Meet our Schools Department Managers, Jeff Nease and Erica Nease. They lead their team to support school teachers and administrators in thousands of schools across the country and around the world. While IEW has a firmly established reputation in homeschooling circles, our Schools Department continues to grow year after year. Currently, thousands of schools from all around the world purchase their language arts curriculum from IEW. Choosing a writing curriculum is an important decision for any school. Administrators and teachers want materials that fit their students, their schedules, and their educational goals. Selecting the right curriculum is only the beginning. Successful implementation also requires teacher training, thoughtful planning, and ongoing support. That is why IEW’s Schools Department is ready to partner with schools throughout the entire process.
Work with Customer Support Specialists
When administrators or teachers initially place a call to IEW, they are connected to a highly trained Customer Support Specialist. This individual is equipped to provide information about curriculum and training options, send out review materials, address account issues, and more. Our Customer Support Specialists are experienced working with traditional five-day-a-week schools, multi-grade classrooms, hybrid schools, and specialized learning environments. Members of this team can answer questions and help administrators and teachers determine what will work best for their particular setting. Customer Support Specialists can provide curriculum samples and teacher training options designed to help administrators and teachers become familiar with the methodology and see what instruction can look like in a classroom. They are also available throughout the school year to provide account support when teachers and administrators need help finding resources in their accounts, resetting passwords, applying tax exempt documents, and more.
Partner with an Educational Consultant
Often more specialized assistance is needed for district- or school-wide implementation. Similarly, a higher level of assistance may be necessary for classrooms where students have little writing experience, are reading below grade level, or have learning differences. In instances like these, the Customer Support Specialist will put the school administrator or teacher in contact with one of our Educational Consultants (ECs) for further support. ECs partner with schools, helping guide them through the curriculum preview, selection, implementation, and end-of-year review process. ECs meet with schools via phone or video conferencing to introduce the Structure and Style® methodology and describe how to apply it within their classrooms. The EC will provide a clear overview of IEW’s instructional method. Their shared goal is to ensure that teachers feel equipped. When teachers are empowered, students are the ultimate beneficiaries. ECs meet with the school administrator to listen and learn about the school’s needs and goals. Once the EC has a solid understanding of what the school is looking to achieve, he or she can provide sample lessons and resources for the administrator to examine. ECs can schedule additional follow-up meetings to assist with further questions and planning.
Design Curriculum Pathways and Plans
Educational Consultants plan potential entry points and create a unique curriculum pathway that aligns with a school’s specific needs. That may entail crafting vertical alignment plans and drafting multiyear progression plans. It may involve accounting for teaching students with learning differences or who are English language learners. Each school is unique, and each plan is specifically tailored to each school. ECs can create custom recommendations and pacing guides for traditional five-day-a-week schools, multi-grade classrooms, hybrid schools, and specialized learning environments.
Train Teachers for Success
Another facet of how Educational Consultants support schools is in helping the school select the teacher training option that best fits its needs. Realizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to training, IEW offers several options so schools can select the one that is best for their needs and their budgets.
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Option #1: Schools can purchase training through individual streaming by investing in Teaching Writing: Structure and Style for each instructor. Teachers can watch the videos on their own and complete the practicum assignments.
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Option #2: Schools on a tighter budget can purchase a copy of the Seminar Workbook for each teacher to accompany the full Teaching Writing: Structure and Style seminar. The school would then gather the teachers together in a group to view the videos and work through the practicum assignments.
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Option #3: Schools may decide to have their teachers attend IEW’s Virtual Teaching Writing: Structure and Style workshop, which is held during the summer months.
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Option #4: Schools can opt for live on-site training by our Implementation Coach Jeff Nease.
Support Implementation and Student Success
For many curriculum companies, once the curriculum is purchased, the consultant’s role is complete. Not so for IEW’s Educational Consultants! They continue to be available to schools. Support at this level includes meeting virtually with the teaching staff to preview an upcoming unit or discuss various ways to differentiate instruction within the classroom. The EC is available to meet with the teaching staff to clarify questions about lesson planning and instruction or provide coaching for a range of classroom scenarios. One may meet with a single teacher to work through a specific question related to her classroom or a certain student. IEW’s ECs have a broad range of expertise that can be culled from to support schools.
Why do we offer this level of complimentary support to our schools? IEW Schools Department Manager and Implementation Coach Jeff Nease has said it best: “When teachers feel equipped, students flourish.” Remember that IEW’s Customer Support Specialists and Educational Consultants are here not only to help place orders; they are also here to partner with schools. If your school is considering how IEW could serve your teachers and students, we would love to walk that journey with you. Connect with us today.
