GFESC hosted two half-day Strengthening Business Practices workshops today! 🌟 This morning, Module 3 focused on marketing early childhood programs, while this afternoon, Module 4 focused on recruiting and retaining staff. Both sessions provided valuable tips and best practices to help child care providers strengthen their programs and build sustainable businesses. Thank you to Deborah Dow for leading both sessions, and to our guest for joining us! 👏 #GFESC #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #EarlyChildhoodEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment

📣‼️HAPPENING TODAY‼️📣

Today's Early Childhood professional learning at GFESC was filled with valuable updates and meaningful conversations! Participants received important information on preschool procedures, file monitoring, Child Find Committee meetings, mental health and teen suicide awareness, and ethics training. We also appreciated Becky Petty with 100 Families for stopping by to share how their organization supports children and families in our communities. A special thank you to Gwen Couthren for leading an informative day of learning and to everyone who participated! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #EarlyChildhood #ProfessionalLearning #GFESC

Today at GFESC, PreK educators completed CPI Certification Training with Karen Grady. Participants strengthened their skills in nonviolent crisis intervention, focusing on decision-making and strategies that promote the care, welfare, safety, and security of everyone involved in crisis situations. Thank you to Karen for leading this valuable training and to all who participated! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #CPICertification #PreK #ProfessionalLearning

Today at GFESC, educators joined Audrey Kengla for Ready, Set, Success: Managing Behavior in the Classroom. Participants explored proactive classroom management strategies, behavior expectations, routines, and effective responses to challenging behaviors—all designed to create positive, engaging learning environments where students can thrive. Thank you to Audrey for sharing her expertise and to everyone who attended! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #ClassroomManagement #StudentSuccess #ProfessionalLearning

Over the past two days, educators participated in Intro to CS: Domain 3 at GFESC, focusing on Data Analysis and Visualization. Participants explored engaging strategies and practical tools for implementing computer science standards, helping students build essential data literacy and problem-solving skills. Thank you to everyone who joined us for two days of learning and innovation! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #ComputerScience #CSforAll #ProfessionalLearning

Today at GFESC, educators joined Carrie Tuttle and Maryanne Caldwell for No Missing Pieces: Putting Indicator 13 Together for Student Success. Participants explored how to build compliant, high-quality transition IEPs, unpacked the Indicator 13 checklist, and gained practical strategies to support successful postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities. Thank you to our presenters and everyone who participated in this important day of learning! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #SpecialEducation #IDEA #TransitionServices #ProfessionalLearning

Today's SPED Eligibility workshop at GFESC, led by Rebecca Ballard, provided educators with a deeper understanding of Arkansas's 12 special education disability categories and the required evaluation components for each. Thank you to Rebecca for sharing her expertise and to everyone who participated in strengthening their knowledge to better support students! 💙📚 #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #SpecialEducation #ProfessionalLearning

Over the past two days, educators joined us at GFESC to explore Unlocking Rigor: Practical Application of Webb's Depth of Knowledge (DOK) with dedicated Elementary (K–5) and Secondary (6–12) sessions. Participants gained practical strategies for increasing rigor, strengthening instructional coherence, and creating standards-aligned learning experiences for all students. Thank you to everyone who attended and invested in improving teaching and learning! 📚✨ #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #WebbsDOK #InstructionalRigor #ProfessionalLearning

Today at GFESC, Lindsay Reed led LAUNCH for Students (LFS) Facilitator Training, equipping facilitators with the knowledge and tools needed to support successful implementation at the school and district levels. Participants explored key program components, the tiered support structure, and processes for documenting and escalating issues. Thank you to Lindsay and everyone who participated! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #LAUNCHforStudents #ProfessionalLearning

Over the past two days, educators at GFESC strengthened their literacy instruction through Sonday System 1 & 2 training. Participants explored multisensory, Orton-Gillingham-based strategies and gained hands-on experience with practical tools to support struggling readers in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Thank you to everyone who joined us and invested in helping students become confident, successful readers! 📚✨ #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #ScienceOfReading #Literacy #ProfessionalLearning

Today at GFESC, district points of contact gathered for District Point of Contact Information – Novice to learn about supporting mentor and novice teachers throughout the school year. Participants reviewed roles, responsibilities, available cooperative support, and key resources to help build a successful foundation for new educators. A special thank you to Angela Miller, Kelly Burns, and Jennifer King for leading today's informative session! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #NoviceTeachers #ProfessionalLearning

Over the past two days, new school nurses joined us at GFESC for Novice School Nurse Training! 🩺 Participants explored the essential roles and responsibilities of school nursing, learned about state requirements and reporting, and gained valuable resources to support a successful start to the school year. A special thank you to Tracy Starks and Katelyn Chambers for leading this informative training and helping prepare our newest school nurses for success! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #GFESC #SchoolNurses #ProfessionalLearning

It was a full day of learning at GFESC! ➕📊 Educators explored ATLAS Classroom Tools to strengthen instruction and assessment in mathematics, then spent the afternoon focusing on effective math intervention strategies to help close learning gaps and support student success. Thank you to everyone who joined us in building stronger math classrooms! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #MathEducation #MathIntervention #ATLASClassroom #ProfessionalDevelopment #StudentAchievement #TeacherTools #ArkansasEducation #SupportingEducators

Great writing starts with great instruction! ✏️📚 Today's Building Writers All Day Long: K–2 Strategies that Stick workshop, led by Candy Goff and Leslie Battles, gave educators practical, ready-to-use strategies for embedding meaningful writing into every part of the school day. Thank you to everyone who joined us to strengthen writing instruction and empower our youngest learners! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #BuildingWriters #EarlyLiteracy #WritingInstruction #K2Education #HQIM #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeacherTools #ArkansasEducation

Educators explored the power of AI in today's MagicSchool AI for Computer Science workshop! 💻🤖 Participants discovered how to use MagicSchool AI to create engaging coding activities, simplify complex computer science concepts, and design dynamic learning experiences for students. Thank you to everyone who joined us for a day of innovation and learning! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #MagicSchoolAI #ComputerScience #ArtificialIntelligence #Coding #STEMEducation #EdTech #FutureReady #ProfessionalDevelopment #ArkansasEducation

Supporting new teachers starts with strong mentors! 🍎🤝 Today's GFESC Mentoring Meeting, led by Angela Miller, Jennifer King, and Kelly Burns, equipped experienced educators with the tools and strategies to guide, encourage, and inspire novice teachers. Thank you to our presenters and participants for investing in the success of the next generation of educators! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #TeacherMentors #MentorTeachers #NewTeacherSupport #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeacherLeadership #GrowTogether #ArkansasEducation #SupportingEducators

Today's You Want Me to Do What? Modifications and Accommodations in the Classroom workshop, led by Kris Shinn, gave educators practical tools to better support every learner. 🍎 Participants explored the legal requirements, their role in implementing accommodations and modifications, creative classroom strategies, and effective ways to document student progress. Thank you to Kris for sharing valuable insights that will make a lasting impact in classrooms across our region! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #SpecialEducation #InclusiveEducation #Accommodations #Modifications #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeacherTools #StudentSuccess #ArkansasEducation

That's a wrap on our 6-day K-2 RISE professional learning series! 📚🍎 This week, educators completed Days 5 and 6, diving into vocabulary development, oral language, and reading comprehension while exploring practical strategies to help young learners become confident, successful readers. Thank you to Arkansas Department of Education staff Sandy Shepard and Dallas Henderson for leading this outstanding series and sharing their expertise with educators from across our region. Thank you to everyone who participated and invested in strengthening literacy instruction for Arkansas students! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #K2RISE #ScienceOfReading #EarlyLiteracy #ReadingSuccess #LiteracyMatters #ProfessionalDevelopment #ArkansasEducation #SupportingEducators #FutureReaders

Creativity and technology came together yesterday and today at GFESC during Making with CS: Creating, Coding, and Teaching How AI Learns! 🤖🎨 Educators explored hands-on ways to teach coding, computer science, and the basics of artificial intelligence through creative, engaging activities that students will love. We can't wait to see these innovative ideas come to life in classrooms across our region! #BetterTogether #ConnectGrowServe #ComputerScience #Coding #ArtificialIntelligence #STEMEducation #FutureReady #InnovationInEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment #ArkansasEducation