Greetings!
Happy New Year! We are excited to be jumping into a new calendar year. The spirit of collaboration and strong performance in our grants is ever present, and we are so thankful for that. Continue reading for the latest information and updates from our team. As always, we are here to support you, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Regards,
The Strong Foundations Team
Milestones
Past Due Action Items
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Action Plans: Submit completed action plans to your approved provider.
Action Items
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Collaborate with Implementation Advisor to conduct Winter Learning Walks (Due February 14)
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Professional Learning and Flexible Supports
- Plan with your approved provider (Product Advisor) for the delivery of professional learning and flexible supports for district and school leaders, coaches, and teachers.
- Connect with Implementation Advisors to schedule mid-year step-back meetings to analyze successes and plan for systemic adjustments.
Reminders and Next Steps
Reminder: Upcoming Leader Community of Practice (CoP) Opportunities
The SFI Implementation Team is excited to announce the opportunity to join a community of practice for leaders to collaborate, reflect, and share experiences. Sign up for Leader CoP Sessions and please invite other district and school leaders who would like to participate.
The SFI Executive Leader CoP sessions provide collaborative learning for district executive leaders implementing HQIM. It is a platform for leaders to engage in short bouts of new learning from a featured keynote speaker, while also experiencing focused small-group discussions.
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Executive Leader CoP Sessions
- January 9, 2025, 9:00–10:30 a.m. - Aligning Educator Experience, Selection, Support, and Collaboration to HQIM (Talent Management focus – please invite human resources team members, hiring managers, and campus principals)
- March 13, 2025, 9:00–10:30 a.m. - Focusing on Continuous Improvement and Sustaining Implementation
The SFI School Leader CoP sessions allow school and program leaders to continuously improve HQIM practices on campus while building their capacity as instructional leaders. Leaders who attend these sessions will foster resiliency in their schools as they are equipped to support the strong continued use of HQIM for students. Each session will be delivered twice to provide flexibility in the leaders’ attendance.
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School Leader CoP Sessions:
- February 18 and 20, 2025, 10:00–11:30 a.m. - Sustaining the Change and Synthesizing the Learning
HELP NEEDED: Special Populations Needs Assessment. Last Chance, Act Now – Please help shape statewide instructional support programs for Special Populations!
- We need to hear from you! The Texas Education Agency is working to develop impactful programs and tools to support educators, schools, and students across the state. By completing and sharing a brief feedback survey you can help shape these critical resources.
- How You Can Get Involved: Complete a 15-Minute Survey: Share your needs, challenges, and perspectives to inform statewide support for educators working with special populations. Surveys are role-specific, so choose the one that best matches your position:
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Surveys close on January 13, 2025: Spread the Word! Please share the survey opportunity with colleagues across your LEAs, campuses, and professional networks to ensure diverse perspectives are represented. Thank you for partnering with us to enhance education and create meaningful change for educators and students across Texas.
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Special Populations Needs Assessment: Focus Groups/Interviews: Your voice, your impact! The Texas Education Agency is seeking educational leaders to participate in focus groups and interviews to share their experiences, challenges, and ideas around the topic of instructional resources and practices for students with disabilities and emergent bilingual students. Your valuable perspectives will shape programs and resources that directly support educators, schools, and students across the state. This is your opportunity to influence decisions that matter most to you and your community. Participate in a 45-minute focus group or 15-minute interview scheduled at your convenience by taking two minutes to sign up today. The last day to sign up is January 13, 2025, don’t delay, act today!
Reminder: HQIM Learning Labs
Spring dates are on the calendar! Spots fill up VERY fast, so please sign up soon! A couple of notes regarding Learning Labs:
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Filling out the form is a request for a visit. Visits are not guaranteed, and are dependent on group size, district capacity, etc.
- If you sign up for a visit, be sure that you are in frequent conversation with the Innovator district if changes need to be made.
Engagement Opportunities
We are always looking for ways to connect with our partners in the field!
From site visits, to review opportunities, to focus groups, there are numerous ways to connect with TEA and support the field of education. If you are interested in participating in an engagement opportunity, sign up by clicking the button below.
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