District Administration

How Spring Grove Area School District is Empowering Educators

Many districts are challenged by outdated, costly and inefficient processes when it comes to the purchasing and procurement of instructional resources, which can frustrate teachers and staff and create significant waste.In this podcast, the recently retired superintendent of the Spring Grove Area School District (Penn.) will discuss how the district found ways to better support teachers and staff with the educational resources they needed, which had a direct impact on student academic outcomes, while reducing costs and improving visibility and efficiency.Speakers:Dr. George IoannidisSuperintendent (Retired)Spring Grove Area School District (Penn.)Brett TusonDirector of EducationAmazon Businessbusiness.amazon.com/education

Assessing your MTSS Implementation for Effectiveness and Equity

In this episode, experts discuss the effectiveness of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) in schools, covering equity promotion, learning gaps, and the importance of various instructional strategies. Dr. Robert Arzawicki of Renaissance Learning highlights the role of foundational literacy in educational success, while Farah Asaraj from the Council of the Great City Schools stresses the need for systemic, equitable MTSS practices to aid all students, especially multilingual learners and those with disabilities. The conversation underscores the broadening scope of MTSS to encompass behavioral and emotional support and the push for culturally responsive assessments. With a growing trend towards MTSS adoption for equitable student outcomes, listeners are directed to resources from state guidelines, Renaissance Learning, and the Council of the Great City Schools for further exploration, positioning the podcast as a vital tool for enhancing MTSS strategies and fostering educational change.

District Administration: The Changing Face of School Security

Reflecting on Resilience: Cultivating a Culture of Belonging and Balance

Chaos to Calm: Improving School Culture Through an Adults-First Approach

What K-12 Leaders Can Learn from Alternative Delivery Construction Projects

Over the years, Director of Purchasing Gary Kerbow has been tasked with daunting construction projects when helping Hurst Euless Bedford ISD expand.Once, the board of trustees needed a recently acquired building up and running as quickly as possible, but copper thieves had looted the entire infrastructure, requiring extensive rewiring. Another time, Gary had to determine the full scope of repairs when creating offices for new management staff in an existing warehouse space.Most construction veterans would consider these requests near impossible, and they would be if Gary didn’t have certain procedures and tools in place. In this podcast, Gary will speak about the lessons he’s learned from these and other projects at a number of school districts in North Texas.Key Takeaways: o What superintendents need to know when assigning similar time-sensitive tasks o Best practices for vetting vendors to ensure difficult projects are completed on time o When procurement directors need to reconsider where and how they procure critical parts o How staffing levels and needs impact renovation/construction projects o How to streamline construction projects through collaboration and communication o Ways to innovate the scope of work for all contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers SpeakersGary Kerbow, Director of Purchasing, Hurst Euless Bedford ISD817-399-2036garykerbow@hebisd.eduWill Leisure, Account Manager, Gordianw.leisure@gordian.com817-964-7441RESOURCESK12 Contact: K12Team@gordian.comhttps://www.gordian.com/solutions/industry/k-12/