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A message from the
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education

July 26, 2021
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News from Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Contents:

  1. School Gardens
  2. Picture of the Week: Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year
  3. Free Planning and Learning Opportunities from LearnLaunch
  4. DESE Resource Corner: New Digital Literacy and Computer Science Curriculum Guide
  5. New MTEL for DLCS Licensure

1. School Gardens:


The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and Massachusetts Farm to School are conducting a survey to understand how school gardens operate across the state and what resources are needed to better support school gardens. We hope school principals will consider completing this brief survey (or forward it to the appropriate representative from their school). The survey results will help inform professional development opportunities offered by state agencies and non-profit partners.
 
On Wednesday, August 4, principals are invited to join Massachusetts Farm to School for a special webinar, "Why Farm to School Now? Using Gardens and Outdoor Spaces for Safe and Outdoor Learning." This session will feature principals discussing the ways that garden-based and outdoor learning experiences can help schools safely welcome back their whole student population this fall and provide unique opportunities to support students’ social and emotional learning after such a challenging year. Register for the session here.
 
Visit the Massachusetts Farm to School website to learn about additional upcoming or recorded professional development opportunities related to school gardens as well as links to food and garden-based lessons. In the 2021-2022 school year, the organization is expanding its Harvest of the Month program for stronger integration in the school classroom.
Christina O'Connor

2. Picture of the Week: Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Christina O’Connor, a social studies teacher at Hingham High School who recently became the 2021 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year! The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History presents the award annually and will announce National History Teacher of the Year finalists from the pool of state winners in the fall. Ms. O’Connor received her bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College and her master’s degree in teaching social studies from Brown University. She has taught Advanced Placement U.S. History, American studies, the American political system, and two original senior seminars on the Civil Rights Movement and World War II. She has also been recognized by and active with the National History Day organization. Congratulations, Ms. O’Connor!

3. Free Planning and Learning Opportunities from LearnLaunch:


In partnership with DESE, LearnLaunch is offering the following two opportunities:
 
1.) The Lead for Equity Three-Part Series discusses the importance of actively combating the systemic inequities that produce gaps in educational opportunities and achievement. Leading for equity includes ensuring that all stakeholders are equipped with a common language to discuss equity and examine their own beliefs and practices to address potential implicit biases. It also includes auditing and examining school policies, practices, and curricula to ensure they are inclusive and free from biases. Participants are welcome to attend any one or all three of the workshops in the series. 2.) The Positive Adult Relationships workshop will help school and district leaders build a strong adult culture and community in their building(s). Participants will learn about a staff relationship mapping tool that is in development by the Making Caring Common Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. This 90-minute workshop will be offered at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 12; at  11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 18; and at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 19. Explore the Building Blocks tool for additional resources.

4. DESE Resource Corner:


New Digital Literacy and Computer Science Curriculum Guide: The Department has contracted with STEM Learning Design to publish an enhanced DLCS Curriculum Guide for 2021. The guide provides overviews of curricula that districts can use to engage students in learning concepts and skills in the 2016 DLCS Framework. The guide is divided into grade spans and provides guidance on curriculum pairings to comprehensively address the DLCS Frameworks. Each curriculum overview describes standards alignment, key instructional features, costs (if any), and professional development offerings. Each evaluation also includes indicators for assessment, differentiation, English learner, and culturally responsive supports. Districts are encouraged to review their existing DLCS curricula by using the appendices in the guide to identify any gaps in coverage and then select curricula from the guide to fill those gaps.

5. New MTEL for DLCS Licensure:


The Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) will be available in late September! Once the MTEL becomes available, the competency review process for DLCS licensure will end. This is the case regardless of where a candidate is in their pursuit of a DLCS license, including those enrolled in an educator preparation program. Please note that there is a delay in score reporting when a new test is first released. Information about what will be on the test can be found on the Pearson MTEL webpage. Candidates can register for the test on the Evaluation Systems Group (ES) of Pearson website.
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