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Serving Aztec, Bloomfield, Central, Farmington, Gallup, and Zuni school districts; San Juan College...
and all New Mexico schools
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Updates from REC #1
In this newsletter, you will find information about these topics:
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- Wrap Up: CS4MS
- Wrap Up: IGA-Science Instructional Scope
- Wrap Up: IGA-Science Classroom Innovations
- New Opportunity: Extending Equity into the Digital Workplace
- New Opportunity: SEL4NM
- Follow Up: REC-1 / District Visits
- Available External Services
- Upcoming Events & Dates
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Wrap Up: Computer Science for Middle School (CS4MS)
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CS4MS was a one-semester project funded by the Math and Science Bureau at the NM Public Education Department . The project goal was to generate interest in computer science career fields and help students develop an understanding of the logic, processes, and thinking skills necessary for coding. Students used the free Scratch platform (http://scratch.mit.edu) to learn and apply coding skills.
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Students and teachers from five middle schools, representing Farmington Municipal Schools and Zuni Public Schools, participated in twice-weekly after school club sessions. The project culminated in a capstone event during which students shared their collaboratively designed coding projects.
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BIG THANKS: Big thanks to Brynn Chavez-Cochran and Michelle Thur from Farmington Municipal Schools who helped manage the project, attended every training session, and supported the teachers throughout the semester.
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- Club Sponsors: 10
- Total Club Sessions: 137+
- Total Participating Students: 97
- Capstone Projects: 14
A Little More...
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SUMMER CODING SESSIONS: REC-1 is helping students continue their coding projects throughout the summer with bi-weekly coding sessions. (Contact David Bowman, executive director, if you have students wishing to participate.) Upcoming dates are below.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEXT YEAR: Both participating districts plan to continue sponsoring the coding clubs, including possible extensions into lower grades. REC-1 will provide free training to sponsors from any REC-1 member district in coding skills and instructional delivery.
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WRAP UP: IGA
Science Instructional Scope
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REC-1 entered into an IGA with the Math and Science Bureau of the NM PED to
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- procure an instructional scope developer for science
- pay stipends to participating teachers
COMPLETE: The provider was selected and has been fully paid for the contract work. All participating teachers received their stipends.
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BIG THANKS: Big thanks to San Juan College and their chief procurement officer, Frank Cole, for supporting us through our first procurement.
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Wrap Up: IGA
Science Classroom Innovations
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REC-1 entered into an IGA with the Math and Science Bureau of the NM PED to
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- Register participants for the NM PED Classroom Innovations project
- Purchase and deliver instructional supplies to participants
- Acquire accounts for online instructional resources (This was an "add-on" to the original contract.)
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COMPLETE: All services are fully delivered, and the NM REC-1 has been paid by the NM PED.
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New Opportunity:
Extending Equity into the Digital Workplace
Dr. Joseph Goins, a well-known name across NM for his work in career preparation, is developing an $8 Million, four-year federal grant to support the infusion of computer science education pathways into NM's Early College High Schools (ECHSs). With this approach, students will engage in course studies in a virtual environment, with courses either through their local colleges or, if they are not available, through another college.
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If the project is funded, the anticipated start date will be October 1, 2021. The first phase of the project will be a six-month development period for establishing the course structures, engaging the state's ECHSs, determining which NM colleges will offer virtual instruction to students, and identifying and mitigating barriers to student participation.
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REC-1 will be the applicant and lead agency. In addition to receiving funding for 1.5 FTEs, REC-1 will access 8% indirect cost, which will provide a solid financial standing for the REC for the next four or more years. REC-1 will submit the proposal on or before July 7.
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New Opportunity: SEL4NM
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SEL4NM is a new organization created by local, national, and international experts in social-emotional learning. They are seeking funding through the LANL Foundation to help provide schools and community groups with a centralized platform for social-emotional learning resources, professional development, and other resources. Additionally, SEL4NM will provide vetting of resources and providers so that schools may select appropriate and high-quality support.
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REC-1 will serve as the fiscal agent for this project, should it be funded. Funding is likely, given the collaboration between SEL4NM and LANL in the project design.
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By serving as the fiscal agent, REC-1 will have immediate and easy access to the best thinking, support, and resources for SEL. We will also have access to the benefits of the national organization SEL4US, which SEL4NM is joining.
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REC-1 District Visits
First, a big thank you to each superintendent for making some time to discuss REC-1 services, strategies, plans, and support.
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A few common topics emerged from discussions.
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- Overall value of REC-1:
-Regional "voice" to advocate for district concerns
-Improved collaboration and information sharing by leadership
-Improved access to information and resources
-Centralized resource for professional development, grants, projects
- Desired services by REC-1:
-High disparity in the nature of services, particularly between the larger and smaller REC-1 districts.
-Efforts to support virtual learning and computer science education, though concerns about connectivity are still prevalent
-Ongoing support for teacher / staff ability to use technology to improve data analysis, and student learning and engagement (other topics may also be
-Interest in support for student engagement / CPI / social-emotional learning
-Help alternative programs establish school-to-industry connections (e.g., internships)
-Support for instructional planning and design
- Future thinking and possibilities to consider:
-REC-1 hosting statewide conference on unique topics where member districts may have expertise or access to expertise
-Additional (and bigger) IGAs with state agencies
-Funding options for career preparation, particularly in computer science skills
-Ancillary support services
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External Services: Available Now
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Non-REC-1 districts can contract REC-1 now for
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- Reading intervention and instruction training
- Reading intervention program set up and management support
- Custom-built management, data analysis, and reporting tools
- Active learning in the content areas training
- Coding club set up and staff training (Scratch coding)
- Procurement services
- Teacher technology training (wide variety of options and skill levels--just let us know what you need)
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Upcoming Events and Dates
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- July 13: Kids Coding, 10:00 - 12:00
(contact David Bowman for Zoom invite, if needed)
- July 20-22: NMCEL Conference
(RECA will have a breakout session, and will host its meeting during the conference.)
- July 27: Kids Coding, 10:00 - 12:00
- August: Announcement of federal awards for TRIO proposals
- August 5: REC-1 Board Meeting, 10:00 - 11:00
- August 10: Kids Coding, 10:00 - 12:00
- September 9 - 19: NM State Fair
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Here for you!
At REC-1, we are committed to making the best of every opportunity we have to serve you and our member districts.
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Thank you, and best wishes to each of you!
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