News

Our Future Ready Alliance began the New Year with workshops on all three of its focus areas—Student Plans, Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) and Instructional Approaches to Personalized Learning. The workshops are part of a new two-tier structure that the Alliance inaugurated in the fall. Under it, the workshops support discussions in Professional Learning Communities […]

After 15 years building what was still an expanding network of educators at the time, the Consortium began the 21st Century launching of what would become its largest and longest-standing program for students—The Future Is Mine (TFIM). Organized 22 years ago to help students explore careers and develop leadership skills, TFIM annually engaged up to […]

The Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Coalition is one of 60 finalists that the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has selected to compete for financing under its $1 billion “Build Back Better Regional Challenge.” The finalists, chosen from among 529 applicants, each will receive a $500,000 planning grant to advance its proposal. The Consortium […]

Burrell and Cornell school districts presented their models for Personalized Professional Development in November when our Collaborative for Student Success convened for its monthly meeting. The Collaborative is an initiative that the Richard King Mellon Foundation has funded to support districts in increasing upward mobility for graduates. The districts each will concentrate on work in […]

Collaborative leadership was still a novel concept when the Consortium began encouraging districts adopt it in the late 1990s. Initially, with a state-funded grant aimed at “School Renewal through Teacher Leadership,” the intent was to help building-level administrators tap the insights of their ground troops. Having developed a leadership approach that empowered educators when she […]

Our program to raise awareness of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) and provide mentoring opportunities to students of color will offer an introductory session Dec. 2 for participating districts. As part of the session, staff will set the stage with presentations from two HBCU alumni and a PBS video titled “Tell Them We Are […]

EdLeaders Pittsburgh (ELP) is tackling a full agenda this fall— adding a new member, starting a Principals Collaborative, laying the groundwork for a common in-service day, and planning an event to raise its profile in the community. West Mifflin Area School District is the latest to join the network, bringing membership to nine districts, also […]

Are you looking to start off the New Year with new skills? Register now for an introductory training session on Project-Based Learning (PBL), beginning Feb. 2. The training includes four half-day Zoom workshops as well as video and other resources accessible through our Canvas portal. Participants will learn and practice the 10 key design elements […]

Following a strong and strategic start with the launch of Great Idea Grants in 1986, the Consortium quickly won hearts and minds among educators across the Mon Valley. In turn, it also began gaining community support. With a foundation laid, our organization began building improvement strategies and resources around schools. Among the earliest were Partnerships […]

Interested educators can register for a Nov. 4 webinar about helping groups of students engage in virtual, work-based learning experiences. Under our state-approved Small-Group Career Mentoring model, classrooms are paired with companies so that students can learn about careers and how to begin developing relationships with professionals who can offer guidance.