New York State Electric & Gas’ Post

The next Advisory Council Member we will be highlighting is Corey Lakin! Corey is the Deputy Director of Community Services, for the City of Irvine! He was raised in Cerritos (Southern California), moved to Lakewood after college and now lives in Los Alamitos. Corey is actually an EIM Alumni, graduating from Cal Poly in ‘03 with a degree in Recreation Administration with a minor in Business. He received his Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from Cal State Long Beach. He initially joined the advisory council because Dr. Bill Hendricks had asked him. He really looked forward to an opportunity to give back to the Department that gave him so much, “I loved my time at Cal Poly, especially the tremendous experiences I gained in each class. I made so many important contacts and gained valuable insights into my future career thanks to the instructors and Learn-By-Doing experiences.” Corey  entered the experience industry when he volunteered at a Day Camp hosted by the City of Cerritos and he loved working with the kids and counselors: “I ended up volunteering there for another 2 summers before being hired as a Recreation Leader for the same camp... In speaking with the other counselors and supervisors, I learned that there was a Recreation major and the thought of being able to do this job as a career had me sold! So I only applied to universities that had a Recreation Major and ended up at Cal Poly SLO!” In terms of industry trends, Corey emphasizes that in the world of parks, recreation and community services, the focus on multicultural and multigenerational events and programs is exciting. The unique experiences residents and patrons are getting from our services and programs are of the utmost importance and what separates our industry from others -- “The ability for municipal-led programs to incorporate so many generations and cultures into one activity and explain is unique and therefore desirable.” The Special Scoop! ★ Biggest advice to give students who want to enter the industry? Get as much experience as you can - in class and outside of class. Gain experience in the industry, as the degree can only get you so far and the more experience you have the better. Also, network as much as you can - work with your professor and attend meetings and conferences to network. Present at conferences and meetings to help get your name out there.  Name recognition + experience + degree = success ★ Who do you admire the most and why? Anyone who acts selflessly and puts others before themselves ★ What do you appreciate the most about the experience industry? Experiences are what people remember more than anything else - more than any gifts one receives or could get over a lifetime. I appreciate all experiences myself, my children and those around me. Experiences are what you make of them and are individually meaningful. If you'd like to connect with Corey, feel free to email him clakin@alumni.calpoly.edu or connect with him here!

🎉 Celebrating Meridian High School Student Council Highlights! 🎉 Last Friday, I had the privilege of hearing from our incredible Meridian High School Student Council (StuCo) leaders about their impact this year. Their enthusiasm and dedication are evident, and it’s inspiring to see how much they’re contributing to our school community. Here are some of the standout moments and initiatives so far: 🏈 School Spirit: With fantastic attendance at football games and increased interest in non-athletic events, school spirit is stronger than ever. 🎶 Marching Band: Our D3 Marching Band is gearing up for their big competition on 10/26 – they’re ready to shine! 🌟 Community Service: From Rake Up Boise to the Festival of Trees, our students are deeply engaged in giving back. 🔵 Reviving Traditions: The return of “Blue Crew” has strengthened our peer support network, helping students connect and foster community. 🤝 Building Trust: StuCo is working closely with us to create even more opportunities for student-led activities and to boost participation. 🏀 Basketball Season: The excitement is building for a great season with crowd favorites like Stinky Sneaker and Super Saturday on the horizon! StuCo leaders embody a Continuous Improvement mindset — always seeking ways to make events more inclusive and engaging for all students. ✨ Areas for Collaboration Our StuCo members are forward-thinking and proactive. Here are a few areas they’ve asked for support: Advisory Enhancement: We’re exploring resources like Varsity Tutors for advisory sessions and coordinating visits from Blue Crew to support freshmen. Parking Lot Updates: Students highlighted the need for clearer parking stall markings for safety and efficiency. Traffic Safety: Visibility concerns on Pine during pick-up are being reviewed to improve safety for students and families. A huge thank you to our StuCo leaders for their vision and dedication! 💙 It’s partnerships like these that strengthen the Warrior community. #WarriorPride #MHSSpirit #MeridianStuCo #CommunityMatters #TraditionRevived #BlueCrew #GoWarriors #StudentLeaders #ContinuousImprovement #SchoolSpirit #WarriorsServe #BuildingTrust #MeridianHigh

Once a year- anyone in our community can start there. ⭐️ For a relatively short article, there is a lot to unpack here. The job of ‘teacher’ is very complex, requiring deep cognitive load beyond a heart for kids that draws people into the field- and it is ‘kid-focused’. The job of ‘principal’, school leader, has many perceptions around it, opinions of what the job entails, and it is a job both kid-focused and adult-focused. It’s about supporting, and changing, both kid and adult behaviors as needed. The fewer supports for the leader, the more complex it becomes- doing all the things that have to be done to serve a building. A couple of teachers from another building, in their leadership program, needed to shadow me for a day, two years ago- and they said it was so eye-opening to see that- while they were in their classrooms with a focus on those kids in front of them- so very many different things the principal was dealing with. It’s a real thing, to count the cost as the author of this article did, and determine that it is not a wise path for her and her family at this time. There are also building leaders here in town and all over who are finding big and deep ways to make lasting change, to get the supports they need, to advocate for their building, to make things happen, and they’ve got their own families, too. It’s intense, deep, meaningful, exhausting, rewarding, complicated… work. It can often be lonely, and needs collegial support just as teachers do. We do need our communities to recognize, to support, to encourage. ⭐️If you haven’t been in an actual school building in awhile—- sign up to be a volunteer. Ladling spaghetti once or more a year is apparently a thing 😉— and actually, at Thanksgiving and holiday times, food serving is often a big help! ⭐️Single and/or frequent opportunities are usually available every where. ⭐️Kids need someone to read their ‘published’ stories. ⭐️Go to your local school plays and music performances. They need an audience. ⭐️Find a school sports event and go cheer. ⭐️Once, or more, a year is a great starting place. Be a volunteer, attend an event, and cheer and encourage someone in that building. Find the leader and high five them. And it can reconnect our schools and our communities and our decision-makers and our voters to bid, deep, complicated work. Hands-down, every time I’ve been in deeply complex situations as a building leader— collaboration and support made it worth it, and enabled everyone to keep going. https://lnkd.in/gTkiuE4j

I have heard time and again that I am a great community manager. In the last 3 years, I have had the privilege of wearing many hats - from Program Manager to Community Engagement Lead and now Graduate Assistant for Academic Support communities. Along the way, I have learned that community engagement is not just about hosting events or sending out newsletters; it is about fostering genuine connections that result in the empowerment of the people you serve. And so, let me share with you 3 things it takes to truly engage and empower communities. 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲: People thrive when they feel heard, valued, and respected. In the past, I was a community manager who got angry when my students did not show up as I expected.  I have learned in the last 3 years to lead with authenticity and empathy, so I can create spaces where everyone feels welcome to share their ideas, concerns, and equally show up as their authentic selves. 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Building strong partnerships and collaborations is essential for sustainable community engagement. It allows you offer additional learning resources and build stronger network for your learners.  𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: True community engagement is not about swooping in to "save the day" or to “knowledge dump”. It is about teaching people to actually “fish”, to learn how to access opportunities and translate learning into tangible results. such that they are it's about empowering community members to drive change from within. As I continue to navigate my journey in Learning Development and Instructional Design, I am committed to cracking the code on community engagement for educational programs and empowering individuals to unlock their full potential. If you are passionate about building meaningful connections and driving positive change, I would love to connect and learn from your experiences! Let's work together to create thriving communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. 💪 #CommunityEngagement #Empowerment #Impact #LearningAndDevelopment #LinkedInNetworking

In this week's edition of "But what does the National Center on Education and the Economy do?" I bring you our partners in Colton Joint Unified School District. First, before you read any further, take a look at the video and share below who (aka the roles) you think are represented in the learning group? No cheating. STOP reading here. 🛑 OK, what did you guess?? 🤔 Did you guess #teachers? You would be correct! 🤔 Did you guess #schoolleaders? You would be correct! 🤔 But did you also guess #tosas (aka instructional/academic coaches, program specialists, etc)? If so, you would be correct! And finally....drum roll.....did you guess the #superintendent and his #cabinet along with other district directors??? If so, you nailed it. If not...don't be disheartened. Truth is, in last week's inquiry sharing, you couldn't have picked these different roles out of the crowd - every single person in the room was there to do one thing - share their most recent practitioner inquiry/action research findings with colleagues across the district. This culmination of a full year's work was truly inspiring! CJUSD is embracing the role that reflective, inquiry-based practices can/should/must play in their effort to bring #alignment and #coherence across the district (all of this is a part of a bigger body of work involving the development and implementation of a district-wide #professionallearning framework. Imagine the #impact when leaders at all levels tackle their problems of practice side-by-side with a similar process. Imagine the #impact when the #executivecabinet turns to teachers and staff for ideas and #help with their thinking. Co-designing the conditions for this....yeah, we do that. Want to know more? Reach out to superintendent Frank Miranda, Ed.D., assistant superintendent Tina Petersen, Ed.D and their team - they'll be happy to share. Or grab some time with my #appointment link above...and let's explore together! Murphy Joda Yvonne DiMattia Dr. María Asusena López-Guerra Don Haddad, Ed.D. Ethan Wiechmann Jhone Ebert Felicia Gonzales Marilyn Dondero Loop David Jensen Nicole Swigart Cory Strasser Casey VanHarssel Rebeca Andrade, Ed.D. Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D. Monika Hazel Amanda Corridan Terrence Davis Tonia R. Causey, Ph.D. Andy Johnsen, Ed.D. Dr. Sonia Llamas, LCSW Ed Manansala Ed.D. Derek Fialkiewicz Eldon Merrell Tim Nootenboom Laurie Dent, Ph.D. Zachary Robbins Ignacio Ruiz M.Ed. Aaron Spence Kirk Dolson Tiffany Campbell, Ed.D. Jeff Youskievicz Scott Menzel

Monday night's Dallas School District board meeting was one that got me thinking. Two long-time board members mentioned they won't be running for another term. Their dedication and service have been invaluable, and this coming school year will be their last with us. This is a challenge many school boards face: many serve for 10+ years but can't keep giving, and not many vie to replace them. All school boards need diverse, passionate folks who can collaborate and bring their differences together to set students up for the best possible outcomes. Many don't realize they are not only qualified, but would bring exceptional value to the role. It isn't an easy volunteer gig by any stretch—there is a lot of hard work that goes into it—but it is also exceptionally rewarding to know you had a hand in the success of district children. If you've ever considered getting involved, now is the perfect time! Here are some ways you can start: * Reach Out: Connect with current board members or district officials to learn more about what we do. * Join a Committee: Many committees need volunteers. It's a great way to get your feet wet and understand the inner workings of your local district. * Watch a Few Meetings: Attend or watch our meetings online. See firsthand how decisions are made and the impact they have on our schools. * Consider Running: After getting some exposure, decide if running for the school board makes sense for you. Why should you consider it? * Make a Difference: Help shape policies and programs that directly affect our students' education and well-being. * Personal Growth: Develop valuable collaboration skills and gain insights into a different industry and board level governance. * Community Engagement: Give back to your community in a meaningful way. School boards typically meet outside of regular working hours, making it feasible for many to participate. We need level-headed individuals who are focused on following the research and supporting what works best for children. Let's work together to ensure our schools provide the best education possible. Your involvement can make a significant difference! #SchoolBoard #CommunityInvolvement #EducationMatters #DallasSchoolDistrict

I get to do the most amazing work. 😍 Today, I was coaching a supervisory team in a child care centre. Child care is vitally important, but very challenging work and our research at YMCA WorkWell tells us just how important staff well-being and feeling valued is to the education of our precious children. As this team is getting ready for Child Care Worker & Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day in October, we were talking about what they were planning. And here is what I heard: Before our work with YMCA WorkWell, we (as leaders) tried to figure out what people might like and then we got everyone the same thing. Now we do two things differently: (1) we ASK people and involve them in decisions (and not just about appreciation), and (2) we know how our team members like to be appreciated and we apply that to tailor our expressions of appreciation so that each person will know how valued they are. And...my work is done. 🤣 But, in all honesty, what a proud coaching moment to see the direct impact of the work. Want to create a culture of appreciation in your organization? Reach out; we can help. #WellBeingIsEverything #appreciation

Full of joy, feelings of connection, and yes... fatigue. All of that can be true. 💯 It's true for me after an abundant week of programming. This photo of my youngest napping (supervised, of course) in her Godmother's saltwater pool is a pretty good reflection of my Friday night. 😴 Exhausted. Content. At ease. Surrounded by love. 🙏🏾 Last week was a big professional development push for The Teaching Well. 13 trainings were scheduled across the week, and I was involved in 9 of those either because they were my clients or because I was co-training as a part of our intentional onboarding process. Shout out to these districts who partnered this week to strategically leverage summer training days with their staff, centering workplace wellbeing, equity, and collaborative adult cultures. I am so grateful for your partnership! ✨ San Francisco Unified School District ✨Caliber Public Schools ✨Oakland Unified School District ✨Aldine ISD ✨Benicia Unified School District ✨Aspire Public Schools So exciting to work towards a reality where the next generation of teachers can come into districts and be retained and sustained! 🙌🏾 9 trainings and yet I feel nourished. We're holding sacred space for educators to better align and communicate. To restore, my family and I spent all of Saturday at the river... floating, music, snacks, laughter. Nature is the ultimate healer! 🌊 Now onto partnerships for this week! ♻ How do you restore after a push week? Repost or share in the comments! #educatorwellness #nonprofitleadership #teacherretention #adultSEL #professionaldevelopment #workplacewellbeing #communication #alignment #collaboration #partnerdistricts #gratitude #restoration

I believe having a clean campus brings life to students, teachers, and staff. It increases productivity and appreciation of an individual's surroundings. A school clean-up project designed to reach these effects would benefit the community and those who attend campus classes every single day. Gathering a group of students for a service project dedicated to picking up pieces of trash, maintaining the greenery, cleaning parking lots, football stands, and possibly even adding a beauty appeal with landscaping. Bringing students together to make a plan and promote this action is an opportunity for kids to create community and new friendships. What does this plan do? - Builds new relationships - Shows staff and kids the importance of a clean environment - Allows students to have open conversations to grow the project - Makes campus a happier place to be - Opportunities for leadership - Learning to work with others - Shows the school what taking action for our planet looks like - Life-lasting impact on participating students and staff ScholarshipOwl Kingwood Park High School

In December 2023, I collaborated with Dorothy O'Tudor on a project that was deeply personal to me. It stemmed from a conversation we had in college about helping struggling students. The idea stayed in my notes until I put it into action. One Sunday, I found myself revisiting those notes and I reached out to Dorothy. She responded immediately and we exchanged ideas. With her event management expertise and my desire to give back, we collaborated on "The Playground. The Playground is a project born from shared vision with Co-Curator Tofunmi Awodiji. It was born from the desire to inspire young adults to take actions and pursue their dreams, as well providing children with: • Skill Acquisition opportunity • Chance to bond • Recreational activities • Feeding and gift items. I had a wonderful time working on this project, as it allowed me to combine my passion for helping others with my organizational skills. From ensuring safety and welfare to managing logistics of the project, every aspect was a testament to the power of teamwork and dedication. However, there were some challenges that we had to overcome. I used to let fear hold me back from taking advantage of opportunities and sharing my achievements. I remember a similar situation during my undergraduate years when I avoided the spotlight even after excelling academically. However, I realized the importance of embracing success and stepping out of my comfort zone through this journey. Today, I am proud to share this milestone, even though it is a few months late, and encourage others to do the same. Instead of being afraid, let's celebrate our achievements and overcome our fears. #CommunityService #Collaboration #ProjectManagement #PersonalGrowth #OvercomingChallenges #CelebratingAchievements