Media Contact: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications, 248.260.8466, barbara@eafocus.com; Julie Kelly, Avondale School District, 248.537.6001, julie.kelly@avondale.k12.mi.us
Auburn Hills, Mich.—Jan. 22, 2015—- Avondale School District, an achievement-oriented learning community focused on student leadership and success in academics, the arts and athletics, announces the district has received a $5,000 Learning & Leadership grant from the NEA Foundation for its Teacher Lab model.
According to Marcia Hudson, an Avondale teacher leader who runs the award winning Teacher Lab, the program focuses on providing teachers the opportunity to observe colleagues and learn research-based practices; the ability for teachers to debrief, reflect and set personal goals; and provides a system for collaborative inquiry that supports student achievement and authentically builds leadership.
“We are thrilled to have the support of the NEA Foundation to continue enhancing the Teacher Lab program across the district,” Hudson said. “The Learning & Leadership grant will be beneficial in enhancing professional learning needs within the Avondale community and with the support of district partners such as Oakland University.”
The Learning & Leadership grant is awarded to support public school teachers, public education support professionals, and/or faculty and staff in public institutions of higher education. Grants in the amount of $5,000 are given to groups to fund collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff new to an assignment.
According to Avondale Superintendent Dr. James Schwarz, Hudson and other leaders in the Teacher Lab program will meet with faculty in the eight schools within the Avondale District to determine how the grant money can be used to best support job-embedded professional learning needs.
“I congratulate Marcia Hudson and her team in receiving this grant and support their continuing efforts to provide leading edge training and facilitation to our teachers through Teacher Lab,” Dr. Schwarz said. “It’s another example of how the district seeks to nurture and engage the outstanding faculty we have here at Avondale while also being role models for other districts throughout the country.”
The Learning & Leadership grant follows a well-received presentation given by Hudson, Linda Maniago and Serena Stock, teacher leaders at Avondale, at the national Teach to Lead summit in Kentucky in early Dec. 2014.
To learn more about the Learning & Leadership grant, click here.
About the NEA Foundation
The NEA Foundation is a public charity supported by contributions from educators’ dues, corporate sponsors and others. It supports student success by helping public school educators work with key partners to build strong systems of shared responsibility. Learn more at www.neafoundation.org.
About Avondale School District
Avondale School District is a collaborative community of teachers, staff and families working together to assure student success. The district, encompassing portions of Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Township, Troy and Rochester Hills, celebrates the richness of a diverse student population and strives to be a model school community that prepares students to be lifelong learners and contributing citizens to the world that awaits them upon graduation. Learn more about Avondale Schools, an AdvancED accredited district, at www.avondale.k12.mi.us.
