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Communities of Practice
What is a Community of Practice (CoP)?
A Community of Practice is a group of school, district, or BOCES administrators organized by role. As content experts, the participants share resources such as forms, templates, toolkits, and more. During the 4-6 sessions per year, they engage deeply in a problem-of-practice protocol designed for each person to give and receive feedback on their own projects, situations, or processes. This collaborative environment spotlights its own education leaders as experts. DISO team members facilitate sessions.
How Does a Community of Practice Work?
Communities of Practice groups focus on creating a confidential environment to support educational leaders with similar responsibilities. The education field has challenges that require dynamic collaborative thinking around complex issues, so these communities come together to support each other. Sessions are primarily virtual. Community of Practice participants can expect to do most of the talking during the sessions with ample time to contextualize, ask questions, listen to others, and share/gain resources for everyone to benefit!
Why Join a Community of Practice?
Each session includes time for each person to ask and answer questions, gain ready-to-use resources, and hear advice from other experts doing similar work in education across Colorado.
Who Should Join?
The Community of Practice model relies on role-specific participants, as the content of the sessions is directly related to their role. Each group is specifically designed for a Colorado School or District/BOCES administrator who has a desire to engage in collaborative problem-solving.
How to Apply
Applications for Communities of Practice are reviewed on a rolling basis. The application process is simple and ensures the Community of Practice is the correct content to fit the needs of participants. Communities of Practice are only open to school and district leaders. Our participant verification process includes confirmation of currently employed school, district, BOCES, or Charter/Private School leaders.
2024-2025 Communities of Practice
504 - District Administrators
District administrators share resources, dig into Section 504 legal information, and spotlight best practices.
504 - School Administrators
School administrators share school resources to accommodate students, support staff and collaborate with parents to provide the best experiences for staff and students.
Behind the Behaviors - School Staff Supporting Student Behavior
School leaders will engage in problem-solving for student behaviors through giving and receiving feedback on situations and processes. This collaborative environment will spotlight school leaders. We will share resources, gain insights, and build a robust network.
Driving Discipline and Behavior Success - District Teams
District leaders will collaborate, share resources, and exchange ideas to best support schools with student discipline and behavior. This community is designed to support district systems. We will share resources, gain insights, and build a robust network.
Rural Leadership
We get together virtually to engage in bite-sized PD, learn from each other, and network in what can be an isolating position. This community is a collaborative space to discuss challenges, exchange best practices, and support one another in enhancing rural education outcomes.
Behavior Breakdown: Cracking the Code on School Safety and Discipline
This cohort will create a safe space for leaders to examine post-pandemic student behavior and work to enhance powerful systems and structures to meet students where they are.
How can we support success in your district?
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UPDATED
December 18, 2024
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