We are an educator-inspired initiative collaborating with the school community, families and partners to strategically transform schools to cultivate whole, healthy and thriving scholars. Part of what distinguishes United Community Schools is our commitment to ongoing and evidence-based professional learning. Our team of educators, social workers and community school directors and associates prioritize continuing to learn and grow throughout our careers, which is why UCS schools are so successful. 

Now we’re thrilled to introduce our Professional Learning and Technical Assistance Course Catalog, which will expand our best and promising practices to the wider community and deepen the community-school learning in New York school districts and beyond. 

The Course Catalog, which offers a wide range of courses developed to meet the needs of professionals and caregivers who have a vested interest in creating and sustaining community schools, is designed to be the go-to guide in your journey to becoming a community school or achieving mastery/excellence as a community school. Whether you are considering first steps or looking for support while honing your advanced community school model, our classes and workshops will lead the way.

The courses in this catalog are a necessary first step for any educator or administrator who’s considering transitioning their school to a community school or wants to achieve mastery/excellence as a community school. 

Our professional learning team creates customized solutions to meet the target audience’s needs. All sessions are tailored to level (beginner, intermediate, advanced), target audience, audience size and session length. As UCS Director of Professional Learning Roslyn Odinga explains, “We can construct a series for a school or conduct ongoing coaching sessions. For schools that need a tune-up or  targeted guidance, we can provide these sessions.” 

For example, our beginning-level course on collaborative leadership, “Key Stakeholders in a United Community School,” presents an overview of the topic. An intermediate course, “Agenda and Strategies for Effective Meeting Facilitation,” delves more deeply into a strategic discussion and unpacks how mindset plays a role. The advanced level offers expertise on identifying communication styles and developing the adaptation skills necessary for higher-level communications in a collaborative setting. All learning levels provide key strategies for enhancing and deepening your community school work.

“Building Toward Impact,” a six-workshop series, encompasses defining and aligning goals and monitoring progress, conducting an evaluation and determining outcomes in your community school. Ultimately, participants learn how using data from evaluation helps make strategic decisions easier, informs next steps, and fine-tunes the community school model.

 Sophia Newell, principal of Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology incorporates what our team has delivered into her professional practice, saying, “The impact of professional learning and technical assistance with Roslyn happens every day. I look forward to more collaborative technical assistance sessions with my community school coordinator so we can build on the work being done at our school as a solid team.”  

One of United Community Schools’ core principles is our commitment to reaching and serving every child and by extension every family and member of the school community. Eager to get started? The process begins by emailing us at learn@ucsuft.org . A member of the professional learning or executive team will set up a time to discuss how we can customize your professional learning experience.