Listed below are the organizations that the UMSL Charter School Translational Fellows Grant (UMSL-CTSF) partners with:
UMSL Studio Schools:
UMSL studio schools are schools in St. Louis whose goals are to implement innovative solutions for students that will deepen their learning and raise their academic achievement. These schools collaborate with the UMSL College of Education to impact student learning as well as promote educator quality and professional development. To learn more about how UMSL partners with Studio Schools in St. Louis or want to learn more about Studios Schools, please visit this link: UMSL Studio Schools.
UMSL Charter Schools:
Throughout the years of 2023-2025, the University of Missouri- Saint Louis collaborated with six charter public Local Educational Agencies (LEAs). These schools consist of two elementary schools and four PK-8 schools, serving roughly 2,500 students who reside in St. Louis. A charter school is an independent public school that operates under a contract (charter) with its sponsor, typically a public entity like a state university. The charter schools that UMSL collaborates with in the years of 2023- 2025 include The Biome STEAM school, Lafayette Preparatory Academy, North Side Community School, Premier Charter School, St. Louis Immersion School, and the Soulard School. For more information regarding charter schools, click on this Missouri Charter Public School Association link or contact Susan Marino, the Executive Director of UMSL Charter School Office, at Susan.Marino@umsystem.edu.
UMSL COE Dept of Educator Preparation and Leadership (EPL):
The College of Education Educator Preparation and Leadership department is home to nationally recognized faculty members who design and teach undergraduate and graduate courses for teachers. This department prepares educators in various areas, such as assessment and instruction, while giving them experience working with diverse urban populations. The EPL’s mission is to advance scholarship and promote teaching and learning as a lifelong process. The EPL offers coursework leading to various routes, including bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, graduate certificates, and doctoral degrees. For more information about this department, visit this site: UMSL Department of Educator Preparation and Leadership.
Thinking Collaborative
About Our Key Partner: Thinking Collaborative
Based on a needs assessment done with our school partners, there was a high need for formal coaching or a formal process for developing the teaching staff's facilitation skills. To address this need, the grant has partnered with Thinking Collaborative. This organization provides training and support for coaching through their two trainings: Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools. Both programs are supported by research and empirically have shown an increase in: student learning, administrator efficacy, positive impact on teachers’ and administrator thinking, and more. Every two years, the UMSL Charter School grant provides the opportunity for fellows and education site partners to recieve training by Thinking Collaborative.
What is Thinking Collaborative?
Thinking Collaborative is an organization that provides the skills and capabilities necessary to establish and maintain effective systems that increase productivity. Their goal is to be a global leader in providing consulting and training that results in an excellent collaborative culture. With their work, Thinking Collaborative aims to create adaptive enviornments and learners that show initiative.
Trainings Offered by Thinking Collaborative:
Adaptive Schools
This four-day workshop equips school professionals with the skills to build collaborative teams capable of addressing complex student learning challenges. Participants learn how to respond cohesively to the evolving needs of students and society while exploring the key elements of effective teamwork and facilitation.
The training covers skill development in various settings, including informal and formal environments and large and small groups. Additionally, participants gain insight into the processes that drive effective collaboration. The workshop incorporates professional community research to support participants in achieving their professional goals.
Cognitive Coaching Workshops
Cognitive Coaching workshops are built on a research-based model that is designed to enhance teachers' cognitive processes. These workshops equip participants with the skills to use Cognitive Coaching effectively, helping students reach their full learning potential. During the eight-day Cognitive Coaching workshop, participants engage in structured conversations and develop advanced communication skills that foster trust and rapport.
The Impact of Cognitive Coaching
Our educational partners have seen outstanding results from this training. Here’s what they had to say:
- “Cognitive Coaching has been instrumental in redefining what coaching looks, sounds, and feels like at our school.”
- “The coaching skills our team gained in this training will have an immediate and lasting impact on students across the district.”
For more information about Thinking Collaborative and the trainings they offer, please visit this website: Thinking Collaborative.