March 2026
ACADEMY SPOTLIGHT
Woodland School offers multi-age classes emphasizing individualized learning and engaging curriculum.
Check out their hydroponic salad station and the baby trout that hatched this winter.
SCHOOL LEADERS
CHARTER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE #3
March 6, 2026, from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm at SVSU
Bachand Hall-Room 138 (building connected to Gilbertson Hall)
FEATURING:
SEL FOR SCHOOL LEADERS with Rich Watson
Adults need SEL just as much as students because they set the emotional tone, model regulation, and make high-stakes decisions under constant pressure. Without strong SEL skills, stress, burnout, and reactivity quietly undermine leadership, relationships, and school culture. When adults are emotionally healthy and self-aware, students don’t just learn SEL they experience it daily.
EMPOWERING TRUST “THE KEY TO UNLOCKING TEAM POTENTIAL IN SCHOOLS” with Erika Beal
Building confidence in each other's abilities and intentions fosters a supportive environment. Valuing different perspectives, skills, and experiences that others bring to the community, cultivates a culture of collaboration, participation, and shared efficacy. High functioning teams that trust each other and their processes create environments where children’s needs are met, and student success is inevitable.
LITERACY LAB CLASSROOM with Crystal Mills & JoAnne West
This presentation provides an overview of the Literacy Lab Classroom Collaboration, a strategic partnership between SPA and SVSU. It highlights the purpose and structure of the partnership, and the benefits for students, teachers, and the school as a whole, while outlining next steps for sustaining and strengthening the partnership moving forward.
SIX SHIFTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION with Sara Holding
The “Six Shifts in Special Education,” popularized by Nathan Levenson’s book, focus on transforming interventions to boost achievement for students with disabilities, moving from traditional models to more effective, integrated practices like emphasizing core instruction, leveraging general educators, focusing on skills over deficits, using data better, and shifting roles, aiming to close achievement gaps through practical, research-backed strategies rather than separate, remedial programs.
EFFECTIVE FEEDBACK with Cathy Malotka & Chantra Williams
This workshop is based on the work of Thinking Collaborative. When we offer judgments, personal observations, and inferences, our comments become evaluative. They cause others to rely on external sources of information about their performance. The more humans come to rely on others for evaluation, the less accurate they become in their own self-evaluations.
When we offer data and mediative questions as feedback, we assist others in becoming self-directed. The individual makes his/her own meaning of the feedback and develops capacity to make his/her own judgments, personal observations, and inferences. This is a critical skill in becoming self-managing, self-monitoring and self-modifying.
2026-2027 Charter Leader Conference Dates
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Friday, November 20, 2026
Friday, March 5, 2027
2025-2026 Outstanding Employee Award Nomination Information
These guidelines aim to capture the unique contributions of school support staff while allowing nominators to provide specific and detailed information about each nominee's achievements.
One school support staff person per school building in the following areas can be nominated: New Teachers (certified teacher within their first 3 years of teaching) and Elective/Specials Teachers (Art, Music, PE, etc.).
Nomination Guidelines:
- Nomination submissions should be concise and focus on specific achievements in their field or contributions to the school community.
- Nominations should be submitted by a staff member or administrator familiar with the nominee's work.
Nominations due by March 6, 2026.
Outstanding Employee of the Year Nomination Form
See The Charter Collaborative website for additional information.
PUBLIC SCHOOL ACADEMY PHOTO CONTEST 2026
Stakeholders from SVSU charter schools (school leaders, teachers, staff) have the opportunity to win a cash prize for their school for submitting photos of student learning, experiences, and activities that illustrate the theme of the year. Each photo must include a caption (1-3 sentences that links the photo to the theme).
2026 Theme - Uncomplicated JOY
Uncomplicated
- Not complex or difficult
- Free from confusion, trouble, or mixed feelings
- Simple; easy to understand or experience
Joy
- A feeling of great happiness or delight
- A deep sense of positive emotion, often spontaneous
- An uplifting emotional state
To enter the contest, submit the Photo Contest Terms & Rules form, photos, and Media Release Forms to Dawn Gillespie (drg@svsu.edu).
Deadline April 10, 2026
First place - $500, Second place - $250, Third place - $100.
For additional information and forms, see The Charter Collaborative website.
NEWS YOU CAN USE
STUDENT SERVICES UPDATES
Special Education Coffee Hour Has Moved — Welcome to "The Learning Collaborative"
We’re excited to share an important update with our Special Education community! What has formally been known as Special Education Coffee Hour has now been renamed to:
The Learning Collaborative
You can find the new home for resources, updates, and registration information here:
https://www.thecenterforcharters.org/special-education-learning-collaborative/
What’s New
The Central Michigan University Charter Office will now support this work by coordinating:
- SECHE organization and communication
- Registration
- Webinar recordings
- Posting resources and important information
This transition reflects an exciting next step in strengthening collaboration, learning, and support across our special education network.
We are thrilled to begin this new journey and look forward to continuing to learn and grow together through The Learning Collaborative.
Our first session will be March 11.
DATA DRIVEN DECISION MAKING
This session focuses on defining data driven decision making, using meaningful, ongoing data to drive high-quality IEP development. Participants will learn how to select appropriate data sources, analyze assessment results, and use data to write clear PLAAFPs, measurable goals, and aligned specially designed instruction (SDI). Emphasis is placed on progress monitoring and decision-making to ensure IEPs are individualized, defensible, and designed to support meaningful student progress.
FEATURED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
AI FOR SCHOOL LEADERS
MASA's AI for School Leaders is a one-day, hands-on learning experience for school and district administrators - focused on practical application, not theory. Gain immediate "quick wins," dedicated time to draft district policies and guardrails, and leave with actionable plans and handbook language ready to use.
Bring your team to collaborate, align and build a cohesive vision for AI in your district.
WHEN: April 22
WHERE: Lansing
COST: $220
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WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
Join MASA for the annual Women in Leadership Conference – an event for current and aspiring female and female-identifying leaders in Michigan’s school districts.
Attendees will hear from female leaders in education and other career fields, discuss hot topics in education, and network with like-minded women from school districts throughout the state.
WHEN: Apr. 27-28, 2026
WHERE: Traverse City
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BOLD BY CHOICE SUMMIT
The 2026 Bold by Choice Summit brings together leaders, educators, students, policymakers, advocates, and employers to reimagine what young people need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Students’ futures depend on the connection between K–12, higher education, and the workforce. This Summit is where those worlds intersect to create real choices, real pathways and real opportunities.
More than a conference, it’s a working space for leaders committed to building bold paths and brighter futures for every student. Join us April 27-29, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Michigan!
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ADAPTIVE SCHOOLS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION from Cathy Malotka
I’m sharing information from Oakland Schools about an outstanding professional development series for you and your leadership teams. These seminars are not only high quality, but they are also led by a true expert in her field, Carolyn McKanders. Many of us at the Charter Collaborative have participated in several of her workshops and continue to return because of the engaging, high-quality presentations she consistently delivers. Because of her outstanding reputation, these workshops will fill up fast, so if you are interested, please check your availability and sign up soon.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER TO ATTEND
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ANNUAL MICHIGAN CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT FACILITATORS NETWORK (MCIFN) CONFERENCE
June 10-12, 2026 (In-person Only) - Traverse City
June 10, 2026 (half-day): $55
12:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
June 11, 2026 (full-day): $110
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
June 12, 2026 (half-day): $55
8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
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Contact Candice Casey for additional information via email.
CONTACT US.
The Charter Collaborative
Office Location: Gilbertson Hall
Email: charterschools@svsu.edu
Phone: (989) 964-4623