CES trains teachers and parents to communicate with students who have difficulty speaking
NORTHAMPTON: Imagine how frightening and isolating it would be if you couldn’t speak. Luckily there is an iPhone and iPad application that can help bridge the communication gap – and soon it will be even more effective. The Collaborative for Educational Services is hosting the first workshop on the newest version of Proloquo2Go on Thursday, May 17 from 1 – 3:30 p.m. at 97 Hawley Street in Northampton.
The free session will demonstrate the newest features of this powerful communication app, including new vocabulary options, editing functions, paging and color options, and how to create vocabularies for multiple users. The newest version of Proloquo2Go (2.0) is scheduled to be released in May. Speech-Language Pathologist, Jennifer Marden, will demonstrate the newest features of the application and walk teachers, paraprofessionals and parents through the different options available for students who have difficulty speaking. Marden has many years of experience working as both a software engineer and a Speech-Language Pathologist. She works as a consultant to Assistive Ware, the company that designed Proloquo2Go as well as many other assistive technology products for individuals with physical, vision, communication, and reading impairments.
As seating is limited, please register by contacting Sandi Sheehan at 413.584.1664 x 101 or
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CES to host workshop at Smith College with assistive technology pioneer Linda Burkhart
On May 9 and 10, educators and specialists working with individuals with complex communication needs will have an opportunity to learn from Linda Burkhart, an internationally known pioneer in the field of simplified technology for children with severe challenges. Burkhart, who has authored numerous books and software titles on assistive technology and augmentative communication will conduct a two-day workshop at Smith College on the Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display (PODD) approach to supporting communication in children who are nonspeaking or have only limited speech. The workshop is sponsored by the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES). American Speech-Language-Hearing Association CEUs are available. Professionals from the Collaborative’s member districts in Hampshire and Franklin Counties are eligible for discounted fees. For information and registration, visit collaborative.org/special-education/events or call Jill Robinson at 413.586.4900 x183.
April 12, 2012
Dean Technical High School is bouncing back
Channel 22 News recently covered the formation of the Dean Tech Futures Advisory Committee and the progress being made at Dean Technical High School in Holyoke. Read the story and watch the video here. The Collaborative for Educational Services currently serves as the educational management organization at Dean.
March 19, 2012
Dr. Ronald Ferguson to Speak about Achievement Gap at Free Public Forum in Amherst
On Wednesday, March 28, Amherst-Pelham Public Schools welcome Dr. Ronald Ferguson as featured speaker at a free public forum on education. Dr. Ferguson, a nationally renowned expert on the racial achievement gap, will speak at Amherst Regional High School Auditorium from 7-9pm as part of the Office of the Superintendent's initiative to bring the national discussion on education to the community. Parents, guardians, students, faculty, and community members are invited to attend. For more information, visit this video link. To reserve a seat, contact Kimberly Stender at 413-362-1825 or kstender[at]arps.org.
March 13, 2012
Area Special Olympians Compete in South Hadley
More great coverage of the winter Special Olympics games in South Hadley, this time by Etta Walsh for the Daily Hampshire Gazette.
March 7, 2012
Michael Smith Middle School in South Hadley Hosts Special Olympics Program
Read The Republican's coverage of last Friday's inspiring winter Special Olympics event in South Hadley. The winter event was organized by the Collaborative's Michael Topor in partnership with Special Olympics. (Article by Patricia Cahill)
March 7, 2012
CES Awarded with New State Contracts for Teacher Workshops
NORTHAMPTON: The Collaborative for Educational Services has been awarded two new state contracts totaling $360,000 to provide workshops designed to help teachers deliver a consistent curriculum to public school students throughout the Commonwealth.
Newly adopted Common Core Curriculum standards set clear expectations that all students will read proficiently by the end of third grade. But how teachers will accomplish that ambitious goal is a little less clear. A series of three professional development workshops conducted by educational experts in reading will help over 300 Massachusetts (K-4) teachers learn how to work with all students to best support the development of literacy skills. Web-based resources for teaching writing (in grades 4-12) will also be developed.
In addition, the Collaborative has been chosen to facilitate an advisory panel of national experts working with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to review model curriculum units designed by several hundred teachers of math, science, English language arts, history, and vocational subjects across the state.
The Collaborative has extensive experience developing and managing professional development. Over the past year, CES worked with over 9,600 teachers, specialists, and administrators in 79 school districts in Massachusetts and beyond, shaping learning and leadership at the policy, program and practice level.
February 24, 2012
Patriot Frieghtliner Donates Diesel Engine to Students with Interest in a Burgeoning Field
HOLYOKE: Patriot Freightliner, a Westfield-based company specializing in the sales and service of commercial trucks and tractors has donated a diesel engine valued at $21,000 to the Diesel Technology Department at William J. Dean Technical High School.
General Manager Deb Barss said the donation was intended to “give encouragement to students learning diesel technology and make a connection to the program so students can meet people in the field that they can talk to.” Barss said that while “many kids are tuned into computer science, software programming and business management these days,” she sees great opportunities in the diesel technology field where jobs are multiplying. “There isn’t anything sold in America that doesn’t get to its destination by truck,” Barss explained. She added that as diesel engines are becoming more and more sophisticated with computerized diagnostics and controls, “well-trained diesel technicians are in even greater demand throughout the region and nation.”
According to Barss who manages two Patriot Freightliner facilities, “We’re always looking for more diesel technicians – we’re never fully staffed.” She said her company “brings in a lot of young people, and provides a lot of training for new workers,” who can earn $18-35 per hour in positions requiring the training that a Dean Technical education provides. Patriot Freightliner and three other affiliated companies employ over 75 diesel technicians.
Dean Principal Jonathan Carter said “We are grateful to Patriot Freightliner for taking an interest in the education and success of our students and preparing them for opportunities in this growing field.” He added that the donation was just the beginning of the school’s relationship with Patriot Freightliner. “An important piece of our school restructuring effort is to develop and strengthen our ties with this partner and with businesses in the local community and around the region.”
January 19, 2012
Call for Presentation Proposals for 2012 Technology in Education Conference -- DEADLINE EXTENDED to February 2
The 2012 Technology in Education (TiE) Conference takes place on March 15 and the Conference Committee is seeking presentation proposals! The TiE Conference is organized by the Technology in Education Partnership of Western Massachusetts, whose mission is to plan, implement, and sustain the development of technology and electronic information resources in successful teaching and learning across all levels of education. The TiE Conference, held at Holyoke Community College's Kittredge Center, will feature sessions with local educators, a dynamic vendor fair, and opportunities for networking. Proposed presentations should be information, relevant, engaging, and supported by theory, research, and practice.
The deadline for proposal submission has been extended to midnight on February 2, 2012. For more information on the conference and to sumbit a proposal, visit the conference webpage.
January 10, 2012
CES's Executive Director Dr. Joan Schuman speaks to New England Public Radio about a senate bill proposing stricter oversight of state education collaboratives. Listen here.
January 10, 2012
Dean Tech Culinary Arts students serve up a bright future at community dinner
HOLYOKE: Students and staff of the Culinary Arts Department at Dean Technical High School are serving up a multi-course community dinner just before the annual Junior ROTC "Quinceañera" semi-formal dance, in celebration of their newly organized school. Dean Culinary Arts students will begin serving dinner at 5:00 PM on Friday, January 13th, in the school dining room at 1045 Main Street. Culinary instructor Marty Fullwood describes the event as a celebration of “the endless possibilities that are taking place at Dean right now.”
Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, MA Representative Michael Kane (D), Newton Mayor Setti Warren, School Superintendent David Dupont, as well as school committee members Devin Sheehan and Howard Greaney, and city councilors Aaron Vega, Todd Mcgee, David Bartley and Jay Ferriera will attend and speak at the event. Members of the public are welcome to attend the complementary community dinner. Reservations are accepted up through 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 12.
William J. Dean Vocational Technical High School offers career and technical programs for students in a wide variety of vocational areas. The school has been under the management of the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) since the start of the school year.
For event tickets and information, contact Marty Fullwood at 413-478-0742 or marty[at]martyfullwood.com.
January 9, 2012
Art exhibit organized by CES at Moakley Courthouse to display art projects from youth involved in the Department of Youth Services
BOSTON: Artwork created by DYS involved youth will be on exhibit at the Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston from January 16th through March 30th, 2012. The Art of Juvenile Justice: Innovative Practices for Youth Transformation exhibition is curated by the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) and DYS Arts Infusion Task Force, a statewide initiative whose purpose is to create access to and opportunities in the arts for youth involved with DYS.
The exhibit allows young people involved with DYS an opportunity to have their artwork be viewed and appreciated by people across the Commonwealth. The exhibition celebrates the artistic talents of the youth, and offers insights into their personal journey as they seek to reshape their lives and re-enter their communities as productive young citizens. The artwork was created by youth in both DYS residential programs, as well as by youth participating in programming in arts organizations in their communities.
DYS Commissioner Jane Tewksbury states “This artwork gives voice and expression to the complexity of the lives of our youth – it provides an opportunity for the youth to share their talents and creativity. The integration of art into our classrooms is an essential component of the treatment process for youth and the Department is pleased to be able to share our youth’s amazing gifts with the public.”
The demands of the 21st century workplace require youth to be equipped with a new set of skills, attitudes, and competencies. There is growing recognition that the arts are ideally suited to helping to cultivate a workforce that is prepared to lead and succeed in this new workplace. As one DYS youth said, “Being part of this, being involved with my art, has changed my world.”
Together with artists and artist organizations across the Commonwealth, the DYS Arts Infusion Task Force, has created opportunities for youth involved in DYS to participate in the creative arts as part of their transformation.
Pearl Harbor Survivor Talks to JROTC Students at Dean Technical High School About Sacrifice and Honor
HOLYOKE: On the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor earlier this month, Edward Borucki of Southampton returned to the naval base where he served as a chief petty officer on the USS Helena. Thirty-three of his shipmates were killed that historic day in 1941. Borucki also witnessed damage to two other neighboring ships, one overturned and one in flames.
On December 21st at 1 p.m., Borucki will share his story of survival, sacrifice and honor with history students and cadets from the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Dean Technical High School. A ceremony follows his speech, in which the JROTC classroom will be dedicated in honor of Borucki and other Pearl Harbor survivors. A plaque presented to Borucki at the ceremony will hang in the classroom, commemorating the sacrifice of these WWII veterans. An ice cream social caps-off the event, giving students a chance to get to know a veteran with a uniquely first-hand perspective on American military history.
“The JROTC program at Dean Technical High School offers students an opportunity to gain leadership skills through a structured program of discipline and academic support,” said Major William E. Kieda Jr., Senior Aerospace Science Instructor. The program is very popular among Dean Tech students, attracting nearly a quarter of the entire student body each year.
For more information about Dean Technical High School, visit: deantechpride.org.
December 8, 2011
CES and Library of Congress Partner On Workshop Giving Teachers New Ways to Engage Struggling Students Using Primary Sources
NORTHAMPTON: The Emerging America program of the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) is offering a free workshop to Valley teachers through its Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program. The workshop is for regular classroom teachers who need to engage an increasingly diverse student body in learning. The workshop will focus on using primary sources to teach literacy and history to students in grades 6-12 with a wide range of skills, learning styles, and economic and linguistic backgrounds. The two-day workshop will be held at 97 Hawley Street in Northampton on January 7 and February 11, from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Through the workshop, teachers will identify and access primary sources – images, maps, documents, sound files, and video-online at the Library of Congress. Participants will learn how to incorporate primary sources in inquiry-based learning techniques that engage a growing mix of diverse students and meet the new Common Core learning standards.
Presenting are Debbie Zacarian and Audrey Morse. Zacarian is Director of the Center for English Language Education and Advancing Student Achievement at CES and author of Transforming Schools for English Learners: a comprehensive framework for school leaders (2011). She has trained and consulted nationwide on English Language education, closing the achievement gap, and educational leadership. Morse has extensive experience as a speech and language pathologist and an ESL teacher, and has taught all ages, pre-k – adult.
Since 2006, CES has introduced hundreds of teachers to in-depth work with primary sources through its Emerging America: Teaching American History Program. In 2010, the Library of Congress awarded a grant to the Collaborative to serve as one of 28 Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Consortium members nationwide. CES provides professional development to teachers throughout Massachusetts in the use of the Library’s vast online resources.
CES Director Accepts National Award For Innovative Leadership
NORTHAMPTON: When Dr. Joan Schuman was hired as Executive Director of what is now the Collaborative for Educational Services the agency was a “tiny provider of special education and professional development programs to a limited number of schools in Hampshire County,” according to CES Board Chair, Lisa Minnick. This week, Schuman will be awarded the prestigious Justus A. Prentice award in honor of her work at the helm of the Northampton based non-profit agency. The award is bestowed by the Association of Educational Service Agencies to an educational leader who exemplifies innovative leadership and advocacy on behalf of educational service agencies (ESAs) at the state and national level.
Minnick describes Schuman’s leadership as transformative, in that the agency has “become one of the most respected, exemplary ESAs in Massachusetts.” Schuman was nominated by Minnick and her colleagues across the state for her pioneering spirit in developing innovative programs that had not previously been implemented by ESAs in Massachusetts.
At a time when ESAs have come under harsh scrutiny by state agencies, CES has continued to engage communities and schools in positive dialogue about how to improve the lives and education of young people. This past year, CES partnered with the Holyoke Public Schools to manage Dean Technical High School, in order to turn around chronic low student achievement scores.
Minnick said Schuman has also expanded the awareness among state leaders about the critical role the state’s 27 ESAs can play in supporting the needs of students, educators and schools. She added that the path-breaking programs designed by Schuman and other staff have “motivated the state to consider ESAs in a new light, and inspired smaller collaboratives to broaden their service portfolios.” Innovative programs designed by Schuman and her staff include:
Creation of federal grant-funded services that support the social/emotional needs of young people, birth through young adulthood.
Partnerships with educators to develop collaborative school-based teams that analyze student and other school-based data to improve curriculum and instruction.
Integration of arts into statewide schools for youth residing in juvenile justice settings of the state’s Department of Youth Services.
Collaboration with state agencies to improve the quality of special education services for students residing in institutional settings across the Commonwealth.
Development of an alternative licensing program for teachers focused on using an asset-based approach to working with all children and youth, particularly those at risk.
Schuman will accept the award at the AESA conference in Colorado Springs, CO on December 2nd.
November 28, 2011
Dean Students Work with Engineers Building Super Computer Center
HOLYOKE: Students from Dean Technical High School will get hands-on experience and mentoring from the contractors, architects, and tradesmen who are designing and constructing the multi-million dollar computer center in Holyoke, thanks to Turner Construction Company, the project’s contractor. On November 29th, Dean Tech students will participate in a kick-off event of Turner’s YouthForce 2020, a program developed by the company to introduce high school juniors and seniors to careers in engineering, design, construction and computers. YouthForce 2020 students work directly with Turner professionals involved with construction of the Green High Performance Computing Center project (MGHPCC) a ten megawatt supercomputer center for a consortium of five universities BU, Harvard, MIT, Northeastern and UMASS.
The Kick-off will take place at 10 a.m. at the Company’s office on 1 Bigelow Street in Holyoke. Governor Deval Patrick, other state and local officials, and representatives from the five universities will attend and encourage students to explore new careers in the green building industry.
Through the project, young people learn first-hand about the development of the high-tech engineering and computer center. Guided and instructed by Turner engineers, students will try their hand at reading architectural plans, making cost-estimates, preparing budgets, and hiring contractors. They will also learn about the use of technology in project management, as well as green building techniques.
The YouthForce 2020 afterschool program will begin in January and run through April.
November 4, 2011
CES Launches Assistive Technology Lending Library to Honor Staff Member
NORTHAMPTON: As an Assistive Technology Specialist for the Collaborative for Educational Services (formerly Hampshire Educational Collaborative), Patty Walsh-Cassidy saw children struggle every day to communicate with teachers, parents and peers. Walsh-Cassidy passionately believed that with the right education, tools and support, every child’s hopes, dreams and desires can be clearly articulated and heard.
On November 10th, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES), 97 Hawley Street, her family and colleagues are gathering to honor her work, vision and spirit with the launch of a new initiative to create the Patty Walsh-Cassidy Assistive Technology Lending Library. Walsh-Cassidy, who passed away from breast cancer two years ago on Thanksgiving, was one of the founders of the Collaborative Center for Assistive Technology and Training (CCATT) at CES, which helps students, parents and educators utilize a variety of technologies designed to assist learning.
Assistive technology is any device or service that allows individuals with disabilities to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. These technologies aid people in need of mobility, visual, auditory, speech, physical, and cognitive support.
At the dedication ceremony for the library, Walsh-Cassidy’s partners at the CCATT Center will be sharing examples of how she and other Center staff have and do use assistive technology to support the needs of students. Through library loans, students with a wide range of learning challenges can explore and benefit from technologies they may otherwise not be able to access. Through the presentation of how students benefit from technologies, CCATT staff will display and be able to answer questions about the use of innovative equipment such as an iPad with special learning and communication applications, the Springboard Communication device, the PODD communication system and the Step-by-Step switch communicator.
Task Force Enlists Community to Decrease Teen Alcohol and Drug Use
EASTHAMPTON: The Easthampton Prevention Task Force of the SPIFFY Coalition will discuss community-wide strategies to prevent underage drinking and drug use at its first Meet and Greet on Thursday, October 6th from 3:30-5:00 p.m. at the Easthampton Senior Center.
Mayor Michael Tautznik will give opening remarks. Guest speakers include: Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan; students from Easthampton High School’s S.A.D.D. program (Students Against Destructive Decisions); School Superintendent Nancy Follansbee; and School Resource Officer Alan Schadel.
Results of the 2011 Needs Assessment Survey conducted with teens in Easthampton and throughout the County will be presented, indicating positive influences and risky behaviors reported by teens in grades 8, 10, and 12. The data includes prevalence of alcohol and drug use and antisocial behavior.
The Easthampton Prevention Task Force meets monthly and brings together parents, educators, youth, business owners, faith communities, and local leaders who share an interest in promoting positive youth development and preventing teen alcohol and drug use and other risky behaviors.
"The Task Force is taking a positive approach to prevention" says Heather Warner, Prevention Specialist with the SPIFFY Coalition and co-chair of the Easthampton Prevention Task Force. "We are focusing on strategies that research shows will ‘buffer’ or ‘protect’ young people against the pressures to use alcohol and drugs. We also aim to reduce those factors that put youth at risk," says Warner.
The Task Force recently announced that it will award six mini-grants of up to $300 each for projects that recognize the positive efforts of youth in Easthampton. "When young people feel noticed and recognized for their good efforts and actions they are more likely to succeed in school and make positive choices in their lives", says Nancy Dunn, co-chair of the Easthampton Prevention Task Force.
"Too often we only read or hear about the negative things youth are doing," says Easthampton Police Officer Alan
Schadel, "A very large majority of our youth are great kids making good choices that have a positive impact on our community." Schadel is the Easthampton High School Resource Officer and a Task Force member.
For more information about the Easthampton Prevention Task Force please visit www.spiffycoalition.org.
September 19, 2011
Vendor Fair Showcases Cutting Edge Technology
NORTHAMPTON: The Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) is hosting an Assistive Technology Vendor Fair on September 21st, showcasing new technologies that can help children with disabilities learn. Open to the public and free of charge, the Vendor Fair will be at the Collaborative’s main office at 97 Hawley Street in Northampton, from 1 – 6 p.m.
Educators, parents and therapists working with students with disabilities will be able to explore a variety of technological tools and software that help children learn and gain access to their academic curriculum. “The Vendor Fair is a wonderful opportunity for us to share the cutting edge technologies of vendors that we’ve partnered with for years with our member school districts, parents and other professionals,” said Mary Lou Chapman, the Special Education Director at CES. Vendors will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate some of the high- and low-tech solutions they provide. Chapman describes assistive technology as "any device or service that makes life easier and improves the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.”
The Vendor Fair is organized by the CES Collaborative Center for Assistive Technology and Training, which provides assistive technology assessments for students ages PreK-22, as well as the opportunity to explore various devices, software and hardware. The CCATT Center also offers consultation and professional development for school districts, educators and therapists working with students with disabilities.
There will be a door prize drawing on the day of the event to win one of the assistive technology products (values up to $650) being donated by vendors. Everyone attending the event will be able to enter the drawing.
September 6, 2011
Funds Available for Youth Recognition
EASTHAMPTON: The Easthampton Prevention Task Force of the SPIFFY Coalition will award six mini-grants of up to $300 each to support projects that recognize the positive efforts of youth in Easthampton. There are two application cycles with deadlines of October 10th, 2011 and February 6th, 2012. Schools, city and county government agencies, non-profit community groups, and faith communities who work with youth ages 11 – 21 in Easthampton are eligible to apply.
Recognizing young people who are making a positive contribution to their school, community or family is shown to be a protective factor against alcohol and drug use and other risky behaviors. The mini-grants are a way to draw attention to youth who are not typically noticed for their “best efforts” as well as their achievements.
“When young people feel noticed and recognized for their good efforts and actions they are more likely to succeed in school and make positive choices in their lives”, says Nancy Dunn, co-chair of the Easthampton Prevention Task Force. She also points out that recognizing youth doesn’t have to cost a cent. Each of us can:
Greet young people by name in public
Ask young people for their opinion, for their help, and for their leadership
Notify the press about youth achievements
Tell a young person: “I’m proud of you”; “That’s a great improvement”; or “You make a difference in our town.”
“This funding allows schools, local government agencies, faith communities and non-profit groups to take youth recognition to the next level” says Heather Warner, Prevention Specialist for the SPIFFY Coalition. “By creating reward systems and by celebrating youth efforts publicly, we demonstrate to family, friends, community leaders and –most importantly—to youth that we value their energy and determination”.
Dean Technical High School Opens with a New Direction
HOLYOKE: Over the next week, teachers of William J. Dean Technical High School will participate in three full days of professional development at the school, the first step of an action plan that will create a new direction for the school. The Collaborative for Educational Services (CES), a non-profit organization which now manages the school in an initiative to turn around low student achievement scores, is conducting the training. Teachers will learn new techniques for reaching and engaging at-risk youth in academics, explore cultural and linguistic needs in a school that is 90% Latino students, and prepare to welcome new and returning Dean students when school opens next Wednesday, August 31st.
“We are very excited to be partnering with the whole school community in charting a new course for Dean Technical High School over the next year and in the future,” said Joan Schuman, from her office in Northampton. The Collaborative’s plans for the upcoming year include strengthening the academic curriculum, especially in the 9th and 10th grades, expanding the technical education and work-based learning in the 11th and 12th grades, increasing support to students with special education needs and to students learning English, implementing proven dropout prevention strategies, and developing teacher-led professional learning teams. The school day will be extended by 15 minutes to increase academic support for struggling students. There will also be 30 additional hours over the course of the year for teachers to collaborate with each other and share teaching strategies.
SOUTH HADLEY: Over the summer, children and families have been able to enjoy reading together while they take a stroll through the park, thanks to StoryWalk™, an innovative project that integrates early childhood literacy and outdoor exercise.
The South Hadley StoryWalk™ is a project of the South Hadley Network for Children, which oversees the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant funding for S. Hadley. Jill Flanders, the principal of Plains Elementary School in South Hadley and Barbara Finlayson, CES Early Childhood Director and CFCE Coordinator, organized the program. They also prepared and installed the exhibition which features Eric Carle’s Do You Want to Be My Friend? The exhibition features pages of the book laminated and mounted in different stations throughout the park so that families can walk and enjoy the story together.
“What I love about the project,” said Ms. Flanders in her office in South Hadley “is that it’s something that families can do together.” So far this summer, StoryWalk™ has been in Buttery Brook Park and Beachgrounds Park. The project will be moving to the Plains School ball field from August 22 – 26.
The StoryWalk™ Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.
August 4, 2011
Loan Opportunity for CES Licensure Students Through UMass Five College Federal Credit Union
NORTHAMPTON: The UMassFive College Credit Union and the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) have formed a unique partnership to provide loans to eligible students enrolled in the CES educator licensure and graduate programs. The Collaborative offers programs leading to initial licensure in a wide variety of subjects, including high need areas such as special education, English as a second language, science and math.
“Over the next few years, many teachers who are Baby Boomers are going to retire, opening up a lot of jobs in the educational field,” said Phyllis White, Director of Programs for the Franklin Hampshire Career Center. With the new loan program, students enrolled in the Collaborative’s licensure programs can get the financial help they need to enter teaching or school administration careers. Many of the Collaborative’s current licensure students are midcareer professionals. Richard Seelig, one of the program’s instructors, noted that these demographics bode well for employers. “I find that my students are more committed and serious than many people in or right out of college,” he said, “Because they’ve been working in some other job and have a better idea of who they are and what they want to do, they are a lot more confident that they are making a good career choice now.”
UMassFive has developed this special Continuing Education Line of Credit for use in covering tuition, books and other fees associated with these programs. Financing is also available for those pursing Masters Degrees and Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study through CES and Fitchburg State University.
The loan offers a variable interest rate and terms up to 7 years. Payment deferments are also available. The maximum loan amount is $20,000. Students enrolled in any CES program are eligible to join the credit union and apply for this financing opportunity. UMassFive is a non-profit financial co-operative and believes in the idea of people helping people. Established in 1967 the credit union has $325 million in assets and 26,000 members across Massachusetts.
The Collaborative for Educational Services is a non-profit agency dedicated to developing and fostering educational opportunities and excellence for all learners. CES offers many opportunities for educators through their high quality licensure preparation programs that are designed to be both rigorous and practical. The courses are available throughout the state in online and traditional face-to-face formats.
For more information about the CES licensure program, visit teachinmass.org.
July 20, 2011
Collaborative for Educational Services to Manage Dean Technical High School
HOLYOKE: The Holyoke School Committee unanimously voted on July 13 to award the Collaborative for Educational Services a contract to manage William J. Dean Technical High School. As the Educational Management Organization, CES will work in partnership with Holyoke Public Schools in a Restart Model of school change, implementing a plan for increasing student achievement and enrollment, and increasing involvement in the school of parents, area businesses and community agencies. Strategies include extending the school day and holding additional professional development for teachers.
“We are very excited about this challenge and opportunity to create a Dean Technical High School that every young person in the city will want to come to,” said Joan Schuman, Executive Director for CES, from her office in Northampton. “We see this as a great opportunity to make Dean Tech a showcase of excellence for the City of Holyoke.”
The Collaborative’s plan involves strengthening the academic and vocational programs at the school. CES will conduct a thorough assessment of the Dean Technical curriculum, aligning it to state academic and vocational standards, so that students are prepared academically and vocationally to pass MCAS, and either enter the workforce or continue in post-secondary education after graduation. As part of this process, instruction in the 9th and 10th grades will have increased focus on core academics and basic skills.
Students’ exploration of their vocational interests through shop experiences in the first two years of high school will lead to engaging work opportunities (such as internships, mentorships, and job shadowing) in the 11th and 12th grades. CES expects to expand the breadth and depth of vocational opportunities available to students through increased outreach to area businesses and organizations which is already underway. “We believe that a successful Dean Technical High School is crucial to a prosperous Holyoke,” said Schuman, drawing a connection between a well prepared young workforce and a vibrant local economy.
The Collaborative is hosting an Open House for students, parents, and all those interested in learning more about the school on July 28th, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. CES is actively seeking additional students for the Fall. For more information about the reorganization and registration, visit DeanTechPride.collaborative.org.
June 16, 2011
WLNA Event Honors the Invisible Educator
NORTHAMPTON: On June 24th, the Western Leadership Network in Action (WLNA) is hosting Appreciating the Invisible Educator, a day-long series of events throughout western Massachusetts celebrating early childhood educators. WLNA is a coalition of early childhood educators and advocates working to raise awareness for issues that confront early childhood educators, such as low pay, high job stress and high turnover rates.
In Northampton, at 11:00 a.m., WLNA organizers and early childhood educators will be joined by Massachusetts State Senator and President Pro Tem, Stan Rosenberg (D) and Representative Ellen Story (D) on the steps of City Hall. A proclamation by Mayor Clare Higgins will be read, recognizing the work of the Invisible Educator. Very young children will also be in attendance with their early educators or parents. There will also be a celebration at Early Childhood Centers of Greater Springfield at 15 Catharine Street in Springfield.
“We are all aware of the critical impact a school teacher can have in the development of a young person,” said Barbara Finlayson, Director of the Collaborative for Educational Service’s Early Childhood Department, which coordinates WLNA. “But we rarely hear about the role a child’s teacher plays before he or she enters school. Yet a child’s pre-kindergarten experience greatly impacts their social/emotional and cognitive development, influencing their success throughout school, and even later in life. We want to celebrate and thank these very important educators.”
Like K-12 educators, early childhood educators must have the appropriate credentials in order to be licensed to teach. Despite these requirements, educators of very young children are poorly compensated, earning an average of $25,000 per year for a 40+ hour work week, 52 weeks a year. “Many people don’t realize their child’s teachers are not paid well because so many parents pay a significant portion of their income for their child’s early education and care, a sum that may be equal to their mortgage or rent,” says Finlayson. Early childhood programs are expensive, Finlayson explains, because the services are so intensive. By law, a program must have one teacher for every three infants. All that adds up to high program costs, but they are necessary if a child is to be well prepared for kindergarten. “In partnership with parents,” Finlayson adds, “children need close relationships with consistent adults and appropriate early educational experiences for their brains to develop to full capacity.”
WLNA organizers hope to raise public awareness of the critical role of the early childhood educator in the healthy development of children, as well as to stimulate more funding to train and retain highly qualified educators to ensure continuous improvement of early childhood programs. The Appreciating the Invisible Educator Day and WLNA are funded by the Schott Foundation, the Nellie Mae Foundation, and the Davis Foundation.
June 9, 2011
Thirty-six School Districts Collaborate on Summer Academy for Teachers
NORTHAMPTON: Educators from 36 school districts across Franklin and Hampshire Counties are planning to participate in a Summer Academy for teachers. Over 80 workshops will be offered in the Franklin-Hampshire Summer Academy, which is organized by the Collaborative for Educational Services, based in Northampton. The Academy is held in July and August in different locations throughout the two counties. Costs for the Academy are shared by participating districts.
For over a decade, the Summer Academy has been enhancing the professional development of teachers in Franklin County. When the Franklin County districts joined the Collaborative for Educational Services in 2010, Franklin County districts invited districts in Hampshire County to join them in cosponsoring several cross-county initiatives, including, for the first time, the expanded Summer Academy. “This year’s Academy offers such a wide variety of workshops, from Preventing Bullying to Teaching Spanish through Storytelling”, says Cecelia Buckley, Director of the Professional Development Department at the Collaborative. Buckley adds that “teacher voice” shaped the content of the workshops, identifying high interest topics and recommending individual presenters. Over 500 teachers responded last year to a survey about their interests and needs in professional development. “We want this year’s Academy to reflect what educators want most to learn, helping them to develop skills and share what’s worked, so that they bring new ideas and techniques into the classroom next year.”
For art and music educators, librarians and other specialists, the Summer Academy is a great local resource for Professional Development Points (PDPs) needed for professional license renewal. A number of the programs are grant-funded and are free to educators in Collaborative member districts, as well as other educators, on a space available basis. Teachers, aides, administrators, and other school staff are encouraged to register now to ensure their place. For more information, visit www.collaborative.org/profdev/pd.
June 9, 2011
Ben DeMarino Memorial Unveiled
NORTHAMPTON: For some people, graduating from high school is a given, a stepping stone on a relatively straight-forward path to college and career. For Ben DeMarino, graduating from the Collaborative for Educational Services’ Alternative Learning Program (ALP) in 1993 was a major and pivotal accomplishment, allowing him to move beyond his learning challenges to fulfill his long-held dream of attaining a high school diploma. On June 16th at 5:30 pm, a memorial to Ben will be unveiled at the Collaborative’s special education program, HEC Academy, at 128 Pleasant Street in Northampton.
School had always been a struggle for Ben prior to his enrollment at the Collaborative’s ALP. The small-school environment and positive incentive system of the Collaborative’s program provided the right support for Ben, and he flourished academically. He intently studied subjects he was interested in, and was willing to revisit concepts that had previously been challenging for him. “Ben was an unforgettable individual whose determination was inspirational; his memory inspires me still,” says Dr. Elana Aitken, Clinical Director for the Collaborative’s special education and alternative learning programs. Dr. Aitken developed and coordinated the Collaborative’s Alternative Learning Programs, and worked with Ben when he attended the ALP program. After graduating from the program, Ben moved to Memphis, as he had always been intrigued by the city. Though he was a hard and serious worker, he found time to pursue his passion of scuba diving. He died unexpectedly, while training for his diving test, in 2002.
Shortly after his death, Ben’s family created a scholarship fund as a way to honor his courage and determination, as well as what Aitken describes as “his own unique way of being Ben.” Over the past 5 years, 34 Collaborative students have received financial support through the fund to help them manifest their own dreams. Ben DeMarino scholarships have allowed these young people to further their education by financing community college courses, or gain skills (such as driving) that enabled them to become more independent and self-sufficient.
Ben had an unusually strong capacity to focus on what was important to him and will be remembered for his tenacious drive in pursuing his dreams. He also had a passion for attempting the improbable. A highly spirited person throughout his life, Ben loved laughter and having fun. Both the memorial and the scholarship are intended to honor his spirit.
June 2, 2011
Easthampton Package Stores Team Up with Teens to Prevent Underage Drinking
Easthampton--On Thursday June 2, 2011 between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. a group of teens from Easthampton High School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.) will visit 4 local package stores in an effort to prevent adults from purchasing alcohol for underage youth. Accompanied by local police, the students will place stickers on 6-packs of beer and wine coolers that read “Hey You! It is illegal to provide alcohol for people under 21.”
Called “Sticker Shock”, the campaign aims to remind adults that it is illegal to purchase alcohol for a minor. Glenn Zygmont, owner of Ferry Street Package store remarked, “We want to raise awareness that you can’t buy alcohol for people who are not of legal age. We don’t want our youth to be hurt by sudden tragedies.” Ferry Street Package Store, Old Colony Package store, Union Package Store, and Jim’s Package Store are participating in the campaign.
The initiative is sponsored by the Strategic Planning Initiative for Families and Youth (SPIFFY), a Hampshire County coalition charged with preventing drug and alcohol use among youth. The SPIFFY Coalition is administered by the Collaborative for Educational Services. According to Heather Warner, Prevention Specialist for the SPIFFY Coalition, “Local data shows that teens rarely purchase alcohol for themselves. Instead they get it from a variety of social sources.”
In a 2009 SPIFFY survey of over 200 Easthampton parents, 97 percent said that they would be upset if another adult gave alcohol to their teen. In the same survey, 89% strongly agreed that adults who provide alcohol to teens should face legal consequences.
Massachusetts Statute C. 138 section 34 states that furnishing alcohol for a person under 21 years of age is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 or by imprisonment or both. Serving or providing intoxicating substances to a minor may also be prosecuted under other criminal statutes, for example, child endangerment, which can result is a state prison sentence of up to 10 years and fines up to $150,000.
NORTHAMPTON David Hyde Costello has one goal in mind when he appears in a series of Child-Family Literacy Events sponsored by the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES), schools and libraries across Hampshire County. “I just want to make stories kids will enjoy.” He explains that is the primary reason he wrote and illustrated I Can Help, his latest book about how several animal characters help one another in the jungle. “I’m not an educator, I don’t try to teach kids to read through my books, but I want my stories to be enjoyable, with characters and themes that kids can relate to.” But engaging kids with a great story is exactly what motivates children to learn to read, says Barbara Finlayson, Early Childhood Director of CES. “When children become really interested in a story,” Finlayson explains, “they want to read more. And the more children read, the better readers they become.
The events are organized in order to connect children and families to the world of children’s literature, as part of a national celebration of April as the Month of the Young Child. “We want the events to be a fun-filled time for families to engage with their children around books,” Finlayson adds. The Child-Family Literacy Events are free and open to the public. All families attending the events will go home with a free copy of I Can Help. At each event, Costello creatively engages children in the process of story-telling. A puppeteer as well, Costello is accompanied by a 6 foot giraffe puppet, one of the characters in his new book. The Child-Family Literacy Events are supported through the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement grant through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).
Schedule of upcoming Child-Family Literacy Events:
April 28th, 6:15 @ Clapp Memorial Library in Belchertown
May 6th, 5:30 @ United Church of Ware (includes pizza dinner)
April 12, 2011
The Collaborative for Educational Services Is a State-Approved Pre-Qualified Vendor
CES is now a DESE- and EEC-approved vendor for the delivery of training and consulting services for a variety of education providers across the Commonwealth in the areas of Conditions for School Effectiveness, Data Warehouse training, Consulting and Professional Development, and Early Childhood Training and Consulting. For more details, visit collaborative.org/about/approvedvendor.
March 31, 2011
Getting Your Teaching License Story and Video: CES Educator Licensure Programs, First Friday Info Sessions help prospective educators learn about becoming licensed to teach in Massachusetts Rich Tettemer, WWLP-TV 22, Springfield, MA
February 8, 2011
Discussion Session on Educational Administration Rescheduled to March 2 (3:30 to 4:30pm)
LEXINGTON. A free discussion and information session on Initial Licensure as an educational administrator in Massachusetts has been rescheduled due to show. The event on Educator Licensure Programs, which is sponsored the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES), will be held on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 from 3:30 to 4:30pm at the Cary Memorial Library (Learning Center), 1874 Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington. Presenters will include Penny Monsein Rhodes, Director of CES Licensure Programs; Martha Batten, a former principal in Arlington, Westwood, and Lexington; and Carol Gregory, a former assistant superintendent in Wellesley and former principal in Northampton and Westwood. Ms. Gregory is a graduate of the CES Educational Administration Program.
CES Educator Licensure courses are offered throughout Massachusetts in a hybrid online format; Master’s Degree and CAGS options are available. For information, visit TeachInMass.org or call 413-586-4900.
Snow and ice forecast postpones Annual Publishers’ Fair for ELL/ESL Educators to February 16
NORTHAMPTON. The Annual ELL/ESL Publishers’ Fair for educators working with English language learners hosted by the CES Center for English Language Education (CELE) has been postponed until Wednesday, February 16, 2011. The free event, which organizers rescheduled from February 2 due to forecast snow and ice, will take place from 9:00am to 3:30pm at the Collaborative for Educational Services, 97 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA. Vendors of high quality instructional and assessment materials for the teaching of English language learners will share their latest products from publishers that include Hampton-Brown, Houghton Mifflin, McGraw Hill, National Geographic, Oxford University Press, and Pearson.
Featured speaker Ken Pransky will discuss principles of effective vocabulary instruction, based on his new book, My Fantastic Words Book, from 12-2pm. Seating is limited and reservations are recommended.
This is a free community service. Please contact Beth Lizardo at the Center for English Language Education if you are interested in attending (413.586.4900 x181 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
). For more details, visit collaborative.org/profdev/plc/ell.
January 19, 2011
Annual Publishers’ Fair for ELL/ESL Educators on February 2 at CES
NORTHAMPTON. Educators are invited to attend the Annual ELL/ESL Publishers’ Fair hosted by the CES Center for English Language Education (CELE) on Wednesday, February 2, with a snow date of February 16. The event will take place from 9:00am to 3:30pm at the Collaborative for Educational Services, 97 Hawley Street, Northampton, MA. Vendors of high quality instructional and assessment materials for the teaching of English language learners will share their latest products.
Featured speaker Ken Pransky will discuss principles of effective vocabulary instruction, based on his new book, My Fantastic Words Book, from 12-2pm. Seating is limited and reservations are recommended.
This is a free community service.
Please contact Beth Lizardo at the Center for English Language Education if you are interested in attending: ; 413.586.4900 x181. For additional information about the event, visit collaborative.org/profdev/plc/ell.
January 13, 2011
Discussion and Information Session about Initial Licensure in Educational Administration Rescheduled
LEXINGTON. A free discussion and information session on Initial Licensure as an educational administrator in Massachusetts has been rescheduled due to the snowstorm on January 12. The session, which is sponsored by CES Educator Licensure Programs (TeachInMass.org), will now be held on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 from 4:00 to 5:00pm at the Cary Memorial Library (Learning Center), 1874 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington. Presenters will include Penny Monsein Rhodes, Director of CES Licensure Programs; Martha Batten, a former principal in Arlington, Westwood, and Lexington; and Carol Gregory, a former assistant superintendent in Wellesley and former principal in Northampton and Westwood. Ms. Gregory is a graduate of the CES Educational Administration Program.
January 13, 2011
iPolynomials by Tom Sturm Story on: ARRA stimulus funds help launch 21st century educational innovation with the Collaborative's pioneering 776 Algebra Online project. Valley Advocate
January 12, 2011
Innovative Online Algebra Course
NORTHAMPTON. The Collaborative for Educational Services, formerly Hampshire Educational Collaborative, is offering a unique, free online course for students who have failed Algebra.
Any high school student from a public school district may enroll in the course at any time during the year and will workuntil they have mastered the Algebra content necessary to receive credit for the course. A Massachusetts certified secondary Math teacher instructs the online course. The course offers engaging audio and video explanations and exercises, which are particularly helpful to students who might enjoy Facebook more than math.
Taylor Smith, a Junior at New Leadership Charter School, Springfield said, “I failed Algebra in 9th and 10th grade and I was never really good at math so when I was asked to take the Online Algebra course I was interested in seeing if there would be a change.” According to Taylor’s teachers, prior to starting the Online Algebra her math grade was a D; it now is a B. Taylor says, “I like the flexibility and the way I can do it on my own time- I am in control. It makes me feel like I am in college.”
The Online Algebra course allows students to take control of their learning and with the instant access they can decide what and when to study. Leon Carrington, a Sophomore also at New Leadership Charter School says, “I do my Algebra both at school and at home. It frees up a lot of my time. My grade before I started Online Algebra was a 40 and now it is 81.” Leon explains, “I can now use the skills I have learned in the Online Algebra course in the MCAS test.”
The Online Algebra course can be used with no cost to the student or school as long as the student enrolls by May 2011. This course is supported by an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Title II-D Technology Grant through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. For more information or to register a student, please visit 776algebraonline.org or call 413-586-4900 and ask for Kristin Kicza (ext. 128) or Casey Daigle-Matos (ext. 175)
2010 News Archive
2010 News Archive
November 30, 2010
Federal Innovations Grant aims to help struggling readers through expanded Reading Recovery training for teachers
NORTHAMPTON. The Collaborative for Educational Services (formerly Hampshire Educational Collaborative) is one of the approved sites for the implementation of a $54.7 million Investing in Innovations grant, for “Reading Recovery – Scaling Up What Works.” The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to Ohio State University and fifteen other institutions in 40 states to help half a million struggling students and their schools close the achievement gap over the next five years. Four million dollars of the five-year project will be used in Massachusetts and the Collaborative will be partnering with Lesley University, located in Cambridge, to help implement the initiative in western Massachusetts.
Reading Recovery trains teachers to work one-on-one with first grade children who are having serious difficulty learning to read and write. The program provides intensive instruction to teachers in tutoring struggling readers over a series of one-on-one sessions in order to bring them up to grade level reading ability. Reading Recovery has been extensively evaluated in several states and results not only show dramatic gains in the reading level of participating children but that their literacy gains continue over time. This is critical to long-term school success and to a child’s resiliency.
The Collaborative has been a professional development provider for Reading Recovery for the past 17 years and is currently supporting fifty Reading Recovery teachers and training four more. Western Massachusetts districts currently participating in Reading Recovery include: Agawam, Amherst, Central Berkshire, Deerfield, Easthampton, Hatfield, Ludlow, Mohawk Trail, Palmer, Pioneer Valley RSD, Richmond, South Hadley, Southampton, Westhampton, Southwick, Tolland, Supervisory Union 38, West Springfield, Westhampton, Westfield, and Williamsburg.
“We are very excited about this new opportunity to expand our Reading Recovery program and train additional teachers over the next three years. We will be able to continue to benefit hundreds of our lowest achieving and most vulnerable children in western Massachusetts,” says Cecelia Buckley, Coordinator of the Reading Recovery Training Site at the Collaborative. Schools participating in the project will receive full funding for teacher training, materials and additional supports necessary to implement the program.
Schoolnet, Inc. partners with The Collaborative for Educational Services to Offer Districts Service, Price and Product with GradeSpeed and Schoolnet IMS
NEW YORK, NY. Schoolnet, Inc., the leader in data-driven education software, has teamed up with the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES), to offer districts affordable access to the Schoolnet Instructional Management System and GradeSpeed Gradebook along with Schoolnet’s first class support and service.The Collaborative chose the Schoolnet Instructional Management System based on the unsurpassed curriculum management, extensive access to district data, comprehensive assessment tools and alignment to state standards. Additionally, Gradespeed Gradebook offers the Collaborative a fully web-based gradebook that is accessible from anywhere, at anytime; with an easy-to-use and intuitive interface.
“The Collaborative is pleased to be able to work with Schoolnet to provide another opportunity to assist our school districts in meeting their increasing educational demands for student learning and achievement. The services offered through Schoolnet have a proven success record in other states, and now Massachusetts teachers and administrators can likewise share in their success,” said Joan Schuman, Executive Director, CES. “The recent award of Race to the Top funding to Massachusetts makes this partnership all the more exciting and timely.”
Schoolnet will provide participating Collaborative districts with extensive product support, hosting, maintenance, training and implementation services, helping educators and administrators to get up and running as quickly as possible.
Schoolnet’s award-winning software will allow Collaborative districts to access evaluate and transform real-time student data into the actionable knowledge needed to improve student achievement. With the use of Schoolnet, teachers can easily see where challenges and opportunities exist and engage learners through differentiated instruction. The Schoolnet Instructional Management System and GradeSpeed Gradebook are now available to Collaborative districts. Both products will interface directly with districts’ Student Information Systems enabling administrators and teachers to manage all assessments, assignments, grades, curriculum and more immediately.
Learn How to Become Licensed to Teach in Massachusetts: Upcoming First Friday Info Sessions on December 3, 2010; and January 7, February 4, March 4, April 1, May 6, and June 3, 2011
NORTHAMPTON. The Collaborative for Educational Services (formerly the Hampshire Educational Collaborative) offers free information sessions from 4:00 to 5:00pm on the first Friday of each month. ‘First Friday’ drop-in sessions are designed to answer questions about educator licensure and assist prospective educators in mapping a path to attaining career goals. The next two sessions will be held on December 3, 2010 and January 7, 2011 at the Collaborative’s main office at 97 Hawley Street, Northampton.
In western Massachusetts, the Collaborative offers Educator Licensure courses year round in Northampton, Holyoke and online; Master’s Degree and CAGS options are available. For more information, visit www.TeachInMass.org or call 413-586-4900. Registration for the Spring 2011 semester is now open, and courses begin January 29, 2011. New programs in History, English, and Humanities are also available for the spring semester.
The Collaborative for Educational Services is a nonprofit educational service agency that has been serving schools, school districts, educators, communities, and students with diverse learning needs since 1974. The agency, which serves member districts in Hampshire and Franklin Counties, recently changed its name to better reflect the scope of its work.
November 12, 2010
Collaborative for Educational Services Welcomes New Deputy Director
NORTHAMPTON. The Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) announces the appointment of Dr. William Diehl as Deputy Executive Director. Bill Diehl will oversee a variety of programs at the Collaborative, including development, communications, strategic planning, and specific student support program areas. CES, which recently changed its name from Hampshire Educational Collaborative, is a nonprofit educational service agency formed in 1974.
“We are so pleased to find someone who has such a breadth of experience in management and program development, as well as a successful track record in fundraising,” says Executive Director, Joan Schuman. “Bill has exceptional familiarity with our mission of inspiring educators and teaching learners, particularly those who are at-risk. The skills he brings to the agency will significantly further the work that we do.”
Prior to the Collaborative, Dr. Diehl was Executive Director of Diploma Plus , a nationally recognized alternative education model for youth who have been failed by the traditional education system. Diploma Plus focuses on performance- and competency-based education, literacy and numeracy development, youth development, and preparation for college and careers. Diploma Plus evaluations show notable student outcomes. The program is recognized as exemplary by the American Youth Policy Forum, National Dropout Prevention Center, and the National Governor’s Conference, and was cited in President Obama’s pre-election education position paper. Diehl has also worked at Commonwealth Corporation, designing and managing school-community partnerships, adolescent literacy projects, and school to work initiatives. He has managed educational reform initiatives in two cities in Michigan, and has both taught and administered alternative education programs in several schools.
Diehl holds an Ed.D. in Reading Education from Indiana University, Bloomington. He has been on the faculty at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Flint and Central Michigan University, as a professor of Secondary Literacy Education. Diehl has also continued to pursue an interest in stone sculpture, which he was first introduced to in college. Diehl lives in Northampton with his wife, Jeanne Birdsall, the award-winning children’s book author of the Penderwicks series and Flora’s Very Windy Day.
Soccer Special Olympics Slated by Pat Cahill Story on: Soccer Special Olympics hosted by Granby Public Schools Springfield Daily Republican, Springfield, MA
October 7, 2010
“Radical Equality” Project Highlights Abolitionist History of Florence
The Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) and Historic Northampton are pleased to announce the culmination of a four-year joint partnership to educate the public about the heritage of an abolitionist utopian community of the 1840s called the Northampton Association of Education and Industry (NAEI). The partners will present their work at Historic Northampton Museum at 4:00 pm on October 13. The museum is located at 46 Bridge Street, Northampton.
“Radical Equality” tells the story of a multi-racial attempt to use silk manufacture as an alternative to slave-grown cotton. Sojourner Truth, David Ruggles, and many less famous lights of the abolitionist movement lived and worked at the NAEI. Frederick Douglass felt a strong connection with the community, and William Lloyd Garrison was a frequent visitor. “The Community,” as it was known, made Florence not only a stop on the Underground Railroad, but for some, an end destination.
In the 1990s, Historic Northampton received 75 letters as well as artifacts from the descendents of James and Dolly Stetson, a family that lived at the NAEI. These letters offer an intimate and engaging perspective from the inside of the community. In addition to Dolly and James, several children also wrote about their experiences, dreams, and concerns.
Historian Bruce Laurie will provide a brief overview of abolitionism in Massachusetts in the 1840s. Easthampton High School teacher (and winner of the 2010 Preserve America Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year Award) Kelley Brown will tell how teachers have used the story in their classrooms. Historic Northampton Executive Director Kerry Buckley will explain how the story came together and share excerpts from the Stetson letters. Rich Cairn, Director of the Emerging America program at CES will briefly highlight how the public can access information on the NAEI through a direct link (RadicalEquality.EmergingAmerica.org) on the EmergingAmerica.org website.
“Radical Equality” began in part as a way to show teachers how they can engage students in presenting local history to the community. Since 2007, 30 student-teacher teams participating in CES’ Windows on History program have created web sites to showcase local history. The project is funded by a Teaching American History grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
Historic Northampton Museum is a museum of regional history in the heart of western Massachusetts. Historic Northampton’s partnership with the Collaborative began with the notion that local history is a lens through which students can view and comprehend larger themes in American history. These letters and documents let students explore historical issues in real time by looking at events as they unfold through the eyes of contemporary observers and participants. Abstract concepts such as “Abolitionism” take on new meaning as students discover how and why real individuals came to embrace this cause and to make personal sacrifices that ultimately altered the course of history.
CES recently changed its name from the Hampshire Educational Collaborative (HEC). CES serves learners from birth through young adulthood. It has 35 public school district members from throughout Franklin and Hampshire Counties, and serves educators in schools and agencies across Massachusetts. CES works with school districts to assess student achievement data in order to design solutions that solve the challenges schools face today. And CES teaches educators hands-on, classroom techniques that individualize instruction to build on each student’s strengths and overcome their unique learning challenges.
The common thread through all the Collaborative's efforts is that obstacles to learning can be overcome, and once that happens, learning is natural for everyone. CES knows how to reach and educate the learner that is in everyone. CES knows how to teach other educators to do the same. In a world of constant access to information, students can take increased ownership of their own learning and master the skills for doing so: a strategy that many teachers can further master through the Radical Equality educational project.
October 4, 2010
HEC Gets a New Name
After 35 years of steady expansion, the third largest employer in Northampton, the Hampshire Educational Collaborative is changing its name to the Collaborative for Educational Services. There are several reasons for the name change that reflect the agency’s growth and significant successes over the past eleven years. In 2009, all nine Franklin County school districts joined Hampshire County districts in the Collaborative, nearly doubling the number of member school districts served by the organization. In addition, the Collaborative continues to provide services to districts throughout Western Massachusetts. The Collaborative has also expanded its special education and professional development services to learners and educators statewide through partnerships with organizations and state agencies such as the Commonwealth Corporation, the Department of Youth Services, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Mental Health as well as in school districts across the Commonwealth.
The name change also reflects the organization’s focus on collaboration as a tool for educational success. “We believe that our new name puts the emphasis where it belongs— on collaboration,” says Lisa Minnick, the Chairperson of the Board of Governors for the agency. The Collaborative models, facilitates and incorporates collaborative learning and problem solving in all of its professional development and direct educational services. In addition, C.E.S. coordinates a variety of cost-sharing programs for its member districts, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for participating school districts throughout Hampshire and Franklin County.
A wide range of educational services are offered through the Collaborative to hundreds of schools, thousands of learners and many communities throughout the state. For more information: collaborative.org.
Teen Photo Exhibit Highlights Risky Behavior and Positive Influences in Easthampton
EASTHAMPTON, MA—Underage drinking, distracted driving, and troubled relationships are some of the themes depicted in photographs taken by members of the Easthampton High School’s S.A.D.D. group (Students Against Destructive Decision-making). The photos and accompanying stories also illustrate the protective value of friendships, family, hope and community pride in shaping young people’s choices. The group met this spring as part of a larger community effort to prevent underage drinking and other risky behaviors and to support positive youth development.
A reception celebrating the opening of the photo exhibit will take place on Thursday, June 10th from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the East Village Café and Gallery on Unions Street in Easthampton. The exhibit “Easthampton Photovoice: Our Stories, Our Lives” will remain open through July 1, 2010. Local teens involved in the project will speak about their work at the reception. Mayor Michael Tautznik will give opening remarks.
The “Photovoice” project is sponsored by SPIFFY, the Strategic Planning Initiative for Families and Youth, is a Hampshire County coalition of community organizations, schools, parents, faith communities, agencies, local businesses and youth, and is administered by the Hampshire Educational Collaborative. The SPIFFY Coalition provides support for the emerging Easthampton Prevention Task Force that meets monthly.
Funding is provided through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Abuse Services
June 1, 2010
Teachers and Students Build Windows on History
NORTHAMPTON, MA—This IS your grandmother’s history–but unlike she ever imagined! Throughout the school year, students across the Pioneer Valley have been working with teachers, local historians, and community members to explore and publish the history in their own backyards through Windows on History projects. Teachers guide students in utilizing primary source documents, photographs, maps, artifacts, and historic buildings to investigate the events of the near and distant past. Discoveries are shared with the community through student-created public displays and websites.
On Tuesday, June 8, teachers and students will present their projects to parents and the public from 5:00 to 6:30pm at the Hampshire Educational Collaborative, 97 Hawley Street in Northampton. Projects may also be viewed online at EmergingAmerica.org.
Since 2006, through the support of Teaching American History grants from the U.S. Department of Education, the Hampshire Educational Collaborative has been providing free professional development, stipends, equipment, and technical support to help students and teachers invest their time and energy into these projects. Eighty teachers annually participate in the Collaborative’s summer colloquia at Smith College, which are led by veteran historians and history teachers.
Local history projects help students gain critical thinking skills, and generate excitement and a sense of pride in the history of their local community. From examining centuries-old documents to investigating the immigration history of their own families, students cooperate to explore the history of their towns. Students learn to produce exhibits, books, and websites, and work with parents, teachers, historians, archivists, and local leaders to uncover great stories right outside their own windows.
SPIFFY Coalition aims to keep teens healthy and prevent underage drinking
NORTHAMPTON, MA. The SPIFFY Coalition, in conjunction with the Northampton Prevention Coalition, announces multiple initiatives designed to reach Northampton parents and youth. The initiatives all seek to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth in Northampton.
The Parent Education Media Campaign highlights the active and positive efforts of Northampton parents to keep their teenagers healthy and prevent underage drinking and substance use. The newest message, “90% of Northampton parents would be upset if another adult gave alcohol to their teen,” can seen on local billboards, in the schools and newspaper, on the local television station, at multiple venues around town, and was mailed home to the parents of middle and high school students.
The Prom and Graduation Campaign, targeting Northampton High School seniors during prom and graduation season, seeks to correct the misperception that everyone drinks and gets drunk on prom and graduation night. Seniors are receiving campaign messages via postcards when they buy their prom tickets, and on posters hanging in the high school and in the community.
Mayor Mary Higgins declared a Safe Prom and Graduation Season in Northampton by proclamation, during the May 20th city council meeting. The proclamation acknowledged the excitement of prom and graduation season and encouraged celebrations to take place without substance use and underage alcohol use.
In conjunction with Community Action Youth Programs, SPIFFY is sponsoring a Sticker Shock Campaign. A group of Northampton teenagers have developed stickers bearing various messages encouraging adults not to buy alcohol for anyone underage. The youth will soon be heading to retail beverage outlets in Northampton and placing the stickers on packages of alcohol, to deter adults from purchasing for youth.
“We are excited about the many prevention efforts that are happening in Northampton,” said Karen Jarvis Vance, Director of Health Services, Health Education, and Safety for the Northampton schools and co-chair of the Northampton Prevention Coalition. “These initiatives bring important attention to the issues of underage drinking and substance use and demonstrate this community’s commitment to support the health and safety of Northampton youth.”
The Strategic Planning Initiative for Families and Youth (SPIFFY) is a county-wide coalition of over 60 community members and is administered by the Hampshire Educational Collaborative. Additional information is available at SpiffyCoalition.org.
April 8, 2010
New publication offers strategies, tools and tips that teachers can use to help students who are learning English as a second language–not by doing anything extra but by doing things differently
The Hampshire Educational Collaborative (HEC) is pleased to announce an important new resource for teachers and administrators: Teaching English Language Learners Across the Content Areas, published by ASCD (formerly Association for School and Curriculum Development). The book is written by Debbie Zacarian, Director of the Center for English Language Education (CELE) at Hampshire Educational Collaborative and Judie Haynes, award winning educator, presenter, and author of numerous books on education. Haynes is founder and director of everythingesl.net, a web-based resource for K-12 educators.
Students whose native language is not English and who are not yet able to do ordinary classroom work in English are commonly referred to as English Language Learners. They face the challenge of learning a new language and new subject matter at the same time. In this book, Haynes and Zacarian offer strategies, tools and tips that teachers can use to help their students flourish in mainstream classrooms. From understanding the stages of second language acquisition to lesson plans for effective instruction, the book covers the full range of issues that teachers face and need to address.
Educational leaders such as Louise Law, Director of Elementary Education at Frontier Regional School District, herald the book as, “a terrific resource – one that I wish I had earlier in my career.” Law called the book “teacher friendly,” and noted that “frequent vignettes followed by teaching suggestions invite readers to reflect on their preconceptions and make it easy for educators to understand how to implement practices that support ELL learners.” Maria Campanario Araica, Program Director for Professional Development and Instruction in the Office of English Language Learners at the Boston Public Schools added that, “the benefits of each strategy as well as classroom examples make this a text that can be used during professional development as teachers engage in discussions about reflective practice.
Teaching English Language Learners Across the Content Areas is a flexible resource appropriate for classroom teachers, trainers and coaches involved in professional development, and school and district leaders. The Boston Public Schools is rolling out professional development through CELE with the initial purchase of the book for the approximately 300 teachers in training to learn to design and deliver content lessons for ELLs.
CELE offers professional development and training in English Language Education, using a comprehensive, whole-child, whole-school and whole-community approach to create a better learning experience for students and professionals. CELE is a program of Hampshire Educational Collaborative, an educational service agency dedicated to fostering educational excellence, opportunity, and growth for all learners. HEC directs major initiatives in special education, early childhood, after school learning centers, professional development, teacher licensure and education of at-risk youth.
February 25, 2010
Penny Wars Competition Raises Funds for Haiti Relief
Students of HEC Academy, an alternative education program of the Hampshire Educational Collaborative, have raised $1100 for the Haiti Relief Fund of the Red Cross, in an academically-based fundraising project called the Penny Wars.
HEC Academy is an alternative high school for students ages 14-20 that focuses on enhancing the diverse abilities of its students in a rewarding and therapeutic environment. It has a very low staff to student ratio, with three homerooms. Students fulfill the graduation requirements of their sending school districts and earn their diplomas from the sending district.
The process worked in the following manner: Jugs were placed in homerooms to be filled with coins, by students. Students from one home room threw pennies in their jug, then headed into another homeroom and threw in silver coins, reducing the points in that homeroom jug because each penny had a value of +1point and silver currency had negative values according to the denomination. Example: A dime was worth -10 points. The project was introduced into the math class. Pennies and change were used in probability word problems to calculate the positive and negative points. The students also graphed each homeroom’s weekly progress using excel spreadsheets, then transferred these figures to pizza pie charts to better demonstrate the final prize, a pizza pie.
English classes read about Haiti’s history and the impact of the earthquake on the populace there, as well as researching the major charities that were involved in helping the earthquake victims. Following this research, students assisted in choosing the charity for the donation. As the project continued, both students and teachers realized that not only were they having fun, but the amount for the people of Haiti was far exceeding expectations.
Students showed a real sense of joy and accomplishment over the course of this fund drive. One student remarked, “It really feels good to me to help others in need.” __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The South Hadley StoryWalk™ is a project of the South Hadley Network for Children, which oversees the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) grant funding for S. Hadley. Jill Flanders, the principal of Plains Elementary School in South Hadley and Barbara Finlayson, CES Early Childhood Director and CFCE Coordinator, organized the program. They also prepared and installed the exhibition which features Eric Carle’s Do You Want to Be My Friend? The exhibition features pages of the book laminated and mounted in different stations throughout the park so that families can walk and enjoy the story together.
Prior to the Collaborative, Dr. Diehl was Executive Director of .jpg)
The Parent Education Media Campaign highlights the active and positive efforts of Northampton parents to keep their teenagers healthy and prevent underage drinking and substance use. The newest message, “90% of Northampton parents would be upset if another adult gave alcohol to their teen,” can seen on local billboards, in the schools and newspaper, on the local television station, at multiple venues around town, and was mailed home to the parents of middle and high school students. 
The Hampshire Educational Collaborative (HEC) is pleased to announce an important new resource for teachers and administrators: Teaching English Language Learners Across the Content Areas, published by ASCD (formerly Association for School and Curriculum Development). The book is written by Debbie Zacarian, Director of the Center for English Language Education (CELE) at Hampshire Educational Collaborative and Judie Haynes, award winning educator, presenter, and author of numerous books on education. Haynes is founder and director of