Northern Michigan Learning Consortium Region I Technical Assistance Funding provided by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Field Services, Section 94. Introductions field services staff, Mark Jenness, and John Whyte, MA Intern joined the TA coaches. Field services representatives, Bruce, Barb, Gayla, and Margaret spoke about their work. Their service area is structured by geography. They have been to all of the ISDs and most of the local districts north of M-55.
Technical assistance is integral to the field services work in the northern half of the state.
Gayla said that their involvement in meetings with facilitators, principals, etc. helps them know our needs. They can hear about the blockers and review our minutes. One level of their work is to see how the money flows through the schools to make a difference. Now the consultant role is finding a delicate balance and targeting where the money is most needed. Michelle mentioned that some schools didn't know that there was career prep money for curriculum development.