At Webster Kindergarten Center in Escanaba, the recent Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA) Intensive Coaching Institute served as a hub for learning, collaboration, and literacy leadership.
Among the facilitators was Heidi Gascon, Literacy Instructional Coach at Ingham ISD, who played a key role in delivering this four-day professional learning experience. With a focus on interactive writing and instructional coaching, the event provided hands-on support for ISD coaches across the state as they deepened their understanding of MAISA’s Essential Coaching Practices.
The institute was spearheaded locally by Kristie Latsch, General Education Director for Delta Schoolcraft ISD, who advocated for the opportunity to support her district’s literacy coaches—and extend that support to colleagues from other regional districts like Bark River-Harris, Escanaba, Gladstone, and more.
The sessions paired coaches with small groups of students in live teaching settings, giving them real-time feedback and tools they could take back to their home districts. Participants practiced key elements of interactive writing, built confidence in their coaching approach, and explored new ways to help teachers grow their literacy instruction.
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Families across Ingham County can take advantage of Ingham ISD’s free Play & Learn Groups this summer. The outdoor sessions are designed for children from birth to age 5 and feature stories, songs, play-based activities, and early learning opportunities. No registration is required.
Surrounded by families, friends, classmates, and staff, students celebrated a milestone years in the making. Each graduate's journey reflected determination, growth, and the collective support of the educators and loved ones who helped them reach this moment.
