1. December 3 rd, 2015 Director: Lindsey M. Swagerty – lmswager@uark.edu (479) 575-3641 Coordinator: Priscilla R. Wetzel – prwetzel@uark.edu (479) 575-4582 http://erz.uark.edu

2. Welcome & Introductions

3. MISSION AND GOALS OF ERZ  Each ERZ partner school has a comprehensive professional development program aligned to the growth needs of staff and the learning goals of students that is redesigned as Common Core State Standards and College and Career Readiness Skills are implemented in the curriculum.  Changes to pre-service teacher education are made at the Institution of Higher Education to prepare candidates for implementing Common Core State Standards and College and Career Readiness Skills in the public classroom.  Students in Education Renewal Zone partner schools have access to a rigorous, intentionally aligned P-16 curriculum which incorporates Common Core State Standards and College and Career Readiness Skills.  Students and teachers in Education Renewal Zone schools have an appropriate mentoring program to support the implementation of Common Core State Standards and College and Career Readiness Skills. Teacher candidates have an appropriate mentoring support system.  Education Renewal Zone partner schools have in place a plan to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers to support implementation of Common Core State Standards and College and Career Readiness Skills. The Institution of Higher Education has a plan for sharing Institution of Higher Education faculty with partner schools in core subject areas.  Each Education Renewal Zone partner school has a parent and community involvement plan that will be redesigned to support the implementation of Common Core State Standards and College and Career Readiness Skills.  There is collaboration among the Institution of Higher Education partners, education service centers, partner schools, and communities to accomplish the mission of the Education Renewal Zones. Activities of the Education Renewal Zone address the needs of partners and are designed to strengthen the partnerships. There is sufficient networking among partners to support processes for building leadership capacity and integrating the Common Core State Standards.

4. CURRENT SCHOOLS Total Schools: 26 Districts: 7 Elementary: 9 Middle/Junior High: 10 High School: 7

5. ERZ PROGRAMS & UPDATES Adopt-A-Classroom  Currently accepting participants for spring semester  Adopt-A-Classroom is a program offered by the ERZ to pair UA faculty and staff members with local K-12 teachers for a semester- or year- long partnership. UA representatives teach or co-teach once a month in their partner teacher’s classroom. The program purposes include:  UA faculty and staff offer up-to-date content knowledge and access to resources in their academic field  UA faculty and staff gain knowledge about current pedagogy in K-12 schools and student development  K-12 students interact with UA faculty and staff and gain knowledge about higher education and potential careers

6. ERZ PROGRAMS & UPDATES Northwest Arkansas P-20 Task Force  Co-hosted with the Northwest Arkansas Co-Op  December 9th, 2015 from 9:30 to 11:30  The Northwest Arkansas P-20 Task Force is a group of more than 50 educators, with half representing P-12 schools and half representing the five institutions of higher education in Northwest Arkansas.  The mission of the NWA P-20 Task Force is to improve the transitions of pre- kindergarten through post-graduate students in Northwest Arkansas by  Minimizing barriers  Expanding conversations among education, industry, and community stakeholders  Increasing student and parent awareness of the impact of educational opportunities and choice  Addressing the changing regional and global workforce needs.  The NWA P-20 Task Force meets once a semester and members work collaboratively to build meeting agendas.

7. ERZ PROGRAMS & UPDATES Future Teachers Day  Event scheduled for February 16th, 2016  Co-hosted with COEHP – Coordinator of Undergraduate Student Recruitment  Future Teacher’s Day is a recruitment event for high school students who are considering a career in education. Started in spring 2014 by the ERZ and the College of Education and Health Professions, the event grew from 78 attendees in its first iteration to 172 attendees in it third iteration in fall 2015.  At Future Teacher’s Day, students speak in small groups with faculty members, learn about UA admission requirements, take a campus tour, experience an education course, and speak with current students in education programs.

8. ERZ PROGRAMS & UPDATES Eye to the Future  Co-hosted with Northwest Arkansas Co-Op  Summer 2016  E.Y.E. to the Future: Education, Youth, and the Economy in June 2014 was a one-day regional P-20 education conference that focused on bringing educators, local industry representatives, and policymakers together.  The June 2014 event included roundtable discussions between educators and community members, a student panel, and sessions highlighting current innovative efforts in schools.  In June 2015, the event will highlight more school-community partnership programs and include greater participation from local industry representatives.

9. ERZ PROGRAMS & UPDATES UA New Teacher Academy  New program – Implemented this year  The Arkansas Department of Education recently funded a pilot program called UA New Teacher Academy designed to support first-year elementary teachers at rural schools in Northwest Arkansas. This pilot program will include monthly professional development sessions (topics to be confirmed following needs assessment), networking lunches with other novice teachers, and a UA faculty mentor who will offer outside support.

10. ERZ PROGRAMS & UPDATES Razorback STEM Day  Event Scheduled for December 11th, 2015  Elementary STEM design challenge and competition. The goal of this event is to promote integrated learning and problem solving within the elementary grade levels.  Our hope is to make this a main event for our elementary schools and we will use data from this, to improve and promote further elementary STEM days on campus.

11. OTHER PROGRAMS AND INFORMATION COEHP – Field Placement Director: Jake Ayo  Update on Teacher Career Fair and Field Placement  Teacher Career Fair will be on May 11 th at the student union on campus  Schools will be able to screen applicants and view resumes before the event  The hope is that schools will be able to conduct preliminary interviews that day.

12. OTHER PROGRAMS AND INFORMATION CIED: STEM Programs and Outreach Department Head – Dr. Michael Daugherty  The department is now offering an integrated elementary STEM graduate certificate.  The goal is to engage pre-service teachers in STEM, so they will be prepared to teach and encourage their future students in STEM subjects.  The certificate is also available to current teachers.  Current website is serving as a resource not only for students, but for all teachers. The website includes student developed design challenges and lesson plans that can be downloaded at any time.  Constantly being updated and new lessons are being added. http://stem.uark.edu

13. OTHER PROGRAMS AND INFORMATION CIED: Reading Clinic Anticipated Start: Summer 2016  Will discuss programs and structure at next meeting.

14. GUEST SPEAKER: DAVID HANSON  Clinical assistant professor of special education at the University of Arkansas  Certified Academic Language Therapist and dyslexia therapist Contact Information: David Hanson dhanson@uark.edu

15. PLANNING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER Future Meeting Date: To be determined Survey: Will be sent by email to determine the direction of ERZ and needs of our schools

16. LUNCH AND TABLE DISCUSSION 1. Thank you all for your support and guidance 2. Thank you to David Hanson for sharing 3. Thank you to our special invited guest

17. Director: Lindsey M. Swagerty – lmswager@uark.edu (479) 575-3641 Coordinator: Priscilla R. Wetzel – prwetzel@uark.edu (479) 575-4582 http://erz.uark.edu