Archived newsletter — Late Summer 2026. This issue preserves historical information; events, contacts, and resources may have changed.
Welcome to the 50th issue of the SIGnetwork Newsletter! That’s right, we hit the half century mark!! The newsletter published for SPDG projects and their partners to learn about upcoming events, the latest relevant research, TA resources and training, and, most importantly, SPDG impact. We’re glad you're here!
Interested in reading past issues? Browse the Newsletter Archive. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.
Your Moment of Delight
In SNL’s envisioning of the first play (set in 500 BC, Rome), Jack Black shows us what happens when our (PD) participants aren’t given solid directions.
News You Can Use
Congratulations to the FY 2026 SPDGs!
Please join me in congratulating and welcoming the new SPDGs:
California
Colorado
Iowa
Maine
Mississippi
North Carolina
Rhode Island
Wisconsin
SPDG National Meeting
Have you registered? There’s still time! You can request a Federal rate lodging letter when you Register for the 2026 SPDG National Meeting
Keynote announced! Stronger Together, Christopher Littlefield
Stronger Together
How do we build and maintain strong relationships, stay connected, and collaborate well in uncertain times? Chris will help us build a culture of appreciation, growth, and respect that enables us to navigate change, face uncertainty, and become stronger together. You’ll learn how to:
- Build trust and stronger relationships with anyone, regardless of role, level, or location.
- Better understand what colleagues need to be at their best.
- Create a culture of psychological safety, appreciation, and respect using simple, tried-and-tested meeting openers, Connection Before Content activities, team rituals, conversation frameworks, and appreciation practices.
Christopher Littlefield is an international keynote speaker, an expert in employee appreciation, conflict resolution, and workplace culture, and the founder of Beyond Thank You. He has trained thousands of leaders across six continents to do the little things that build cultures where people feel valued, work feels easier, and change happens together.
Our Next Directors’ Webinar
SPDG Directors Webinar. Thursday, September 10, 3:00 – 4:30 pm ET. Link to Event Webpage. This month’s webinar will feature two presentations, one exploring how peer coaching can help educators move from learning evidence-based practices to implementing them in practice, and the other highlighting five years of SPDG-supported systems change.
From Learning to Action: Building Teacher Capacity Through Peer Coaching. Drawing on lessons learned from implementing a peer coaching model at an Ohio elementary school, participants will learn how peer coaching can build teacher capacity and support teachers’ implementation of evidence-based practices. Practical strategies and tools for implementing peer coaching to help educators move from learning to action will be provided and discussed.
Presenter: Megan Leamon, PhD
The Power of Five Years of State Personnel Development Grant Implementation: Celebrating Colorado Multi-Tiered System of Supports Regional & District Impact Stories. The power of 5 years of implementation celebrates the journey and impact of the State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) and Colorado Multi-Tiered System of Supports (COMTSS) work. Through regional and district impact stories, this presentation shines a light on the people, partnerships, practices, and progress that transformed grant-supported efforts into meaningful change.
Presenters: Kristen Brown, Ph.D., Rebecca Knighton, Ph.D., Veronica Starcher, M.A., Katherine Thomson, M.A.,
GrantWISE
GrantWISE is a SIGnetwork Community of Practice (CoP) open to all SPDGs focused on fiscal and programmatic excellence in discretionary grants. The group explores procurement, internal controls, budget planning, and APR-related budget explanations.
The next meeting (September 9th at 3:00 ET) is focused on final reports and implementing a no-cost extension SPDG and new SPDG at the same time. Please send questions and topic ideas to Jennifer or John (Jennifer.Coffey@ed.gov; SIGnetwork@uoregon.edu).
SPDG Success
KY SPDG Makes an Impact Using Peer Coaching.
We’ll learn about peer coaching during September’s Directors Webinar. Here are impact data and lessons learned from Kentucky’s previous SPDG:
1. How do you implement peer coaching well?
- Integrate peer coaching into existing team structures (e.g., MTSS teams).
- Create cohorts (peer learning communities with a facilitator).
- Have peers model practices for each other.
- Pair intentionally (e.g., novice with experience).
- Connect peer coaching with Practice Profiles and Fidelity Tools.
2. What was peer coaching’s impact?
- Peer Coaching and Cohort Participation Led to Increased Fidelity (92% of teachers increased capacity).
- Sustained use of data systems.
- Retention of participants.
Michigan MTSS Center wins International MTSS Award!
The Michigan MTSS Center has long been supported by the MI SPDG. We are so proud of Kim St. Martin, Anna Harms, and the whole team in Michigan!
Family Engagement Done Well
This series of infographics, developed in collaboration with the Rhode Island Parent Information Network, are intended to provide a high-level overview of intensive intervention, questions parents and families might want to ask school teams to learn more, and tips for parents in supporting their child who is receiving intensive intervention.
Intensive Intervention an Overview for Parents and Families
La intervención intensiva: Un resumen para padres y familias (Spanish Translation)
Intensive Intervention: Questions Parents and Families can Ask
How Can You Support Intensive Intervention? TIPS FOR FAMILIES
¿Cómo puede apoyar una intervención intensiva? CONSEJOS PARA FAMILIAS (Spanish Translation)
Special thanks from NCII to Helene Fallon and Michelle Murphey for their review and feedback as well as all of the participants at the 2016 Region 1 Parent Center Conference LEARNING, SHARING, GROWING TOGETHER who shared initial thinking and feedback on these documents.
Spotlight on TA & Technology
