Teacher Communities

This community of educators will engage in professional dialogue around topics and issues intended to support the craft of coaching. Such topics as intentional trust and relationship building, growth producing feedback, communication skills, and mindful presence will be explored. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to bring issues and challenges to the table for exploration and support with colleagues.

This community of educators will focus on professional dialogue aligned to culturally responsive practices, NYS Science Learning Standards alignment in curriculum & instruction, changes in the new assessments at elementary/secondary, and more. Are you a department chair? An instructional coach? Teacher liaison? This community will support your needs as well. ALL meeting materials/resources are shared and can be used as turn-key opportunities to facilitate meetings with your own district or team.

The Fine Arts Community Group is an inclusive community for music and visual art educators, teaching artists, community partners, and anyone interested in leading or supporting enrichment areas across Central New York. Open to all who support the arts, this group focuses on building strong organizational structures, implementing the Individual Arts Assessment Pathway (IAAP), and expanding professional learning and curriculum development across the region. With an emphasis on PreK-12 conversations, we aim to strengthen fine arts programs through adaptable practices that respond to evolving student and district needs as New York Inspires and the Portrait of the Graduate begin framing everything. Members will engage in collaborative planning, resource sharing, and community-building efforts through regular gatherings and partnership stops that build school arts programs and support local artists and organizations. From early childhood to high school, this group fosters a supportive network where educators and partners work together to enhance curriculum, instruction, and student experiences in the arts. Join us to lead, learn, and grow with a vibrant network dedicated to elevating fine arts education. Sign-up even if you can not attend all meetings!

The Physical Education Community is an inclusive community for physical education teachers, coaches, wellness leaders, and community partners across Oswego County and Central New York. Grounded in the NY State Portrait of a Graduate and NY Inspires, this group focuses on strengthening programs, aligning curriculum and instruction, and expanding professional learning through a shared vision of student success. With an emphasis on PreK-12 conversations, we aim to enhance physical education through adaptable practices that respond to evolving student and district needs.

This group brings together arts organizations, cultural institutions, educational partners, science industry, and community-based businesses to plan, share, and co-design supports together for schools across the region. This working group creates space for partners to exchange ideas, align programming, and identify opportunities that support district needs while deepening connections to NY Inspires and the Portrait of a Graduate. With a strong focus on career and industry readiness, partners collaborate to develop meaningful, real-world learning experiences that connect arts, culture, and education to evolving workforce skills. Together, this collaborative drives coordinated, high-impact support that benefits students, educators, and communities across Central New York.

The Collective Care Team is a collaborative learning community within the MTSS system that supports counselors, social workers, school psychologists, behavior coaches, and aligned staff in identifying and addressing specialized student needs. This community provides space for reflection and collaboration around role‑specific challenges while strengthening SEL competencies such as Relationship Skills and Responsible Decision‑Making. Grounded in CR‑S principles of affirming identities and inclusive, ongoing professional learning, participants examine role clarity, prioritization, attendance, transitions, graduation pathways, and Tier 1 support. Aligned with the Portrait of a Graduate, the Collective Care Team fosters trauma‑responsive, restorative practices and builds professional capacity through collaborative, differentiated learning that sustains adults so they can better support students.

This community of educators will focus on professional dialogue centered around the Oswego Battle of the Books, with an emphasis on strengthening literacy through shared practices and instructional strategies. Collegial conversations will support librarians in building relationships, amplifying student engagement, and exploring ways to expand literacy experiences beyond Battle of the Books through collaborative planning and idea exchange.

Join us as we come together to learn more about the Seal of Biliteracy in Oswego County. We will explore how to increase student interest and support one another as we navigate through the New York State requirements. This community will meet to support multiple districts in preparing students for the Seal of Biliteracy. Information from the OBEWL Seal meetings with Candance Black will be shared at each meeting. Link to join: https://E2CCB-GST.zoom.us/j/3750412712?omn=91025247608 The final student Seal Presentations are tentatively scheduled for April 27, 2027.

This professional learning experience begins with a two‑day Summer Institute and continues through a year‑long learning community, providing sustained, practice‑embedded support for early‑career educators as they build classrooms grounded in belonging, clarity, and accountability. Summer Institute: The two‑day institute supports new teachers in creating classrooms where high‑quality instruction and relationship‑centered management promote engagement and student success. Participants explore how intentional instructional design, culturally responsive‑sustaining practices, and restorative routines establish predictable, inclusive environments that encourage academic and social risk‑taking. The institute strengthens educators' Self‑Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision‑Making (NYSED SEL) through reflection on identity, communication, expectations, and proactive behavior systems. Aligned with the CR‑S Framework, the experience centers affirming student identities and inclusive norms and aligns with PSEL standards for Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Community of Care. Year‑Long Learning Community: Following the institute, participants engage in a year‑long learning community including four collaborative sessions and individualized, in‑field coaching. Learning is experiential, reflective, collaborative, and immediately applicable. Coaching emphasizes observation, feedback, co‑planning, and reflective dialogue to refine instructional, behavioral, and restorative practices. Together, the Summer Institute and year‑long learning community create a coherent system of support that bridges theory and practice, strengthens adult SEL, and builds sustainable, inclusive classrooms for educators and students.

This community will focus on strategies to improve learning and teaching, utilizing knowledge of the science of reading and writing. We hope to build the capacity of those that attend this community to be a literacy resource in their districts and buildings. This year, we plan to embark on a book study as part of our community as well as reserve time each meeting for resource creation. Community Members: administrators, coaches, teacher leaders, grade level facilitators.

This community of educators will focus on professional dialogue aligned to culturally responsive practices, standards alignment in curriculum & instruction, and evidence-based practices in critical thinking through reading and writing. Collegial conversations will focus on how to plan lessons that use interdisciplinary skills to get students at deeper levels of authentic learning. Session topics, practices, and resources/materials will be designed with the intention of turn keying back to your home district to support professional growth of your department and teacher teams. *Consider attending as an interdisciplinary team! Target Audience: Secondary Teachers of Social Studies (Gr 5-12), Secondary Teachers of ELA (Grades 5-12), Literacy Specialists, Instructional Coaches, Department Chairs, Teacher Leaders, Administrators (Directors, Curriculum Specialists, Principals, Asst Principals) *Half day or Full Day Option Social Studies will be the focus for the interdisciplinary discussions that take place in the morning timeslot from 8:30-11:00. ELA will be the focus for the the interdisciplinary discussions that take place in the afternoon timeslot 12:00-2:30. ***Get a substitute that fits your needs. half day or full day. Your attendance on the sign in sheet will indicate your school district's sub reimbursement rate.

This is a new community! All ENL teachers are invited to join this community where we will investigate best practices for teaching emergent bilinguals. Information from the Office of World Language and Bilingual Education will be shared. We will be using the Science of Reading for Multi-Lingual Learners Toolkit from the NYS OBEWL as well as other resources. We will look at gaining increased participation for ELLs and Ever-ELLs for the Seal of Biliteracy. Join us to embark on this journey together and network with other teachers like you!

Whether you're a classroom teacher, coach, or curriculum leader, this K-12 math community is your space to connect, learn, and lead. We'll dive into the latest NYSED updates and explore best practices in math instruction that can be turned into turnkey resources for your teams or districts. Together, we'll keep the mathematical practices at the heart of every conversation-while intentionally connecting our work to the Portrait of a Graduate-as we work toward instructional coherence, equity, and impact across all grade levels. Be part of a dynamic network of educators passionate about math instruction and ready to turn ideas into action!

This half-day community of educators will focus on professional dialogue aligned to NY Inspires/Portrait of a Graduate, standards alignment in curriculum & instruction, and critical thinking through authentic learning experiences. Collegial conversations will focus on student engagement, interdisciplinary skills and planning for authentic learning. Audience: Family Consumer Science Teachers, Business Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Admins, Work Based Learning Teachers

This MTSS Community is designed to bring teams together to learn, share, and grow in their work with Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. Through collaborative sessions, participants will explore best practices, strengthen system-level implementation, and support one another in building structures that meet the needs of all learners. These gatherings will focus on connection, practical strategies, and shared problem-solving to help move MTSS efforts forward in meaningful and manageable ways.

The Tech Innovation Learning Community offers a collaborative space for technology and CTE teachers from across the county to align with the evolving landscape of New York State education. This community will bring together Career and Technical Education (CTE) and technology educators to collaborate, share best practices, and explore innovative strategies that enhance teaching and learning. Participants will engage in meaningful discussions around emerging technologies, instructional tools, and real-world applications that prepare students for college and careers. This learning community fosters collaboration, problem-solving, considers connection to industry, and the integration of technology to support student success in today's evolving workforce-empowering educators to make an impact and change the world one day at a time.

This community of educators will focus on professional dialogue aligned to rigorous tasks, standards alignment in curriculum and instruction, best practices for engaging with all students, and more. Who should attend? Any World Language teacher that wants to collaborate, learn, and grow as an educator. We will spend a portion of our meeting time working on completing the Checkpoint B Exam. The rest of the time will be spent on standards and student engagement. This group has traditionally demonstrated a wealth of knowledge that would be beneficial to share!