Cultivating Awareness and Empathy Through Art-Making  
Monday, August 1, 2022; form 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. 
@ The Gateway Center Collinsville, IL


Registration: 8:30-9 a.m.
Workshop: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Visual art explorations can drive the development of critical social emotional skills including awareness and empathy. Join Jonathan Juravich as we explore resources and creative hands-on approaches that bring these critical skills to the center of an art curriculum. Attendees will take time to reflect on their current practices, dream up new possibilities, and we will most certainly do some art-making while we are at it. 


Jonathan Juravich is the art teacher at Liberty Tree Elementary School with the Olentangy Local Schools outside of Columbus, Ohio. At Liberty Tree, he serves as a leader of the school's Culture and Environment. He is the 2018 Ohio Teacher of the Year and was one of four finalists for 2018 National Teacher of the Year. His personal and professional focus is on the importance of Social and Emotional Learning in our daily lives. This is the topic of his presentations, including his TED Talk “How Do We Teach Empathy,” his limited series podcast "The Art of SEL," and his Emmy award winning digital drawing program "Drawing with Mr. J."

This workshop is free thanks to the ISBE SEL Hub grant and co-sponsored by the Area 5 ROEs (ROE 3, 40, 41, 45, 50) Any questions, please contact: Ryan Wamser rwamser@roe40.com


Registration: https://forms.gle/NG85gtQsgmuTYU1w7

We at ROE 40 are here to help those who seek to further their education.
​Please share this information with anyone who could benefit from it. 

The Two-Year, Online Bachelor’s Completion Program will Launch in Fall 2022 as part of an ongoing effort to address the shortage of qualified early childhood professionals in Illinois, Blackburn College is launching a streamlined pathway to earn a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. The fully online Current Workforce Early Childhood Degree Program is designed for working early childcare professionals who are seeking additional credentials and to complete a bachelor’s degree in just two years. 
This new degree is part of a broader effort through participation in the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) program to address the shortage of qualified early childhood educators in the state of Illinois. Created through IL Public Act 102-0174, the College will collaborate with other participating consortium members to improve pathways to degrees, credentials, and other licensure endorsements. 
As a consortium member institution, prospective Blackburn students can apply for scholarships. PELL, MAP and a specially designated ECACE scholarship from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) are available to cover the total cost of attendance, including books, fees, technology and transportation.
“Access to early childhood is an absolutely critical component in the development of children, which makes it essential for educators to have the best possible training for the field,” Dr. Cindy Rice, Blackburn Department of Teacher Education Chair, said. The program was developed to allow individuals to remain in their current paid position while completing a bachelor’s degree. “If you presently work in a daycare center, provide licensed care in your home, work with Head Start, or as a paraprofessional in a school setting working with children in pre-K to second grade — you are a perfect fit for this opportunity. The only requirement is that you plan to continue working in the industry,” she explained.
Rice added, “Blackburn has always been committed to eliminating the barriers to a life-changing higher education. For early childhood workers, that means developing a flexible, online program to accommodate busy working schedules and ensuring federal and state assistance is available to reduce the financial burden of continuing education.”
Individuals who would like to learn more about Blackburn’s Current Workforce Early Childhood Degree Program are welcome to attend one of two free Zoom information sessions held on Monday, June 20, 2022, and Thursday, June 23, 2022, at 7:00 pm. Learn more about the program, information sessions, admissions requirements and opportunities for financial assistance at blackburn.edu/eceonline.
About Blackburn College
Founded in 1837, Blackburn College is a four-year, Presbyterian-related, co-educational liberal arts college located in Carlinville, IL. One of only ten federally-recognized Work Colleges, Blackburn has the only program in the nation fully managed by students. Balancing academic rigor and experiential learning, each student at Blackburn gains tangible experience and develops critical skills by contributing to their community, all while building a resume and earning their degree. U.S. News & World Report recognized Blackburn College as one of the top Liberal Arts Colleges in the Nation for Social Mobility in their Best Colleges lists for 2020, 2021, and 2022. The Center for Education & the Workforce at Georgetown University ranked Blackburn as a top performer for Earnings-Price Return – 209% (#1 in Illinois, #10 in the U.S.) and Net Price (#1 in Illinois; #11 in the U.S.). The Washington Monthly twice ranked Blackburn as the best baccalaureate college in Illinois.

All information provided in this post was copied from:  https://blackburn.edu/blackburn-announces-new-degree-program-to-strengthen-early-childhood-workforce-in-illinois/

Check at this video for tips and tricks on incorporating Canva and Wakelet into your digital tool bag. 

​*Area V Early Childhood Conference*

When: Tuesday, June 7, 2022
             8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.)

Where: Regency Conference Center in O' Fallon, IL

PD Hours: 6.0
Cost: $50/participant (A light lunch & breakfast will be provided)


Join the Area V Regional Offices of Education for an Early Childhood Conference on June 7th! This event will have numerous national speakers including Donna Whyte as our keynote! Our target audience for this event is, but not limited to, Birth to 3 teachers , Parent Educators, Preschool & Kindergarten teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and preschool directors. Register early as the event is capped at 200 participants.  Funding for this conference is through the Area V McKinney-Vento for Homeless Education and Youth. Payment needs to be remitted to:  ROE #3, 1500 W. Jefferson St., Vandalia, IL 62471.


Registration: https://forms.gle/4xoEpWjGhZa9Mums5

Conference Booklet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-uLqTBPlJXQSW9ZGQnkhXVRHL8ie01Re/view?usp=sharing


*Directions Conference*

When: Wednesday, June 8, 2022
             8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.)

Where: Regency Conference Center in O' Fallon, IL

PD Hours: 6.0
Cost: FREE!  (Lunch on your own)

The Directions Conference is back for 2022!  Our biggest news is that we are in-person and FREE!  See directionsconference.com for the latest details and registration.  FLYER

RELEVANT, SEL-RELATED TOPICS from REGIONAL/NATIONAL EXPERTS:

• Poverty
• The Tech/SEL Convergence
• Media Literacy
• LGBTQ+
• Hacking Systems for SEL Program Development
• Micro-Rest Strategies
• Visual Thinking
• AA #1860 "Leveraging Cultural Differences to Promote Diversity and Equity"

YES, WE ARE FREE!

• Supported by ISBE's Area 5 SEL Hub Grant
• Even the Admin Academy is free
• Limited to first 300 registrants.  If you are only a 'maybe', let someone who is a 'yes!' have the seat. 
• Individual registration
• For groups, email Matt for a spreadsheet:  mweld@roe3.org
• 6 PD Hours available.

We look forward to seeing you in June!  Send all questions to Matt:  mweld@roe3.org

​The following information is provided by the Illinois State Board of Education:
 
Governor Pritzker recently signed two laws that reduce educator license renewal requirements for the 2021-2022 school year (fiscal year 2022). Each law is effective immediately.

• Public Act 102-0730 waives the Administrator Academy requirement for administrators.

 

• Public Act 102-0852 reduces the professional development hours required for renewal by 20% for any renewal cycle that includes the 21-22 school year (FY 22.)

 
Below are responses to commonly asked questions for each law.
 
Q&A for PA 102-0730

1. Should educators renew now to take advantage of the AA waiver? The ELIS developers are working on the coding changes in ELIS and plan to have changes in place by May 23, 2022.  The change requires ELIS to be re-coded to accept a waiver during this fiscal year. Educators should not renew their licenses until the ELIS update is complete.
2. When will ELIS be updated to reflect the new law?  ELIS will be updated by May 23, 2022. In the meantime, educators who login to ELIS will see a banner of text on their home page and Professional Development page that alerts them of the new laws and urges them to wait to renew until after May 23, 2022. Educators who renew prior the ELIS updates will not receive the AA waiver. If the ELIS changes are completed early, the banner will be removed by ISBE and communication will be sent to the field.
3. If an administrator already took an AA this fiscal year, can this AA rollover to next year? No. The School Code does not permit Administrator Academies to roll over to the following fiscal year.
4. If an administrator already took an AA this fiscal year, can this AA convert to PD? Yes. The PD will also be eligible to rollover to the next fiscal year if the academy was taken between April 1 and June 30, 2022 of the last year of the educator’s renewal cycle.
5. How does this law impact administrators who owe a penalty AA from the last fiscal year? Administrators who owe a penalty AA from FY 21 still owe that penalty AA and their FY 21 AA for a total of two AAs that need to be completed.  Without the new law, they would need to complete three. 
6. What if an educator already renewed their license during this fiscal year? The law is only applicable to individuals who have not yet renewed their license.
7. Does the Administrator Academy exemption apply to Illinois principal and superintendent program completers? No, the exemption is only for license renewal. Individuals going through principal and superintendent programs must still complete the evaluator training Administrative Academy since it is part of their preparation program.

 
 
 
Q&A for PA 102-0852:

• Should educators renew now to take advantage of the PD Reduction? The ELIS developers are working on the coding changes in ELIS and plan to have changes in place by May 23, 2022.  The change requires ELIS to be re-coded to provide educators with a 20% reduction of the hours they owe. Educators should not renew their licenses until the ELIS update is complete.
• When will ELIS be updated to reflect the new law?  ELIS will be updated by May 23, 2022. In the meantime, educators who login to ELIS will see a banner of text on their home page and Professional Development page that alerts them of the new laws and urges them to wait to renew until after May 23, 2022. Educators who renew prior the ELIS updates will not receive the PD reduction. If the ELIS changes are completed early, the banner will be removed by ISBE and communication will be sent to the field.
• What if an educator already renewed their license during this fiscal year? The law is only applicable to individuals who have not yet renewed their license.
• What will this change look like in ELIS?  Educators who work in a teaching, administrative, or school support personnel position during the 2021-2022 school year will receive a credit on their professional development page that is a 20% reduction based on the professional development hours.
• Who is eligible for the reduction? Any educator who meets the following criteria will receive a PD credit for FY 22 (SY 21-22):
  • Educator holds a professional educator license (PEL)
  • License was issued on or before June 30, 2021 and includes FY 22 as part of their 5-year cycle
  • Educator was employed in a public, charter, or state-operated school during FY 22 (school year 2021-2022) and reported by their district as a teacher, administrator, or school support personnel for FY 22/SY 2021-2022
  • If the license is up for renewal this year, the license has not yet been renewed.
• If an educator holds a renewable license or approval other than a professional educator licensure (PEL), (e.g., an Educator License with Stipulations endorsed for Transitional Bilingual Educator or an Educator License with Stipulations endorsed for Career and Technical Educator) what reduction do they receive? The law is specific to PEL holders. If educators do not hold a PEL, they are not eligible for a reduction.
• Are holders of substitute teaching licenses or paraprofessional licenses eligible for a waiver? These licenses do not require PD, so no reduction will be given to these license holders.
•  By how many hours will educators’ professional development requirements be reduced?
  • Teachers: 24 hours
  • School Support Personnel: 24 hours
  • Administrators: 20 hours (because administrators need 100 hours for renewal)
  • Educators who hold active National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification at any time during their license cycle: 12 hours (because these educators need 60 hours for renewal)
• What if an educator’s employment position is listed incorrectly in ELIS? Educators must contact their school district and ask them to update the position in the Employment Information System. Educators should then email pdprovider@isbe.net and include their name, IEIN, and a request for the PA 102-0852 20% PD reduction be added to their ELIS account.
• If an educator already completed all required PD hours for their cycle, how does this waiver impact them? PD completed by the educator between April 1 and June 30 of the last year of their license cycle can be rolled over to the next license cycle if the 20% reduction caused the educator to have more than the required hours of PD necessary for renewal.
• How does this reduction impact educators who are retired, part-time (less than 50% full-time equivalent), or exempt in FY 22/SY 2021-2022? These educators are not required to complete PD this year, so they will not receive a reduction.

 
 
 
New Laws Provide Flexibility for Educators and Districts
 
In addition to the previous information, Governor Pritzker recently signed a suite of bills that reduce burdens or provide greater flexibility to educators and districts in specific situations. See a summary of each new law below.
 
Public Act 102-0710 reduces the license reinstatement penalty fee from $500 to $50. The law is effective immediately. Educators can reinstate their license by logging into their ELIS account and applying for reinstatement.
 
Public Act 102-0711 allows educators enrolled in approved preparation programs to be eligible for a substitute teaching license if they have completed 90 semester hours of credit. The law is effective January 1, 2023. Applications received on or after this date will be evaluated under the new requirements.
 
Public Act 102-0712 allows an individual holding a short-term substitute teaching license to teach up to 15 consecutive days (instead of 5) per licensed teacher during a disaster proclamation. The law is effective immediately.
 
Public Act 102-0713 allows individuals to obtain an Educator License with Stipulations endorsed for Paraprofessional (ELS-PARA) at age 18 (instead of 19) if the educator will be working with students in grades PK-8. The law is effective January 1, 2023 and ELIS will be updated on that date to allow individuals who are age 18 to apply for paraprofessional licensure.