Power of Place

Facilitation Leadership Academy Deadline to Register
2026-06-15 | tinyurl.com/PoPAcademy26
PoP’s new Facilitation Leadership Academy will prepare educators to facilitate meaningful adult learning experiences designed to prompt innovation and reflection. This multi-part series will prepare participants to lead professional learning for their peers that focused on achieving equitable outcomes for students.
All participants will have the opportunity to:

Practice using tools of effective facilitation with their peers from across Massachusetts
Participate in a mix of remote and asynchronous sessions through Fall 2026, starting with an in-person retreat at Fitchburg State University on August 11.
Earn PDPs, graduate credits and/or microcredentials for completion
Gain access to an online library of high quality facilitation tools and resources

Our funders have generously offered to cover 50 percent of the per person cost, reducing the price to just $375 per participant. Discounts are also available for district teams of 3 or more.
Register for the Academy by the June 15 deadline to secure your spot! Reach out to Diana Lebeaux at dlebeaux@powerofplacelc.org to learn more.

ECLC Spring Showcase of Learning
2026-05-13 16:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex St., Salem, MA, 01970, United States
RSVP today to join us!
Join us for the 2026 Showcase of Learning, an evening celebration of all that Essex County Learning Community educators have achieved over the past academic year. This year’s Showcase will feature:

17 display tables hosted by ECLC educators
Remarks from Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez
Remarks from the 2026 MA Teacher of the Year Dr. Tara Goodhue
A performance from Danvers High School’s student a capella group, Vocal Alliance
An interactive community art exhibit
Food, drink, and more!

All are welcome to join us for this annual “science fair meets cocktail party-style” celebration of of our educators and our community! Here are the details:

When: May 13 from 4:30-7:30 pm
Where: Peabody Essex Museum, Salem
RSVP: tinyurl.com/2026ShowcaseofLearning

We hope to see you there!

PoP Book Club: True Biz - A Novel (Session 2)
2026-04-27 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom (register for link)
Join our next book club community read to explore True Biz: A Novel, written by Sara Novic. This book, recommended by ECLC community member and Lynn educator Heather Lang, is set at a fictional residential school for the Deaf. The story follows students and a teacher as they navigate personal challenges and the Deaf community’s political landscape, exploring themes of language, identity, love, and civil rights.
Join us on Zoom on April 27 to discuss the second half of the book.
Learn more and register here.

Submit an Educator Spotlight Video!
2026-04-17
In preparation for Teacher Appreciation Week, Power of Place is planning a social media campaign to celebrate all of the incredible educators who move our mission forward. Your stories – and voices – are an important piece of this campaign, so we want to from you directly.
To participate, please send us a selfie-style video in which you introduce yourself, your role and tell us what you love most about being an educator. We will share all of these videos on our social media channels throughout May.
Before recording, keep a few things in mind:

Film in a quiet, well-lit location without any distractions behind you, ideally in a space that relates to the story you are trying to tell (Examples: at your desk in your classroom or in your office).
Record selfie style (holding the phone rather than having someone else hold it for you). The video should be filmed vertically.
Make sure to rephrase the question back in your answer.

To participate, please upload your submission here no later than Friday, April 17. If you have issues or questions, please email Jess Silva-Hodges at jhodges@melwoodglobal.com.
Thank you in advance for sharing your stories with us!

Arts Educators Learning Journey: Creating an Art-Inspiring Space
2026-04-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex St., Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Join the Arts Educators Learning Journey
REGISTER HERE
Power of Place and the Peabody Essex Museum share a strong belief in the transformative power of the arts to enhance young people’s mental well-being and engage them deeply in their learning. We want to harness the wealth of talent and creativity in our region to create a unique, comprehensive, and engaging professional learning journey for all arts educators, including theater, visual, music and dance. The objectives for this series will be to:

Cultivate a vibrant community and network of Essex County’s arts educators where collaboration, creativity, and shared vision fuel personal and collective growth.

Ignite powerful teaching and learning in the arts by sharing and exploring innovative strategies, inclusive practices, and new ways to engage every student.

Connect classrooms to communities by empowering students, engaging families, and weaving art into the fabric of public and shared spaces.

Celebrate creativity by showcasing student and educator artistry, reflecting on our journey, and envisioning a path forward together.

Our first session will focus on what it means to create an “Art-Inspiring” space. Participants will discuss what “art” means in their shared practice and explore how learning environments can spark creativity. All participants will be encouraged to bring and share artifacts, classroom photos, and short videos that showcase how they design inspiring spaces, then use collaborative protocols like gallery walks and small-group reflections to uncover themes, fresh ideas, and key takeaways. The session will also include a behind-the-scenes tour of curatorial and studio spaces at the PEM for added inspiration.
Please complete this short form to RSVP for our upcoming sessions.
Note that participants will be eligible for PDPs, and that childcare will be provided. Please reach out to Heidi Guarino at heidi@edlabstrategies.com with any questions.

PoP Book Club: True Biz - A Novel (Session 1)
2026-03-30 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom (register for link)
Join our next book club community read to explore True Biz: A Novel, written by Sara Novic. This book, recommended by ECLC community member and Lynn educator Heather Lang, is set at a fictional residential school for the Deaf. The story follows students and a teacher as they navigate personal challenges and the Deaf community’s political landscape, exploring themes of language, identity, love, and civil rights.
Join us on Zoom to discuss the book over two sessions: We will discuss the first half on March 30, and the second half on April 27.
Learn more and register here.

Staying Human in the Age of AI Learning Series
2026-02-25 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom (register for link)
Staying Human in the Age of AI: an 18-Month Learning Series for Educators
Learn more and review details of the full learning series here.
All Essex County educators are invited to participate in this 18-month learning experience which offers a deep dive into artificial intelligence in education. Participants will engage in sustained learning across three interconnected strands that examine how AI can be understood, applied, and evaluated in educational settings.

Capacity Building and Technical Training: Participants will explore a range of AI tools that support professional practice, including adult-facing applications and student-facing tools. The experience includes hands-on training, opportunities to examine what tools currently exist and how they can be used effectively, and workshops designed to prepare participants to serve as in-house trainers within their schools or districts. (Facilitated primarily by Day of AI)
Developmental Implications: Participants will examine the intersection of AI with human and adolescent development. This strand explores the social, emotional, and relational implications of AI in schools, including its impact on relationships, learning environments, and student well-being. (Facilitated by Mel Sellick)
Pedagogical Implications: Participants will consider when and how AI should—or should not—be used in the classroom. This strand focuses on making intentional, student-centered pedagogical decisions based on learner needs and classroom contexts. Participants will explore how AI can enhance accessibility, support universally designed learning environments, and strengthen learner agency, while also critically examining potential limitations and risks depending on the tools used and the students served. (Facilitated by Susan Shapiro)

This series will kick off on Feb. 25 with “What is AI and How Does it Work?” an introductory webinar led by Day of AI.
This experience is intentionally designed for school-based teams to participate together, though individual educators will also be welcome to the series. Participants who complete the full series will be eligible for at least 30 PDPs.
Learn more and review details of the full learning series here.

ECLC Book Club: Uniquely Human
2026-02-25 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom (register for link)
Register here
Join us for a community read and group discussion about the groundbreaking book about autism, “Uniquely Human,” by Dr. Barry Prizant and Thomas Fields-Meyer. This is a wonderful book by an advocate for the autistic and neurodivergent community.
The authors portray autism as a unique way of being human—this is “required reading…Breathtakingly simple and profoundly positive” (Chicago Tribune)
To join us in this community read, please register and complete the form at http://tinyurl.com/ECLCbookclub.

What is AI and How Does it Work?
2026-02-25 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom (register for link)
Register here.
Join us for a free, online workshop for Essex County educators about artificial intelligence led by MIT’s Day of AI. This session is part of our 18-month learning series “Staying Human in the Age of AI.”
More information about the learning series is coming soon. Reach out to Laura Tota at ltota@powerofplacelc.org with any questions about this opportunity!

ECLC Winter Gathering: Presence, Purpose, and Place
2026-01-29 | Wylie Inn and Conference Center, 295 Hale St, Beverly, MA, 01915, United States
Don’t miss out – Register here!
Review our agenda here.
The 2026 Winter Gathering: Presence, Purpose, and Place will bring together PK–12 educators to learn with and from one another around the theme of belonging and growth for every learner and every educator. Through a dynamic series of 90-minute workshops and rapid-fire Promising Practices showcases, the experience will center on classroom-tested strategies, practical tools, and innovative ideas that directly support teaching and learning. Participants will engage in hands-on sessions that model effective instructional practices, explore emerging challenges and opportunities in education, and highlight successful approaches from classrooms across grade levels and content areas. This collaborative, educator-driven experience empowers participants to deepen their professional practice, build cross-school connections, and leave with ready-to-implement strategies that elevate student learning.
Learning Objectives

Apply new, research-informed instructional strategies introduced in workshops to enhance student engagement, differentiation, and academic success across PK–12 settings.
Analyze and reflect on real-world classroom practices highlighted in the Promising Practices showcases, identifying actionable ideas they can adapt for their own contexts.
Collaborate with peers across grade levels and disciplines to explore common challenges, exchange expertise, and co-develop solutions that strengthen professional practice.
Reflect on specific strategies, tools, or practices gained from sessions that they will implement in their classrooms or school communities.

MA 2027 State Teacher of the Year Information Session
2026-01-23 16:00 - 16:30 | Zoom (register for link)
Register here for the info session.
Got questions on the MA State Teacher of the Year process? Have you been nominated and have questions about the application process? Join us for a brief overview of the MA State Teacher of the Year nomination and application process on Jan. 23 at 4 pm.
Click here to learn more about the STOY process and to apply.
Completed applications are due on Feb. 2 at 12 pm.

Moving From Power and Control to Collaboration and Problem Solving (and Meeting Kids Where They're At)
2025-12-11 08:30 - 15:00 | Wylie Inn and Conference Center, 295 Hale St, Beverly, MA, 01915, United States
Moving From Power and Control to Collaboration and Problem Solving (and Meeting Kids Where They’re At): The Collaborative and Proactive Solutions Model

When: Dec. 11-12, from 8:30 am to 3 pm each day.
Where: Wylie Inn and Conference Center, Beverly
Register here

Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) is the evidence-based, trauma-informed, neurodiversity affirming model of care that helps caregivers focus on identifying the problems that are causing concerning behaviors in kids and solving those problems collaboratively and proactively.
Join us for a two-day session (Dec. 11-12) to learn more about CPS, with a focus on building:
Knowledge & Understanding

Explain the key tenets of the CPS model, including the belief that kids do well if they can.
Differentiate between traditional discipline approaches and CPS, including the shift from “willful noncompliance” to “unsolved problems.”
Identify the core components of the three options for problem solving (Plans A, B, and C) and when each is most effective.

Skill Development

Use the Assessment of Skills and Unsolved Problems (ASUP) to identify skills students are struggling to access and prioritize unsolved problems.
Apply the Empathy Step (Step 1 of Plan B) to gather information from students in a nonjudgmental, curious way.
Practice the Define Adult Concerns Step (Step 2) to articulate adult concerns clearly and respectfully.
Demonstrate the Invitation Step (Step 3) to collaboratively generate realistic and mutually satisfactory solutions.

Mindset & Application

Recognize and reflect on their own assumptions and beliefs about student behavior, and how these impact classroom practice.
Apply CPS concepts to real classroom scenarios, including individual, small group, and whole-class situations.
Build confidence in shifting from reactive discipline to proactive problem-solving with students.

The CPS model is a departure from approaches emphasizing the use of consequences to modify concerning behaviors. In families, general and special education schools, inpatient psychiatric units, and residential and juvenile detention facilities, the CPS model has a track record of dramatically improving behavior and dramatically reducing or eliminating discipline referrals, detentions, suspensions, restraints, and seclusions. The CPS model is non-punitive, non-exclusionary, trauma-informed, transdiagnostic, and transcultural.
Register here

Teacher Action Research Fellowship: Application Deadline 11/24
2025-11-24
Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis until November 24th for the Essex County Learning Community’s Teacher Action Research Fellowship, an 18-month experience that brings educators together for collective innovation and leadership focused on equity- and learner-driven practices. Join us to engage in deep learning; collaborate on guided action research; and share your learning and ideas more broadly with other educators. Participants are eligible to earn a stipend, graduate credit, PDPs, and more. All teachers and non-supervisory credentialed educators who work in ECLC districts are eligible to apply for one of the 16 spots, with priority given to those with at least 3 years of experience. Learn more or apply now!

Nov. 21 Deadline: Submit to Lead a Session at the 2026 Winter Gathering
2025-11-21
Submit your proposal here by Friday, November 21.
Educators from the Essex County Learning Community (ECLC), the New England Educational Research Organization (NEERO), and Teacher Collaborative are invited to submit proposals to lead a workshop or mini-session at the Power of Place Winter Gathering on January 29, 2026. This year’s event will build on the success of our 2025 Winter Gathering, Tapping into the Wisdom Within.
This year we are inviting educators to submit proposals to lead either a 90-minute breakout workshop or a 20-minute Promising Practice mini session. Selected presenters or presenter teams will receive an honorarium for their time and contributions. Educators at all levels are eligible to submit a proposal.
More details are available here, along with the proposal form due on November 21. All ideas are welcome, so be creative! We can’t wait to learn from you.

Register now for ECLC Fall Gathering! The Heart of Learning: Building Connections Across Classrooms, Schools, and Communities
2025-11-04 08:00 - 14:30 | Pentucket Regional Middle High School, 24 Main St., West Newbury, MA, 01985, United States
NEXT WEEK! Register here!
In today’s complex educational landscape, connection is more than a feeling — it’s the foundation of deep, lasting learning. The Heart of Learning is a full-day professional learning event designed to re-center our focus on what matters most: the relationships that drive student success. Whether you’re a classroom teacher, school or district leader, or support staff, this day is designed to reinvigorate your practice and reconnect you with the purpose at the heart of education. Join us as we work together to build learning communities where every student feels seen, supported, and inspired to thrive. Review our digital program here.
Breakout sessions will include:

Morning Keynote: Creating CARE-ing Connections, Classrooms and Communities, with Dr. Amy Banks
Exploring Futures: Hands-On, Community-Connected Career Discovery, with WPS Institute
Storytelling for Engagement, with Inspiring Educators
Engagement ​​does not equal Entertainment: Using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to Cultivate Active Student Learning, with Dr. Bryan Mascio
Students as Partners: A Learner-Centered Map for Activating Motivation, with WPS Institute
Fostering and Sustaining Emotional Resilience as a Teacher/Paraprofessional Team, with MA 2025 State Teacher of the Year Luisa Sparrow
Beyond the Beginning: Create Stability So Classroom Culture Thrives, with Project Adventure
Creating Your Inspiring Narrative, a 2-part workshop for school and district leaders, with Inspiring Educators
Participants will be eligible for 10 PDPs.

Register here.

ECLC Book Club: Lost at School (Pt. 1)
2025-10-27 16:00 - 17:30
This fall we are encouraging all of our members to join us in a community read of Lost at School: Why our kids with behavioral challenges are falling through the cracks and how we can help them, by Dr. Ross Greene.
Dr. Greene offers educators and parents a framework for understanding challenging behavior. His Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) approach helps adults focus on the true factors contributing to challenging classroom behaviors, empowering educators to address them and create helping relationships with their most at-risk kids.
Check out the website for Dr. Greene’s organization, Lives in the Balance, for information about his work.
To join us in this community read, please fill out this form. The first 10 people to sign up will receive a free copy of the book.
Book Club Discussions (on Zoom, 4:00-5:30pm):

Monday, October 27 (First half of the book)
Monday, November 17 (Second half of the book)

Curriculum Implementation Community of Reflective Practice
2025-10-22 08:00 - 11:30 | Wylie Inn and Conference Center, 295 Hale St, Beverly, MA, 01915, United States
There is plenty of guidance available to help districts select and adopt new curricula and aligned resources, but the real challenge begins after adoption—when districts are often left to navigate implementation on their own. But once the curriculum tools are in classrooms, what’s next?
This Community of Reflective Practice is designed to help districts currently engaged in, or preparing to engage in, curriculum implementation answer that question. Participants will:

Understand the systems and structures that support effective change.
Collaborate with peers across districts to share successes and challenges.
Learn concrete strategies that can be put into practice immediately.

Session leaders Heather Leonard (Manchester Essex Regional School District) and Val Drinan (WPS) will share lessons learned from their experience leading implementation across content areas, grade levels, and school contexts, and create space for participants to share and reflect together.
Click here to register.

Equity Leaders Co-Lab Applications Due
2025-10-20 | Zoom (register for link)
The Equity Leaders Co-Lab application is open and available here. Any teacher in Massachusetts with at least 2 years of experience is eligible to apply.
Formalize, deepen, and expand your approach to change leadership with an emphasis on the early stages of creating bold change – equity auditing, establishing a set of allies, visioning, and planning for maximum impact. We’ll create a space where you can collaborate, grow your change leadership skills, and create a plan to lead an equity initiative in your classroom and/or school community.
This Co-Lab meets monthly online from November 2025 through May 2026. Participants earn PDPs plus a stipend of $450 or a reduced stipend and free graduate credit.
APPLY TODAY! The application is here.
The priority application deadline is October 20th.

ECLC Book Club
2025-09-29 16:00 - 18:00 | Zoom (register for link)
This summer members of the ECLC Book Club participated in our first-ever community read of the book “Normal Sucks” by Jonathan Mooney. This powerful, provocative book challenges us to stop trying to “fix” people and start empowering them to succeed.
Please join us for a group discussion on the book with author Jonathan Mooney to discuss what it meant to you, and how its important message will impact your practice this year.
Register here to participate at our two upcoming discussion on September 29.

Summer Institute: Staying Human in the Age of AI
2025-08-05 - 2025-08-06 | Moraine Farm, 779 Cabot St., Beverly, MA, United States
Join Power of Place and Project Adventure for two days of hands-on learning experiences and exploration into the world of artificial intelligence. “Staying Human in the Age of AI” will bring educators and AI experts together to explore, experiment with, and understand how to harness the vast potential of artificial intelligence in education, while staying grounded in what makes teaching and learning so deeply human.
The two-day experience will feature full group keynotes led by MIT’s Day of AI, Project Adventure-led sessions in nature, opportunities to explore AI tool, and space for sense-making with peers.
All participants will:

Explore and evaluate real-world applications of AI for students and educators, analyzing ethical dilemmas, policy challenges, and broader societal impacts.
Identify and prioritize core human elements of learning, and design approaches to support social-emotional development in an AI-influenced environment.
Examine and interrogate their own assumptions about AI in education, using new perspectives and peer dialogue.
Practice applying AI tools and strategies to enhance instructional practices and professional workflows.
Collaborate with peers to co-develop strategies for sustaining strong adult-student and peer relationships in tech-rich learning environments.

Click here to register.

Spring Showcase of Learning
2025-05-21 16:30 - 19:00
Date: May 21, 2025 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Peabody Essex Museum (Salem)
Check-in opens at 4 p.m.
Register here: https://powerofplacelc.formstack.com/forms/spring_showcase_2025
Join us for a celebratory, inspiring event honoring another successful year of adult learning. The Peabody Essex Museum will serve as the backdrop as we spotlight all Essex County educators have learned and accomplished over the past academic year. Educators from across our communities will: (1) Host display tables to share a new practice, strategy or idea; (2) Tell their stories about why they teach, lead, and continue to learn in short testimonials; and (3) Perform during musical interlude.
Think cocktail party meets science fair – we have it all!
Who Should Participate:
All are welcome to join us to network, celebrate and continue their own journey of growth and lifelong learning. Come dressed for a fancy party!

Winter Gathering: Tapping Into the Wisdom Within
2025-04-07 08:00 - 15:00
Date: April 7, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Essex North Shore Agricultural Technical School
Check-in and Breakfast Begins at 7:30 am

Featured topics will include:

Bringing visual learning cues to the classroom
Exploring experiential learning strategies
Understanding brain science and how kids learn
Facilitating successful learning communities
Supporting transgender students

We will also hold a celebration for the graduates of the second cohort of the Teacher Action Research Fellowship.

Who Should Participate:
All are welcome to join us to celebrate our educator peers and engage in some incredible learning experiences.

Winter Gathering
2025-02-06 | Wylie Inn and Conference Center, 295 Hale St, Beverly, MA, 01915, United States
Please check back for registration information.
