The Office of Personalized Learning supports school district leaders as they work to implement effective magnet schools/programs throughout the state. Webinars are conducted during the year to discover best practices and innovative approaches for magnet program development and sustainability.
Developing a Marketing and Recruitment Plan for Schools of Choice
Do people speak about your school like they do their favorite brands or foods? In science, magnets are only effective if they attract metal. In education, magnet schools, and other schools of choice, are only effective if they can attract students. School leaders must be intentional about their marketing and recruitment practices if they expect to be successful at enticing students and families to choose their school. This webinar is designed to share strategies that will help you learn from successful school practices and be more intentional in the marketing of your school choice program and the recruitment of interested families.
Presenter: Chris Swetckie, Principal, Howe Hall Arts Infused Magnet School, Berkeley County School District
Improving School Image
Relationships come before everything. Building a positive environment in individual classrooms and throughout your whole school is a matter of cultivating and maintaining relationships. It takes commitment and consistency from the whole team-administrators, teachers and support staff. You can make it happen, though, even in the most challenging school environments. Find out strategies for improving school image and culture based on a collaborative effort between a school and the school district communications office.
Presenters: David Riegel, Principal, Irmo High School, Lexington-Richland Five School District and Katrina Goggins, Director of Communications, Lexington-Richland Five School District
From No STEAM to Full STEAM Ahead
Learn how administrators and staff selected and implemented a dynamic STEAM approach at CrossRoads Intermediate School. Honest dialogue is shared about the challenges and successes of growing a new program on a limited budget, and you will walk away with the knowledge needed to bring your school's theme to life!
Presenters: Jesse Hutchinson, Principal and Tara Safriet, Assistant Principal of Instruction at CrossRoads Intermediate School, School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties.
Project-Based Learning Professional Development
Administrators give insight to the successes and failures of PBL professional development at Westwood High School. PBL is integrated into the curriculum of their Institute of Research, Engagement, and Design Magnet Program. The team shares lessons that have been learned to help other school leaders on their journey.
Presenters: Dr. Cheryl guy, principal; Joe Eberlin, Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction; Ashley Auspelmyer, Lead Teacher; and Laura Coulter, Technology Learning Coach.
Sustaining Magnets: Funding, Relevance and Enrollment
Magnet Programs are often implemented with specialized funding, additional staffing and high community interest. How do you maintain your Magnet Programs once the grant ends, the extra staffing disappears and the newness wears off? Richland School District Two has over thirty years experience in implementing and sustaining Magnets. Find out what's worked, what pitfalls to avoid and how their strategies have changed over the years.
Presenters: Jo Lane Hall, Principal, Center for Knowledge; Malinda Taylor, Assistant Principal and Lead Teacher for E.L. Wright International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program; Dawne Whitley, Director of Magnet Programs for Richland Two School District.
