A Book Study Framework for Professional Learning

Wednesday February 19, 2025
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Room 19AB

Montana OPI’s School Improvement team presents a framework for implementing a staff book study focused on facilitating discussion and collaborative learning. The central text we use to illustrate our framework is Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults by Kimmerer, Smith, and Niedhardt, along with supplementary resources based on Indian Education for All and culturally responsive pedagogies. This presentation will guide administrators and educational leaders in gaining the strategies and resources necessary to plan and implement a staff book study. While the direct audience is educational leaders, many of the practices within the book study can also be utilized by educators in their classrooms across the curriculum to facilitate academic discussion and collaborative learning. We also include examples of how Montana districts have built on ideas from our book study framework and the central text to develop curriculum and community engagement events.

Presenters
Lindsay Mahoney

School Improvement Director Lindsay Mahoney worked as an elementary classroom teacher, technology teacher, and elementary counselor for ten years. She has an M.Ed. in Learning and Technology, and is passionate about the Science of Reading, data dives, and technology integration. She began at Montana’s Office of Public Instruction as an MTSS Site Facilitator and has worked on Montana's Office of Public Instruction's school improvement team for two years, assisting schools in Montana's Comprehensive Support and Improvement program in selecting and implementing best practices in school improvement, curriculum and instruction, assessment, and leadership. She also works with OPI's IEFA team to ensure that Montana students receive a culturally relevant and responsive education.
Julie Gavin

School Improvement Specialist Julie Gavin has worked to design children’s enrichment programming and teacher training in several states and has experience teaching English Language Arts in public high schools and middle schools. She has worked on Montana's Office of Public Instruction's school improvement team for four years, assisting schools in Montana's Comprehensive Support and Improvement program in selecting and implementing best practices in school improvement, curriculum and instruction, assessment, and leadership. She advocates for intentional student engagement and integration of games-based learning when applicable. She also works with OPI's IEFA (Indian Education for All) team to ensure that Montana students receive a culturally relevant and responsive education.
type:
Hybrid Lecture
theme:
Leadership
audience:
Classroom Leaders
tags:
Professional Learning, School Climate and Culture