Leadership Teams from MMSD's ten NIUSI schools participated in two days of learning and planning on April 25 and 26.

Led by Suzanne Arnold and Shelley Zion from NIUSI (National Institute for Urban School Improvement,) Leadership Teams from Chavez, Emerson, Gompers, Kennedy, Leopold, Lincoln, Lowell, Midvale, Randall, and Thoreau reviewed team goals and strategies for strengthening collaborative work.

In addition, Shelley and Suzanne led discussions that helped to link culturally responsive practices to the work of school Leadership Teams. The learning will continue in the fall as NIUSI staff return to Madison to lead professional development about culturally responsive pedagogy.

MMSD's partnership with NIUSI was initiated to help eliminate race and culture as predictors of student success by using research-based racially and culturally responsive practices to support all students.

To further this goal, MMSD's NIUSI project will also sponsor a summer institute on Co-Teaching and Co-Planning for all students. It will occur on June 19 — 21 and collaborative teams from any school may attend. Get the details and register by clicking here.

NIUSI's sister organization, NCCRES (National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems), sponsored the second annual national forum, Leadership for Equity and Excellence, in February in Washington D.C. A small group from MMSD attended, several of whom led presentations at the conference.

The Madison District proudly received an award for their efforts to address disproportionate representation of African American and Native American students in special education.

MMSD's partnership with NIUSI along with its efforts to become a more equitable school system will continue next year.