At Choice Schools, we take pride in the philosophy of our model structure. Since its inception, our Superintendents have actively worked to capitalize on the strengths of each school model, fostering connections between like-minded schools to encourage collaboration and share best practices. This year, we celebrated the power of these connections through our Scholar, Montessori, and Environmental Model Conferences. These conferences have become vital to our community, offering a platform for educators across models to engage in meaningful discussions, share similar practices, and learn from one another’s experiences. This collaborative approach helps educators refine their skills and serve students even more effectively through shared ideas and teaching strategies.
Scholar Conference Highlight
This year’s Scholar Conference was a great success. This two-day training led by our partners, the Lavinia Group and educational consultant Kyle Kucharski, supported our Scholar teachers in enhancing the purpose and impact of our teaching practices. Over 100 dedicated educators joined, all focused on improving their skills and connecting more deeply with their students. Through this collaboration, attendees were inspired to refine their approaches and learn directly from their peers on effective strategies to engage scholars meaningfully.
Montessori Conference Highlight
The 2024 Montessori Conference welcomed a special guest speaker, Mr. Brian Mendler, a renowned educator with extensive experience in challenging school settings. Author of Watch Your Mouth: Non-Negotiables for Success with the Toughest Kids, Mr. Mendler shared invaluable strategies to help educators successfully manage difficult situations with disruptive or unmotivated students. His insights empowered our staff to feel better equipped and confident in addressing these challenges. Attendees also participated in breakout sessions to dive deeper into specialized topics and collaborate on practical classroom solutions.
Environmental Conference Highlight
The Environmental Conference offered a dynamic, hands-on experience filled with collaboration, exploration, and innovation. Held at West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science, participants utilized the school’s vast natural landscape, including five unique ecosystems, to integrate real-life environmental studies into their collaborative learning. Environmental Specialists from the schools led sessions that guided teachers in outdoor education techniques, using the rich campus resources to model engaging lessons for students from Kindergarten through 12th grade. This immersive experience allowed educators to deepen their connection with environmental science in a meaningful, applicable way.
We are so grateful for the dedication of every educator in the Choice Schools network. Each day our teachers make the choice to serve our students with intentionality, patience and passion to support every child’s educational journey. Thank you for all you do!