by Holly Compton, Math TOSA K-5

We recently connected with Holly Compton, Teacher on Special Assignment, to learn how she is bringing professional development into the classrooms of MBUSD elementary math teachers. Here is what Ms. Compton shared:

How should we structure professional development (PD) to have the largest impact, particularly on teachers?

Over the course of this school year, our elementary teachers have had the opportunity to take part in small group professional development, focusing on routines that allow for students to develop their number sense and critical thinking skills. During each PD session, we met as a small teacher group, and then went into a classroom to watch what we are studying in action. Through this process, teachers were able to immediately plan and implement ideas taken from PD into their classrooms. → Read the rest of this article

I am honored to have been selected to serve as Executive Director of the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation. I have been a part of the growth and vision of MBEF for well over a decade and look forward to continuing the momentum we have developed in strengthening our public schools.

We can all take great pride as a community in the opportunities we provide our students through MBEF. MBEF funds 74 teachers and specialists throughout the District – including PE teachers, music instructors, MakerSpace assistants, STEM lab specialists, librarians, counselors, reading specialists, assistant principals, and teachers on special assignment. The programs and educators we fund through MBEF reach every child, every day. → Read the rest of this article

By Michelle Syverson, MBUSD Literacy TOSA

Growing readers and writers is one of my passions. There is a magic to the experience of watching reading and writing come to life; witnessing growth, forming connections, and developing understanding are just a few pieces to this puzzle we call literacy. In 2010, MBUSD adopted the workshop method/pedagogy for reading and writing as a signature practice. I was on board from the start and eager to use this instructional practice in my classroom and learn all it had to offer. In the years to follow I received in-depth professional development which lead to: becoming a writing trainer of trainers for teachers, hosting teachers in my classroom to observe, serving on the district literacy committee, and, in the summer of 2017, becoming the K-12 MBUSD Literacy TOSA. MBEF not only funds this coveted position, but believes the work which offers literacy support to teachers, students, administrators and parents, is invaluable. → Read the rest of this article

The Manhattan Beach Education Foundation is a community driven fundraising organization, which supplements state funding for programs that inspire learning, enrich teaching, and promote innovation and academic excellence in the public schools of Manhattan Beach. It’s our goal to align our strategy with the priorities of parents, teachers and community members.

The MBEF Parent Survey is critical to our strategic direction and should only take 5-10 minutes of your time. Our target is 100% participation and the feedback you provide is anonymous. This survey will close on Thursday, February 1, 2018.

Please refer to the chart below for the current breakdown of program funding. Your input is essential to help us understand your educational priorities and guide our funding strategy for the next two years. Please click here to share your feedback.

By Kathleen Gibbons

Last October, MBUSD students, teachers, administrators, staff, and parents submitted grant proposals addressing race and other topics related to developing an inclusive community. The goal was to inspire change and nurture a productive and honest dialogue in our schools.  “We hoped to broaden the conversation about diversity and empower people in our community who may feel silenced or stifled by the lack of representation,” said Malissia Clinton.  “Sometimes homogenous communities such as Manhattan Beach can be unwelcoming to those who don’t fit the typical profile – whether or not that’s intentional.” MBEF recently asked a few of the grant recipients to share their progress and experiences. → Read the rest of this article

By Lisa Solomon, Common Sense Media

When we founded Common Sense more than a decade ago, Instagram, YouTube, and iPads didn’t even exist.  Since then, our kids have developed digital lives far more sophisticated than we would have ever imagined.  To help you tackle some of the challenges, I am sharing several key resources (all free) on the Common Sense website. → Read the rest of this article