The Publisher’s Fair is a great opportunity to meet with representatives from and preview materials produced by leading publishers of ESL/ELL resources. Publishers in attendance this year include representatives from Hampton-Brown, Heinle, National Geographic, Pearson-Longman, and more!

The year’s fair is also the premier event for Ken Pransky’s My Fantastic Words Book. Published by the Collaborative, Pransky’s graphic thesaurus helps children to learn and expand their use of adjectives and verbs. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the Publisher’s Fair and online.

For more event details, directions, and to help us plan by letting us know you’re coming, click here. See you at the fair!

Minnick describes Schuman’s leadership as transformative, in that the agency has “become one of the most respected, exemplary ESAs in Massachusetts.” Schuman was nominated by Minnick and her colleagues across the state for her pioneering spirit in developing innovative programs that had not previously been implemented by ESAs in Massachusetts.

At a time when ESAs have come under harsh scrutiny by state agencies, CES has continued to engage communities and schools in positive dialogue about how to improve the lives and education of young people. This past year, CES partnered with the Holyoke Public Schools to manage Dean Technical High School, in order to turn around chronic low student achievement scores.

Minnick said Schuman has also expanded the awareness among state leaders about the critical role the state’s 27 ESAs can play in supporting the needs of students, educators and schools. She added that the path-breaking programs designed by Schuman and other staff have “motivated the state to consider ESAs in a new light, and inspired smaller collaboratives to broaden their service portfolios.” Innovative programs designed by Schuman and her staff include:

• Creation of federal grant-funded services that support the social/emotional needs of young people, birth through young adulthood.
• Partnerships with educators to develop collaborative school-based teams that analyze student and other school-based data to improve curriculum and instruction.
• Integration of arts into statewide schools for youth residing in juvenile justice settings of the state’s Department of Youth Services.
• Collaboration with state agencies to improve the quality of special education services for students residing in institutional settings across the Commonwealth.
• Development of an alternative licensing program for teachers focused on using an asset-based approach to working with all children and youth, particularly those at risk.