Westmoreland Intermediate Unit

The WIU was honored to host and participate in the Crisis Intervention Team – Youth (CIT-Y) Westmoreland County, the first-ever 40-hour youth-specific Crisis Intervention Team training in the nation. Led by the CITY-Y Steering Committee, comprised through the Westmoreland County Department of Human Services, the training brought together police, first responders, schools, community providers, and the behavioral health and criminal justice systems to promote an appropriate response to youths during and after a mental health crisis. With funding from NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania, participants gained valuable insights during this intensive, interactive, and collaborative training.   

Getting to know you! That’s one of the things our Educator Induction mentors and mentees got to do today at the first meeting of a two-year Educator Induction journey. Today’s session brings the mentees one step closer to working towards their permanent PA certification. Thank you to the experienced educator mentors for helping to guide them along the way. The PDE-approved Educator Induction program is led by Dr. Jason Stragand, Ed.D., WIU Student Services Supervisor. 

More than an adaptive stroller, it’s hope - and the freedom to experience life more abundantly. That’s what Variety the Children's Charity (of Pittsburgh) provided today to three Westmoreland County students at the WIU! Following a presentation by Tom Baker, Variety CEO, and Molly Crawford, program manager, parents were educated on their new life-changing equipment by Randy Prunty with Variety partner, Blackburn’s. And then, the students got to enjoy their new ride!    Through its partnership with the WIU, Variety has now presented more than 430 adaptive bikes, adaptive strollers, or communication devices, worth more than $656,000 in equipment to local youth in Westmoreland County. We are proud to support Variety and its work to create a day of new possibilities for kids!

Are you a retired school leader looking for a way to give back to your community? Would you be interested in supporting local districts on an interim basis? Then join our team!   The Western Pennsylvania Intermediate Unit Executive Directors are looking to create a clearinghouse for retired school administrators who want to step up, give back, and return to our schools for short-term, temporary assignments.    Districts across Western Pennsylvania are in need of qualified school administrators to substitute in a variety of positions.    Interested? Please complete the short form below to indicate your role/roles and select the county/counties you are interested in serving. Your information will then be shared as requests are made, and you can decide which opportunities to fulfill.  https://lnkd.in/g_n67mJ2 For more information, contact Jason Conway 724-836-2460 or [email protected].

Congratulations to Cameron Kovatch, a Special Education teacher at Clairview School who was awarded the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit (WIU) 2023-2024 Annie Sullivan Award, a peer-nominated award, at the WIU Board meeting last evening! Dr. Matt Thomas, Director of Student Services, presented the award and recognized Mr. Kovatch as being a consummate professional who provides a positive, innovative, and inclusive learning environment for students. Mr. Kovatch is pictured with Mr. Dallas Leonard, WIU Board President and Dr. Jason Conway, WIU Executive Director.

School Safety and Security Coordinators from Westmoreland County’s school districts, CTCs, 911 Center, and Department of Public Safety, as well as the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, attended today’s WIU monthly meeting. Led by Joe Rice, WIU School Safety and Security Coordinator, updates to the 2024-2025 school code were covered, as well as a presentation made by FirstNet, an emergency communications provider, on updates to devices that enable efficient and reliable communication between first responders, school staff, and families.

PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATORS! Are you seeking CPE credits toward your Instructional II &/or Act 48 hours? This fall, the WIU has got you covered! Register today at bit.ly/CPEFallCourses to start learning and earning!

In preparation for the new school year, 200 WIU Student Services employees who work throughout the 17 Westmoreland County school districts gathered for in-service. The reinvigorating sessions, offered over two days, provided an opportunity for staff to reconnect, set goals, and share new trends and pedagogy in the field of education.

Looking for valuable and affordable training in Structured Literacy? Look no further than Westmoreland Intermediate Unit! Melissa Jackson and I are presenting on 9/26/24 - come join us!

K-12 curriculum leaders and administrators in the Norwin School District recently engaged in a kick-off session for a collaborative growth training series titled Curriculum Leadership: Leveraging Strengths & Expanding Capacity to Advance Learning for All. Designed and facilitated by Dr. Diane Fierle, Ed.D., WIU Curriculum Services Supervisor, the session focused on the pivotal role of curriculum leaders as administrative collaborators, identifying and removing barriers to collaborative leadership, and key self-awareness and emotional intelligence skills that contribute to impactful leadership in learning communities.