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UMW and Dillon Middle School launch collaborative effort.

November 5, 2015

Led by Montana Western education professor Laura Straus and middle school educators Sarah Gibson and Channon Williams, the session was titled “Introduction to Responsive Teaching” and covered universal design for learning and content area literacy in several disciplines.

“This project is an exciting chance for Montana Western’s teacher educators to work with some of our most valuable partners — the teachers of Dillon, Mont.,” Straus said. “We are thrilled to have this opportunity for shared professional development.”

Over 60 attendees included middle school and university education department presenters, UMW faculty members, middle school and Parkview Elementary teachers, and area school administrators.

Straus said the goal of the collaboration is to promote shared learning and professional development for K-12 educators and teacher educators alike. “Participants will learn about methods of responsive teaching that lead to increased student engagement,” she said.

Straus credited Dillon Middle School Principal Randy Shipman and counselor Channon Williams as being central to the collaboration including contributing significantly to the planning and promotion of the project.

Four additional sessions are scheduled next year on Jan. 27, Feb. 24, March 30 and April 27 at Dillon Middle School.

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