Published: Thermal Baking vs. Convection Baking

I published “Thermal Baking vs. Convection Baking” on @Medium https://ift.tt/34jRS2X

Published: New Leaders for New Schools — Programs for Teachers

I published “New Leaders for New Schools — Programs for Teachers” on @Medium https://ift.tt/2WgB0XT

Published: Three Greek Desserts to Try

I published “Three Greek Desserts to Try” on @Medium https://ift.tt/35ROIoT

The Second Step Curriculum

An experienced educator and administrator, Suzana Ustabecir is an instructional effectiveness specialist for the Chicago Public Schools. In this position, Suzana Ustabecir works toward achieving academic excellence and success for students. One way is to incorporate both social-emotional learning into a curriculum. Ms. Ustabecir has used the Second Step curriculum to bring these principles into the classroom.

Social-emotional learning addresses essential non-academic skills that are necessary for children to succeed at school and through adulthood. These skills include empathy, emotion management and recognition, problem-solving, impulse control, the ability to calm oneself down, communication, and assertiveness. Schools that incorporate social-emotional learning into their classrooms experience a noticeable difference in cooperation, academic performance, and improved confidence among students. 

Second Step is one curriculum that helps teachers easily implement social-emotional lessons into their weekly routine. Teachers explain important concepts with the help of pictures, video, or audio, and then help students practice those concepts in group discussions, writing assignments, or in partner activities. Teachers reinforce those concepts and communicate them to parents so that education can continue at home.

Resulting from decades of research and experience, Second Step is currently being used in over 70 schools with 14 million students each year. As a result, teachers and administrators are helping their schools to be environments that are marked by safety and respect.

New Leader's Roberts Award for School Innovation

Suzana Ustabecir spent six years as a math and science teacher and seven years as a principal before taking on her current position with Chicago Public Schools as an instructional effectiveness specialist. As an education professional, Suzana Ustabecir engages with a number of organizations, including New Leaders for New Schools.

New Leaders for New Schools was founded in 2001 with just 14 individuals enrolled in the inaugural Aspiring Principals program. Over the last 17 years, the organization has trained more than 3,000 educational leaders responsible for nearly 500,000 students in over 30 cities throughout the United States. Every year, New Leaders, working with national board member Linnea Roberts, recognizes exceptional and groundbreaking solutions to critical school challenges with the Roberts Award for School Innovation.

The award, which comes with a $25,000 prize to be used for student enrichment projects, takes into account virtually all aspects of a learning environment, from school culture to college preparedness. In order to be eligible for the Roberts Award for School Innovation, a school’s principal or leader must have completed the Aspiring Principals program and have demonstrated a strong commitment to the organization and its goals. Ten awards are distributed every year to enrichment projects with the potential to effect as many students as possible. More information about the program can be found online at www.newleaders.org.

Three Places to Experience in Dubrovnik

Suzana Ustabecir went on to achieve her master’s of education in administration and supervision at National Louis University. Suzana Ustabecir of Chicago is an experienced traveler

An educator based in Chicago, Illinois, Suzana Ustabecir has over 15 years of experience in the education field. Suzana Ustabecir’s hobbies include traveling, and she recently visited Dubrovnik, Croatia, often called the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” Three things to experience in this ancient city include: 

1. The City Walls. Dubrovnik is surrounded by massive and ancient castle walls, built from the 13th to 15th centuries to protect against Turkish invaders. Today, visitors can take the mile trek and snap some photos of the city below. 

2. Lokrum Island. An uninhabited island just a 10-minute ferry ride from town, Lokrum is a popular place for sunbathing and hiking. It also boasts botanical gardens and an old monastery to explore. 

3. Franciscan Monastery. Having operated for over 700 years, this ornate monastery lets visitors see ancient laboratory equipment in its museum while also enjoying its architecture. The monastery is located in Old Town on Dubrovnik’s main street.

The New Leaders Aspiring Principals Program

An experienced educator and educational administrator, Suzana Ustabecir has served for more than 15 years with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), first as a middle school math and science teacher and then as a principal. For the past year, she has served CPS as an instructional effectiveness specialist. In addition to her work with CPS, Suzana Ustabecir remains actively affiliated with the New Leaders organization.

Formerly known as New Leaders for New Schools, New Leaders is dedicated to training transformational principals and other educational leaders. It launched its flagship program, Aspiring Principals, in 2001. 

Seeing that principal training and preparation was often disconnected from the real world of schools and classrooms, New Leaders designed Aspiring Principals to help school principals lead with an approach that enables teachers to grow and students to learn. The program takes place in three basic stages. The training stage consists of a three-week Summer Foundation, one to two in-person group training sessions per month, various online tutorials, and one to two years of induction support. 

The practice stage consists of a yearlong residency that includes both team participation and leadership. Finally, the feedback stage consists of multiple one-on-one critical sessions with an expert coach.