NS4ed Provides First-rate Coaching Services
Maryville, TN – August 30, 2022 – The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) fully invests in its educators by providing exceptional professional development and learning services, including coaching and technical assistance. This is evident as news of the continued and expanded partnership between the educational service provider NS4ed and DESE is made public today.
“It is gratifying that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in MA, a state recognized and ranked routinely in the top ten states for education system excellence, selects to partner with our Professional Development services. NS4ed is delighted to expand our coaching services with DESE serving 13 Early College programs and an additional four programs, including a consortium in service of 11 districts, seeking Early College designation,” remarked NS4ed’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Joseph L. Goins. “The collaboration isn’t surprising, though, because we have a superb team of professionals leading our coaching and Early College services.” This initiative is led by a team of trained educators experienced in and recognized for school leadership excellence; Dr. Jamisa Williams, Kelly Kennedy, M.Ed., and Dr. Lenny Howard lead by coordinating, coaching, and facilitating outstanding leadership and new Early College program development and support.
NS4ed provides personalized, first-rate coaching, technical assistance, and professional learning services to strengthen relationships between K-12 and two and four-year postsecondary leadership teams. This recent partnership with DESE builds on and expands upon previous Early College programs’ support and coaching contracts, allowing NS4ed to serve more educators and aid additional school communities across the state. DESE and the MA Executive Office of Education (EOE) are dedicated to the success of “all students in the Commonwealth …regardless of their zip code” (Mass.gov, EOE, 2022).
Providing coaching services augmenting inclusive, student-focused Early College programs is vital to NS4ed’s and DESE’s work. The MA DESE Early College Program Director, Kristin E. Hunt, Ph.D., is experienced with Early College and TRIO (Title IV of the Higher Education Act) and is focused on accessibility, equity, and affordability. They are devoted to training programs working with educators helping them to support and assist learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, including serving those coming from low-income households or advocating for future first-generation college students.
“There is a statewide goal of creating innovative programs and expanding the access of quality Early College options to student populations on the margins. Our objective is to support the MA Early College programs, those designated and those seeking that status, so that they can aid the most vulnerable students by equipping them with valuable college and career options,”explained NS4ed’s Vice President of School Services, Dr. Williams. “We work with leadership teams (principals, counselors, directors, and teachers) helping them communicate with and focus on the interests of low-income, special needs, potential first-generation college, and BIPOC students central to their program vision,” added Senior Leadership Coach Dr. Howard.
About the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
“The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education oversees the Commonwealth’s K-12 education system and adult basic education, including school finance and district support, student assessment, curriculum and instruction, educator preparation and licensure, charter schools, vocational-technical education, English language learner programs, student support services, and special education.”
The MA Executive Office of Education (EOE) works with the MA DESE (K-12) to support preschool to postsecondary education opportunities serving state residents and communities. Additionally, “While Massachusetts’ students rank first in the nation on many educational measures, the Executive Office of Education strives to strengthen the foundations of education reform, empower schools and educators, and develop pathways to college and careers so all students in the Commonwealth can succeed, regardless of their zip code” (Mass.gov, EOE, 2022).
About Massachusetts Early College Programs (MAECP)
According to About the MA EC Initiative (maearlycollege.com), “The purpose and vision of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) and Board of Elementary & Secondary Education (BESE) are for the creation, growth, and sustainability of high-quality early college partnerships connecting our state’s districts and high schools with our state’s colleges. These partnerships are aimed at giving thousands of Massachusetts students, especially first-generation college-goers, access to college completion and career success.”
The MAECP and the Community of Practice initiative, in partnership with NS4ed, serve educators, parents, and students across the state by providing technical assistance and resources for MA Early College designees, applicants, and prospective school candidates (maearlycollege.com, 2022).
NS4ed is an educational research and development company dedicated to negotiating education services. NS4ed’s mission is to help all students attain successful futures through career exploration. This is achieved through providing effective, vested, engaging sole source solutions in professional development services, customized labor market data, career exploration tools, and mathematics & career-connected learning curricula. NS4ed invests in quality measures to ensure its innovative solutions provide exceptional student experience, comprehensive learning, and support best practices in teaching.
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