June 2025- NIESC Newsletter
Executive Director Notes
As the 2024–2025 school year comes to an end and we begin planning for 2025–2026, I encourage you to take some time this June and July to prioritize yourself and your family. Use this time to unwind, relax, and recharge. The start of the 2025–2026 school year will be here before we know it!
Cooperative Purchasing
Click Here for the Cooperative Purchasing Newsletter
Food Service
Technology Integration
Summer Tech Cookout
Join us at our 4th Annual Summer Tech Cookout, a free event organized for tech staff from area schools. Meet us on Wednesday June 18th from 9:00am – 2:00pm EST at Menominee Elementary in Plymouth, IN, where where we will join area schools for a day filled with friendly competition, networking, and a cookout! Prizes….did we mention prizes? Please be sure all your teammates register for this FREE event as well!
June 18, 2025 | 9:00am-2:30pm ET
FREE for members & non-members
- Learn more and Register
STEM Integration
Digitarium Training June 17, 2025
The last day to register is June 12th!
Please join us for a day of training on how to set up and use the Digitarium so you can bring the wonders of astronomy to your students of all ages in your very own buildings!
You have the opportunity to experience some of the following:
Demonstrating Earth’s rotation
- View the night sky, constellations and experience solar/lunar eclipses
- Visit planets up close
- Take a trip around the sun
- Use integrated stories to guide lessons or create your own
Click Here for more information and to register. Contact Laura Unsicker with any questions!
SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE!
Summer is the perfect time to get outside and explore the phenomenon present in the world around you!
Here are a few resources to get your summer STEM on:
School Counseling
As summer begins, it's essential to prioritize your well-being and recharge. Use this summer
self-care checklist to help you reflect, unwind, discover, and return refreshed for the
new school year. You deserve time to care for yourself.
Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities
Pathways to Progress:
A Two-Day Deep Dive into RtI Practices
Join us for two days of learning, collaborating, and planning for all things RtI! When you leave, you will have a refreshed view of RtI and plans-in-hand to implement with your building as you kick off the new school year!
- July 21 & 22, 2025 | 9am-3pm ET | NIESC, Mishawaka, IN
$150 members | $275 non-members
Read more and register
- July 23 & 24, 2025 | 9am-3pm CT | Lake Ridge Schools, Gary, IN
$150members | $275 non-members
Read more and register
Kick-Start Writing Instruction with Smekens Education: Routines, Strategies, and Stamina for Grades 2-8 Writers
Great writing instruction doesn’t happen by chance—it’s grounded in the science of writing and built through intentional routines, direct instruction, and strategic feedback from day one. This workshop equips grade 2-8 English-language arts teachers with research-based strategies to develop confident, resilient writers while providing a step-by-step plan for launching writing instruction that fosters engagement and stamina from day one. Start next school year with a plan that transforms writing time into one of the most engaging and effective parts of your day!
- July 28, 2025 | 9:00am-3:00pm ET | Wawasee Corp Learning Center, Syracuse, IN
$200 members | $300 non members
Read more and Register
- July 29, 2025 | 9:00am-3:00pm CT | Hobart High School, Hobart, IN
$200 members | $300 non members
Read more and Register
NIESC Staff Spotlight
Since July 1, 2020, I have had the privilege of serving as Executive Director.
My journey in education began as a high school biology and chemistry teacher, followed by roles as a middle and high school assistant principal, principal, and eventually Superintendent. As a high school teacher, I enjoyed coaching high school football, swimming, and track—experiences that deepened my passion for working with students both in and out of the classroom.
I grew up in Warsaw and now live in LaGrange with my wife, Shannon. We own seventeen acres of land and truly enjoy the peace, quiet, scenic beauty, and natural sounds that come with country living. Much of our free time is spent outdoors—whether we’re maintaining the property, biking, or hiking. Shannon and I love to travel. Normal stops include West Lafayette to visit our niece and nephew, and Bloomington to spend time on the beautiful campus of Indiana University. Each spring, we also look forward to spending two weeks on Hilton Head Island.