Diverse Learners Cooperative

In the midst of the summer PD reboot (already!?), I am reminded that there is such power in connection. Creating spaces of belonging and collaboration for educators is a significant investment in our students for the rest of the year. I'm thankful for the Nashville Scene highlighting the Diverse Learners Cooperative efforts to create such spaces. Grateful for partners like The Educators' Cooperative in this work and all that's ahead for changing the face of teaching for the better. "In a profession that can feel isolating, connecting with people who understand its challenges and empower one another to find solutions — or simply just listen — creates a huge impact that can’t be achieved through top-down-style professional development lectures." https://lnkd.in/e-veviit

Educators and nonprofit leaders: Your input is appreciated!

We kicked off our 2024-2025 Teacher Leader Fellowship with our Summer Session! 17 incredible diverse learner teachers are collaborating in this cohort, joing us for 3 days of inspiration. Two previous Fellows shared about their experiences in the previous year, inspiring us with their overview of their impact projects. Our speakers, Krystal Clark and Amiee Sadler, shared insight and sparked motivation for us to set this school year up to be successful. Several Fellows mentioned in their end-of-session survey how much they appreciated meeting and working with "like-minded" educators. One Fellow said, "I have walked away from the last three days with so much energy and so many ideas for the year!" Here's to another great school year! #DiverseLearnersCoop #NashvilleNonprofit #TennesseeTeachers

As Program Director, Mary works with school teams to design and facilitate meaningful programs that support students’ academic and behavioral needs. She is a former special education teacher, Teacher of the Year, and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). With a perceptive ability to identify team dynamics and student needs, she has contributed critical support to move school teams closer toward meeting their diverse learner goals. We asked Mary what inspires her about working with the DLC. She said, "The most meaningful part of this role is working alongside teams to overcome barriers to success, and then witnessing the positive impact of their efforts. Seeing students thrive because of their dedication is what continually inspires me! " #MeetTheTeam #DiverseLearnersCoop #NashvilleNonprofit

As you gear up for the 2024-2025 school year, are you eager to discover more ways to support diverse learners in your classroom? Our newsletter provides information on upcoming professional learning opportunities and supportive resources. Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated about these opportunities! https://lnkd.in/esrs-AKn #ProfessionalDevelopmentForTeachers #TennesseeTeachers #Accessible

Our mission is to equip and empower teachers and leaders to create high-quality, inclusive educational opportunities for all learners. Through our personalized coaching, collaborative networks, and high-quality resources, we support diverse learner educators in expanding their skills and impacting students for years to come. We can only do this work when we have others alongside us advocating for equitable education. If you want to more actively support equitable education, consider becoming a Champion for Teachers, our monthly giving program. As a Champion for Teachers, you will make a direct impact on teachers and how they can support diverse learners. Become a Champion here: https://lnkd.in/eZ2mewXY #NashvilleNonprofit #DiverseLearnersCoop #EquitableEducation

In a few short weeks, students from all different backgrounds and different abilities will enter your school. Will they feel welcome when they walk through those doors? School leaders are responsible for facilitating an inclusive and culturally responsive environment where staff and students can thrive. Here are some starting points for making your school an encouraging, respectful environment: → Provide opportunities for culturally relevant learning. Students are more engaged when they can identify with course content. Provide materials from culturally relevant materials and contributors. → Start with the staff. Listen to the experiences of your school faculty and staff. Collaborate with them to create a school environment that dispels biases and cultivates an inclusive culture. → Provide teachers and staff with relevant professional development that represents them and their role. High-quality professional development that is culturally representative of your student and staff population will help them feel seen and valued. Access to relevant, high-quality training can help educators be more effective leaders and impactful teachers. What tips would you add to this list? Share in the comments! #SchoolLeadership #ProfessionalDevelopmentForTeachers #TennesseeTeachers #Administrators

As the recipients of the Tennessee Alliance for Equity in Education Advocacy Support grant, the DLC researched Educator Preparation Pathways (EPPs) for diverse learner educators to take a closer look at how we prepare special education and English Language Learner teachers in Tennessee. The report identifies 3 opportunities to ensure the evolution of teacher recruitment, preparation, and support are inclusive of the unique needs of special education and ESL teachers: → Include special education and ESL perspectives in policy and strategy initiatives. → Design effective models for clinical practice that account for variation in licensure pathway and school profile. → Equip school leaders with the knowledge and competencies required to support novice special education and ESL teachers in their school buildings. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/e7d56ttB Thank you to EdTrust Tennessee and Bright Matter for supporting this project! #TeacherPreparation #TeacherPrep #DiverseLearnersCoop #NashvilleNonprofit

As educators, we often encourage our students to have a growth mindset about their ability to learn and accomplish new things. Encouraging a growth mindset over a fixed mindset is just as important for adults as it is for our students! When we prioritize a growth mindset and cultivate an inclusive learning environment, progress happens. Students thrive, and teachers continue to enact more positive change. How are you framing your growth mindset for the 2024-2025 school year? #GrowthMindset #TennesseeTeachers #DiverseLearnersCoop

Meet one of our special education program specialists, Sage! Sage works with DLC’s partners to support teachers and leaders in implementing best practices in special education. We asked Sage what inspires her about her work with the DLC. She responded, "The impact that the DLC can have on student experiences is inspiring. We approach teacher training and coaching through the lens of diverse learners. By improving the way teachers interact with students and the systems that are in place at schools, we have the potential to impact all students, not just those with disabilities. Special education instruction is simply good teaching and I’m happy to know that we are equipping more teachers with the tools they need to help all learners have access to high-quality instruction and classroom management." She shares her expertise with many educators in the Nashville area and is an incredible asset to the DLC team. Thank you for all you do, Sage! #MeetTheTeam #DiverseLearnersCoop #NashvilleNonprofit