can be found here. Contact Rebecca Estes with any questions.
NEW: October Count Date for Certification
The 2022-2023 school year October certification count date is today, Friday, September 30. All schools should ensure the accuracy of student/staff data provided within Data Exchange. Data certified for October includes:
- Pupil Enrollment
- Staff Employment (CE)
- Other Staff Personnel (NE)
- Multilingual Learners
- Curricular Materials Assistance
- Graduate (Graduation rates for the 2021-2022 school year will be based on data certified by schools in July 2022 and October 2022. The graduation rate will be compiled from the graduate data submitted through Data Exchange for the 2021-2022 school year (July 2022 certification) and the graduate data submitted through Data Exchange for the October 2022 certification.)
Contact IDOE's Data Exchange Team with any questions.
REMINDER: IDOE Membership (ADM) Fall Count Date
The fall count day for the 2022-2023 school year occurred on Friday, September 16. The certification for Period 1 Membership for 2022-2023 ended on Wednesday, September 28. Schools may continue to certify their data if they have not already. IDOE is working to address any outstanding support tickets related to Membership. Deadlines will not be extended. Contact IDOE's Data Exchange Team with any questions.
REMINDER: School Actions to Complete SIS Setup for 2022-2023
Schools with an Indiana Ed-Fi Certified SIS Vendor will need to establish a connection between their SIS and Data Exchange. At the beginning of the school year, schools should be actively validating and reviewing data in Data Exchange for accuracy in preparation for the first September certification window.
- A SIS vendor certification status list can be found here.
- Schools changing SIS vendors should send vendor changes to link@doe.in.gov.
Additional information on implementation of Data Exchange can be found on the Data Exchange webpage. Questions about Data Exchange may be submitted here.
REMINDER: 2022-2023 Curricular Material Memo
Please read this memo regarding the 2022-2023 curricular material process for submission of costs and student level data. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: Teacher Salary Data Reporting
Please read this memo regarding upcoming updates to the Chart of Accounts. The guidance takes effect January 1, 2023, for expenditures reported by July 31, 2023. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions.
REMINDER: Form 9 Financial Data July to December 2022
Please read the following memo regarding updates for the July to December 2022 Form 9 financial data submission. The due date for the financial data is January 31, 2023. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Finance with any questions. Please include the school’s four-digit school corporation number in the subject line of the email.
REMINDER: School Improvement Plans
IDOE is accepting Comprehensive Needs Assessment/School Improvement Plans (CNA/SIP) through Friday, October 7. Use of the template fulfills all school improvement plan requirements under state law, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), as well as requirements for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI), Additional Targeted Support schools (ASTI), and CNA requirements for Title I Schoolwide Programs. This memo provides additional information. The SIP template can be downloaded here. Contact IDOE’s Office of School Support and Transformation with any questions.
NEW: Advanced Placement Teacher Investment Program (AP-TIP)
AP-TIP at the University of Notre Dame is accepting applications from schools to join Cohort 11. Visit here for more information about how AP-TIP supports stronger outcomes in AP math, science, and English courses across Indiana. AP-TIP will begin reviewing applications on October 14. Contact studentpathways_highability@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: AP-TIP Remote Teacher Collaborative
AP-TIP at the University of Notre Dame invites all AP math, science, and English teachers to attend the next Remote Teacher Collaborative on Tuesday, October 4, at 7:30 p.m. ET. These one-hour, online sessions offer a convenient space for teachers to connect, share, and learn from AP leaders. Learn more, see the full schedule, and register online here. Contact studentpathways_highability@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Graduation Pathways Eligible Certification Update
The 2022-2023 Industry Certifications Eligible for Graduation Pathways was released earlier this month by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD). Due to the timing of the release of this year’s list, certifications that were on the Graduation Pathways approved list for the 2021-2022 school year, but were removed for the 2022-2023 school year will be honored for high school seniors and adults who are currently in pursuit of one of these credentials for the current school year. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Pathways and Opportunities with any questions.
NEW: English Learner (EL) 101 Sessions Available
New EL 101 sessions can be found in the Indiana English Learners Community in Moodle and IDOE’s English Learning and Migrant Education webpage. More sessions will be coming soon. Topics include:
- EL 101 Part 1 - An Introduction to English Learning
- EL 101 Part 2 - Enrolling ELs
- EL 101 Part 3 - Identifying Potential ELs
- EL 101 Part 4 - Providing English Language Development Services
- EL 101 Part 5 - Funding EL Programs
Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
NEW: Indiana Learns Learning Partner Application
Indiana Learns is a statewide microgrant program dedicated to empowering families of qualifying fourth and fifth grade students with grants to select from out-of-school tutoring options in reading and math. These tutoring options will be provided through an network of learning partners, vetted and approved to support students. Indiana Learns is now accepting applications to serve as a learning partner. Learning partner applications are being accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed for approval monthly. Schools or school corporations may apply to serve as learning partners when they become Champion Plus partners by providing a match of $250 of federal funds per eligible student. This match will allow eligible students to receive $1,000 toward academic recovery. In order to be included in the initial round of Champion Plus partners, you must notify Indiana Learns by tomorrow, Saturday, October 1, though applications will be accepted for future rolling approvals Contact Seana Murphy with Indiana Learns or IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
NEW: Get Your Teach On - On-Demand Sessions in the Indiana Learning Lab
IDOE has partnered with Get Your Teach On to host workshops throughout the state for administrators and teachers to celebrate education and discuss the important work happening in our schools. These workshops and training opportunities were recorded and can be accessed in the Indiana Learning Lab! View this resource for more information on available sessions, and contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
NEW: IDOE’s Office of Special Education and IN*SOURCE Office Hours
Join IDOE’s Office of Special Education and IN*SOURCE from noon to 1 p.m. and again from 6 to 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 25, for virtual office hours. Office hours will occur on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the same times throughout the 2022-2023 school year. The first session will be Developing a Meaningful Transition Individualized Educational Program (IEP). Join either session via Zoom using this link. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
NEW: Free Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Membership for First and Second Year Special Education Teachers
The CEC, Indiana Council for Exceptional Children (INCEC), and IDOE collaborated to provide one-year full memberships for CEC and INCEC, as well as registration to the CEC 2023 virtual convention to first- and second-year special education teachers. Educators currently completing courses to achieve special education licensure also qualify for this opportunity. Recipients will be offered professional development materials and access to local and statewide resources and events. Complete this form to indicate first- and second-year special education teachers. Contact IDOE’s Office of Special Education with any questions.
REMINDER: Apply for the Indiana Learns Review Committee
Indiana Learns is a statewide grant program that will provide qualifying families with up to $1,000 to spend on math and English/language arts high-dosage tutoring and approved out-of-school academic programs for their students. All learning partners will go through an application and approval process before being listed as eligible providers in the Indiana Learns platform. Indiana Learns is seeking interested stakeholders to serve on the review committee, which will meet bi-monthly to review and score learning partner applications virtually, as needed. A detailed description of the committee can be found here. The first meeting will be held on Monday, October 3, from 9 to 11 a.m. ET. Contact Seana Murphy if you are interested in serving on this committee. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
REMINDER: Requesting Technical Assistance
IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility is dedicated to effectively and efficiently responding to the needs of schools, and you may now request free technical assistance directly from IDOE for targeted support for a need or issue. Review IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility webpage and find additional information on technical assistance here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Student Support and Accessibility with any questions.
REMINDER: Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Part B Grant Period Closes Today
All FY 2021 IDEA Part B grant budget modification requests are due today, Friday, September 30. Please note that all FY 2021 Part B funds must be encumbered by this date, and all FY 2021 Part B grant reimbursement requests must be submitted by Thursday, December 15. Contact partbgrants@doe.in.gov with any questions.
NEW: Grade Six Civics Course FAQ Now Available
IDOE compiled a FAQ document to assist schools as they prepare for the implementation of the new grade six civics course during the 2023-2024 school year. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with questions.
NEW: Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Educator Series - 2022 Grade Five Science Standards and Frameworks
The sixth presentation in the NGSS series will be held at 11:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, October 4, in the Indiana Learning Lab. Join IDOE’s STEM team and science educator Ryan Mitchell to learn more about the 2022 Grade Five Science Standards and Frameworks. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: Math Learning Recovery Series Coming Soon
While students are stabilizing and recovering from the academic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many educators are looking for the best ways to continue to meet students’ needs. Join this four-part series to learn how to accelerate student learning in K-8 math with an emphasis on content prioritization, addressing student learning gaps, and instructional strategies. A final installment will provide an overview for administrators with tips about how to support teachers in this work. The first installment will take place on Tuesday, October 4, at 4 p.m. ET. Register for these sessions here. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: Virtual Learning Blitz - A Micro Conference for Leaders
The Virtual Learning Blitz Conference will be held at the University of Notre Dame on Saturday, November 19. This one-day event will focus on the most important research-based strategies for high-quality blended and virtual learning and is geared towards those in curriculum leadership roles. Learn more about the conference and speakers by reading this flyer. Register here to attend this conference. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: Summer of Learning 2023 Grant
IDOE’s 2023 Summer of Learning Grant application is open through Friday, October 28. This grant will support local school corporations interested in hosting a conference during summer 2023 the Summer of Learning conference series. The conference series will offer opportunities to connect with innovative, technology-enhanced pedagogy related to multiple strands. For more information, see this memo and join the live Summer of Learning Grant kickoff informational meeting at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 5. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: Fall 2022 Digital Learning Grant Recipients Announced
IDOE is pleased to announce the fall 2022 Digital Learning Grant recipients. This competitive grant opportunity continues the work around high-quality blended and online teaching practices by focusing on three strands concerning best practices for blended and online learning, training, support of universal design for learning (UDL), and the purchase and training of assistive technologies. Twenty-eight school corporations will be receiving these grant funds. IDOE appreciates all grant applicants for their time and commitment in applying for this opportunity. For more information and the list of recipients, please view this memo. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
NEW: October Professional Development (PD) with IDOE
New sessions for October PD with IDOE are scheduled in the Indiana Learning Lab. The first session will be Supporting Families with Indiana Learns on Wednesday, October 5, led by Seana Murphy, Senior Director of State Programs for Indiana Learns. View the October flyer for a complete list of sessions for the month. To register for workshops, create a free Learning Lab account by visiting the LINK Portal or the Indiana Learning Lab website directly and use your school email to log in. View previous session via the on-demand learning section. Contact IDOE’s Office of Digital Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: K-8 STEM Certification Open Office Hours
Join IDOE’s STEM team during open office hours to discuss questions regarding the 2022-2023 K-8 STEM School Certification process. Join on Tuesday, October 18, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. ET to ask questions, get feedback, and share ideas. Contact stemcertification@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: STEM Certification Spotlight with Area 31 Career Center
A STEM Certification Spotlight with Area 31 Career Center will be held on Monday, October 3, at 4 p.m. ET in the Indiana Learning Lab. Join IDOE’s STEM team and educators Patrick Biggerstaff and Dennis Lindley to learn more about Area 31’s journey to STEM Certification. Register for this event via the live learning calendar. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
REMINDER: Public Comment Now Open for Indiana Academic Standards for Health and Physical Education (PE)
The Indiana Academic Standards for Health and PE are available for public comment now through Monday, October 17. Please click here to access links to the public comment forms for specific grade levels, grade bands, and content areas. IDOE invites all stakeholders to share their feedback during this time. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with questions.
REMINDER: Indiana Academic Standards for Fine Arts: Educators Needed for Review Committees
Pursuant to Indiana Code 20-31-3, IDOE reviews the Indiana Academic Standards every six years. The standards for fine arts were last reviewed in 2017 and are once again ready for review. IDOE is seeking K-12 arts educators to take part in upcoming standards review committees. Any interested educators must complete this JotForm application by Friday, October 7. Contact IDOE’s Office of Teaching and Learning with any questions.
NEW: Out-of-School Time Programming for English Learners
IDOE is pleased to release new resources to support out-of-school time programming for English learners. More than one in 10 Indiana students speaks a language other than English, and OST programs are uniquely situated to celebrate and support these students. Learn more about the OST for ELs Toolkit here:
IDOE has also developed two Moodle courses to introduce and expand the toolkit content, one track for program administrators, and a separate track for frontline program staff. These courses each contain five self-paced learning modules aligned to the five chapters of the toolkit and include reflection and application activities to enhance learning. Contact lbohlen@doe.in.gov with any questions.
REMINDER: Charter School Program - Quality Counts Grant Request for Proposal (RFP) Now Available
IDOE’s Office of Charter Schools and Special Programs is pleased to announce the release of the RFP for Cohort 6 of the Charter School Program - Quality Counts Grant. Please visit IDOE’s Charter School Program webpage and navigate to the Quality Counts Grant dropdown menu for grant materials and guidance documents. Applications are due by Monday, October 31, at 12:30 p.m. ET. Contact IDOE’s Office of Charter Schools and Special Programs with any questions.
NEW FROM INDIANA SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTED LICENSURE (I-SEAL): Assistance for Passing Praxis Tests
I-SEAL is offering two workshops to help staff prepare to retake the Praxis tests. The workshop for Praxis 5543: Mild Interventions will be held on Saturday, October 8. The workshop for Praxis 5625: Principles of Learning and Learning will be held on Saturday, October 29. These free workshops are led by special education professors from the University of Indianapolis and are held via Zoom. Educators that pass the Praxis test(s) will be eligible to receive reimbursement from I-SEAL if they participate. I-SEAL has helped more than 600 educators on their path to special education licensure, and is available to assist more Hoosiers financially in this process. Visit I-SEAL’s website to complete the interest form. Contact Dana Jones, Senior Project Coordinator with I-SEAL, with any questions.
NEW FROM IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE: New Dual Credit Course Available
This academic year, Ivy Tech Community College is offering a new dual credit course IVYT 106 (Career Exploration) designed to enhance students' post-secondary readiness, specifically in the areas of college and careers. This course assists students in obtaining the skills necessary to identify their life, educational, and career goals aligned with their interests and abilities. This course helps students identify and use career development resources, demonstrate decision-making, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, and build awareness of professional networking within the global marketplace. This course crosswalks with the secondary course Career Information & Exploration (DOE# 0522).
Contact the Office of K-14 Initiatives at your local Ivy Tech campus with any questions.
REMINDER FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR: Hoosier Holidays Program
The annual Hoosier Holidays program will take place from 11 a.m. to noon ET on Tuesday, December 6, at the Indiana Statehouse. The theme for this year’s program is Holiday Harvest from Your Hoosier Homestead. Educators of second, third, and fifth grade students and their respective classes are invited to participate in decorating ornaments for the Statehouse trees. Additional details, including ornament requirements can be found here. Contact Marianne Molony with any questions.
REMINDER FROM GIRLS WHO CODE: Get $300 for Club Supplies
Schools that initiate a free Girls Who Code Club this school year and enroll three or more members will be eligible to receive up to $300 to purchase materials and supplies for your club. There’s no obligation, and every club gains access to 120+ hours of plug-and-play programming with Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) standards-aligned coding lessons. Indicate your involvement with IDOE on the application to unlock additional support, access to special events, and exclusive opportunities for swag. No coding experience is required! Learn more via live and on-demand webinars from the Girls Who Code team and sign up here. Contact Girls Who Code with any questions.
REMINDER FROM PURDUE UNIVERSITY: Eighth-Annual Indiana STEM Education Conference
Purdue University invites you to join the eighth-annual Indiana STEM Education Conference. The conference will be held in-person on January 12, 2023, at Purdue University. The theme for the 2023 conference is “Advancing STEM with Students.” The conference will include keynote speaker Sharita Ware, over 50 presentations on STEM curriculum, instruction, careers, and research, and networking with STEM education sponsors. Topics will involve 1st Maker Space, CATALYST, Get More Math, Keep Indiana Learning, NearSpace Education, and TinkRworks, and presentation resources. Educators may also receive Professional Growth Points. Registration will open Tuesday, October 4. Visit the conference webpage to learn more.
REMINDER FROM THE OFFICE OF THE LT. GOVERNOR: My Community, My Vision
Last month, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) announced a revamp to the My Community, My Vision (MCMV) program, which connects high school students across Indiana to each other and their neighborhoods, towns and cities. Local units of government and community foundations interested in having their youth council participate in the My Community, My Vision program should apply here. Applications are due to IHCDA by Monday, November 7, with selected teams to be announced Wednesday, November 30. The selected teams will officially kick off with a workshop event in Indianapolis on January 21, 2023. IHCDA will host an informational webinar on Tuesday, October 4, at 1 p.m. EST. Contact IHCDA’s Placemaking Manager Meagan Heber to RSVP to the webinar, or with any questions.
REMINDER FROM HOLIDAY CARDS 4 OUR MILITARY CHALLENGE: Send in Your Holiday Cards
Schools and students across Indiana are encouraged to submit holiday cards for our active duty military service members. Please address the card to “Dear Warrior,” and write a holiday greeting or personal note while signing your first name and hometown. All cards must be mailed by Friday, November 18. More information is available here. Contact Laura Landerman-Garber at holidaycardsnh@gmail.com with any questions.
REMINDER FROM THE INDIANA STATE LITERACY ASSOCIATION: INDIANA STATE LITERACY CONFERENCE
Celebrating Diverse Voices is the theme of the Saturday, October 8, Indiana State Literacy Conference at Noblesville High School. The keynote speaker will be Matt De La Peňa, Newbery Medal-winning author of seven young adult novels and six picture books. Find more information and register for this opportunity here. Contact the Indiana State Literacy Association with any questions.
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