On this National Day of Mourning, let’s be forthright. This has been a hard couple of weeks to try to go on with business as usual for us on staff at Texas OnCourse. We mourn with you, with the nation, and with the world over the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others who may never be named. George Floyd was raised in Houston. Maybe you knew him. Maybe you taught him. Maybe he was your neighbor, your relative, your student’s relative. Maybe you or your students knew Mike Ramos, Atatiana Jefferson, Botham Jean. Maybe this experience is dredging up past memories and traumas. We recognize that this is a difficult week for you, during a difficult year. We are deeply saddened, we are angry, we worry for the future of all our black and brown children. But we also have hope.
We Commit to Supporting Racially Just Systems and Practices
Topics: Professional Development, CCMR and Accountability, Research, Educators, Distance Counseling and Learning
Six Tips for Implementing Effective PD from Northwest ISD
This year, educators around the state are seeing normal PD schedules disrupted or challenged by COVID-19 restrictions. And many schools and districts are turning to remote PD for the first time.
Northwest ISD, a quickly growing district in Dallas-Fort Worth, has been using the Texas OnCourse Academy to provide virtual lessons to their college and career staff for the past couple of years. Here are some tips that they’ve utilized for implementing professional development along the way. Find more tips and tools like this in our new remote PD toolkit.
Topics: Professional Development, Administrators, Distance Counseling and Learning
This month, we shifted our usual monthly webinar to make space for colleagues to learn from one another and discuss educator resources for COVID-19. More than 600 people registered to join the conversation. If you weren’t able to join the discussion live, watch the recording:
Topics: Professional Development, Educators, Coronavirus
How You and Your Students Can Recharge Over Break
Winter break is one of my favorite times of the year. As a high school counselor, I look forward to the long, quiet lull between mid-December and the new year when my schedule frees up and I have more control over my day. I’ve learned that it’s important to harness the gift of free time and use it to recharge and prepare myself for a strong spring semester. Students can and should do the same in order to become college and career ready. Here are three tips for educators and three tips for students on how to return to school in January refreshed and more focused than ever:
Topics: Professional Development, Educators
The Best and Brightest in Texas School Counseling
We’re loving the *slightly* cooler temperatures and slow slide into the holiday season. Before we all say farewell for Thanksgiving break, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on all we’re thankful for at Texas OnCourse:
Topics: Professional Development, Educators
An Insider’s Guide to the Texas OnCourse Middle School Module
In education, time is a commodity. Educators need time to teach, plan, and connect and engage with students. Our time impacts lives; therefore, it must be managed well. Time invested in the Texas OnCourse Academy is truly an investment worth making, because the strategies and resources presented allow educators to save LOTS of time later.
Topics: Middle School, Professional Development, Endorsements
Movers and Shakers in Texas Middle Schools
Earlier this summer, we welcomed a new cohort of leader fellows into the ranks of Texas OnCourse. This is a group of movers and shakers in college and career readiness who demonstrate a commitment to their students and professional development every single day. We’d like you to meet a few of our Texas middle school counselors and educators who are making a difference in their educational communities.
Topics: Middle School, Professional Development, Curriculum Resources
Get to Know Our Newest Leader Fellows!
Once a year we open our leader fellowship to a new cohort of movers and shakers in college and career readiness. These Texas educators excel in their schools and communities. They represent a solid dedication to education, a commitment to their students, and a passion for continuous professional development.
Topics: Professional Development, Educators, Students and Families
Our Leader Fellowship is a program that celebrates and harnesses the best and brightest in Texas college and career readiness education. This group of teachers, advisers, and counselors from across the state share a deep commitment to the success of Texas students. We’re pleased to welcome our third cohort of Leader Fellows to the Texas OnCourse family!
Topics: Professional Development
How Texas OnCourse Follows Through
Educators, picture this: You’ve attended an inspiring professional development session that left you energized and excited to use the tools you just discovered. When you get back to the office, however, your excitement fades because you have no idea how to implement these great new ideas in your district. Wouldn’t it be awesome if you were not only shown a great resource, but also shown how to use it?
Topics: Professional Development, College Planning