Career and College Liaison
Contracted Director of Media |
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We are growing to serve you with the addition of the following staff:
Ms. Becky Richhart, IDOE Literature and STEM Trainer
Mrs. Chevin Stone, IDOE Literature and STEM Trainer
Ms. Laura Unsicker, IDOE Literature and STEM Trainer
Mrs. Kelsey Rodriguez, Director of Food Service
Mrs. Shannon Harman, Career and College Liaison for LaGrange County
Service is our #1 priority! We believe each member is a valued partner. Based on that belief we focus on the following practices each day:
- Innovation
- Collaboration
- Support
- Service
Do not hesitate to contact any of our staff as we are here to assist you in any way possible.
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SAVE the Date!!
Join us on October 27th in Indianapolis at the CIESC for a K12Indiana/Spendbridge Vendor Fair! If you are interested in utilizing cooperative purchasing agreements to save your district time and the hassle of conducting your own bids, this is the event for you! Talk with our vendors one on one and learn what they have to offer! More information along with a link to register is coming soon!
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The pandemic brought many things to light in regards to the air quality and cleanliness of our school classrooms and common areas. There is much confusing information circulating regarding indoor air quality. NIESC was the only ESC in the state to offer Indoor Air Quality Certification Courses years before the pandemic hit. Now IAQ is a buzz word. Join us on September 20th as we "clear the air" with our expert in Indoor Air Quality, Kent Shadley, Vice President of Alliance Environmental Group. Watch our next issue for registration details or contact Lisa Abell with questions! |
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Information for school staff about food service for the 22-23 school year:
- Meals are no longer free for all students
- Parents/ guardians must complete a free or reduced price meal application for students to qualify for free or reduced price meals
- Meal benefits from last school year carryover for 30 operating days into the 22-23 school year
- Supply chain shortages will likely continue through the school year and menu changes may occur frequently
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Keep Kids Fed Act
On June 25th, President Biden signed the Keep Kids Fed Act. While the Keep Kids Fed Act does not provide free meals for all students, it does increase reimbursement for breakfast and lunch as well as provide other limited flexibilities. |
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Civil Rights Requirements
- Don't forget to update the nondiscrimination statement on your district website and materials!
- Be sure to train all food service staff on civil rights annually. The IDOE civil rights training can be found on Moodle.
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The STEM Educator Network, Northern Indiana Cohort is intended for instructional coaches, teachers and/or administrators that are interested or responsible for:
- Integrating STEM into K-12 curriculum
- Aligning STEM education instruction with research based best practices and IDOE STEM initiatives
- Engaging with a network of educators and other stakeholders
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Our EDTech Connect Network, Northern Indiana , is intended for educational tech coaches that are responsible for supporting teachers use of tech in the classroom. Goals of the group:
- Provide inclusive space for conversation & support
- Create networking opportunities and PD for EdTech Coaches, teachers and leaders
- Centralized resources, meeting dates and opportunities throughout Indiana
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New to your role in Technology? Be sure to join one of our established
Tech Study Councils
by signing up using the link below: |
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Study Councils for the '22-'23 School Year - Virtual and Free
Counselor Study Council
Curriculum Study Councils
The '22-'23 Curriculum Study Councils, designed for anyone who works with curriculum, instruction, assessment, and/or grants, will meet monthly with one meeting named for schools in the NWIESC region and one for the NIESC region. Participants are welcome to join either/both groups based on availability.
NIESC Dates: August 4, September 1, October 6, November 3, December 1, January 5, February 2, March 2, April - no meeting, May 4 12:30 EST/11:30 CST. If you did not participate during the '21-'22 SY Sign Up ***August 4 will start at 11:30 EST/12:30 CST due to a PD I am involved with.
NWIESC Dates: August 11, September 15, October 13, November 10, December 8, January 12, February 9, March 9, April - no meeting, May 11 1:30EST/ 12:30 CST If you did not participate during the '21-'22 SY Sign Up
High Ability Study Council with the IDOE and the Educational Service Centers of Indiana
Save the dates:
- August 10 - Cluster Grouping in the GE classroom - Dr. Dina Brulles Registration Link
- September 14 - Using Local Norms - Dr. Scott Peters Registration Link
- October 12 - Identification and Support for Twice Exceptional Learners - Mary Ruth Coleman Registration Link
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August 30, 2022 Regional High Ability Meetings
High Ability Coordinators are invited to attend the first Regional HA Coordinator Network event for the 2022-2023 school year. The Assistant Director of High Ability and Alternative Education from the Indiana Department of Education will review the required criterion for High Ability Programs and update IDOE guidance in student identification. Please come ready to share ideas and build relationships with coordinators in your region! Registration Link
NIESC August 30 8:30-10:30 a.m. (EST) @ NIESC
NWIESC August 30 1:00 - 3:00 (CST)@ Duneland School Corporation |
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Standards Updates
NEW: Civics and Updated 6-8 Social Studies Standards
- Updated standards A middle school civics course should be required for all 6th graders during semester 2.
- Educators with a general elementary licensure are eligible to instruct the course if grade six falls within the elementary/intermediate setting.
- These updates must be implemented during the 2023-2024 school year.
- To support schools, regional meetings with the IDOE (Adam McMickle) will be on November 28th.
- Registration Link
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Cindy Scroggins
Superintendent |
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Cindy has been the superintendent at School City of Whiting since 2016. She has been with the corporation for 21 years. Cindy started out as a second grade teacher at Nathan Hale Elementary and then six years later became the principal at Whiting Middle School. In 2013 she became Assistant Superintendent until she transitioned into her current role.
During the past school year, Cindy and her team expanded their student support/counseling staff by adding an additional academic counselor at their middle school and an additional social worker at their elementary. This was done in order to better address students social-emotional needs and implement a stronger SEL program as students transitioned back from e-learning during the pandemic. She also worked to expanded their AP, Dual Credit, and PLTW offerings at their high school which was recognized as a 21-22 PLTW Distinguished high school. This recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in PLTW programs. They received this recognition for having 25% or more of high school students enrolled in PLTW courses; at least 33% of their high school students take two or more PLTW courses during their tenure; they offer three or more PLTW HS courses; and have proportional representation of underserved students with regard to race, poverty, ethnicity, and gender enrolled. They have also worked on expanding STEM programming at the elementary level. STEM and literacy family engagement nights were recognized this year by Model Schools 2022. In June, they travelled to Orlando Florida to present their programming at the Model Schools national conference. This was quite a recognition for a small urban school in Northwest Indiana.
We asked Cindy what her future goals are for Whiting. She shared, "As a small district, it is becoming increasingly difficult to be competitive in the area of teacher salaries and with the severe teacher shortage that we are experiencing in Indiana and across the nation, obtaining and retaining highly qualified candidates is becoming increasingly difficult. We are in competition with many of the districts in Lake and Porter county that have referendums and can offer much higher starting salaries. As such, one of my future goals in to win an operating referendum for our district in November 2023 for the purpose of supporting teacher salaries and retention of our highly qualified staff. We will be starting our work in pursuit of that goal this fall."
Cindy finds watching students succeed the most rewarding part of her position. School City of Whiting serves a very diverse population who often come to them in kindergarten without many of the early school readiness skills they expect kindergarteners to have. She believes that their success with high risk students is attributed to their size. As a small district they are able to create a community feel and build strong relationships with students & families.
In her spare time, Cindy likes to spend time with her family and friends. She also enjoys traveling, exercising, attending concerts & theater events, going to the movies, and exploring new/unique restaurants in Chicago.
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Northwest Indiana Education Service Center
56535 Magnetic Drive
Mishawaka, IN 46545
219-926-5555 |nwiesc.k12.in.us
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