Wisconsin’s School District of Brown Deer Launches New Professional Development Initiative in Partnership with Discovery Education

- Latest Phase of Four Year Partnership to Focus on Implementing New Professional Learning Model Driving Continuous Improvement and Transforming Education-

Silver Spring, Md. (September 11, 2018) – Wisconsin’s School District of Brown Deer (SDBD) announced today the launch of the latest phase of its four year partnership with Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms. In this new stage of collaboration, SDBD is introducing a new professional learning model for educators that drives continuous improvement and creates dynamic digital learning environments that help all students reach their fullest potential.

The SDBD is located in the northernmost portion of Wisconsin’s Milwaukee County and serves approximately 1600 students in the district’s two school buildings, Brown Deer Elementary School and Brown Deer Middle/High School. Located in one of the most ethnically and racially diverse communities in Wisconsin, SDBD is dedicated to providing every student a dynamic, challenging, and technologically-infused curriculum that elevates the academic achievement of all learners.

To achieve this goal, SDBD’s educators are now participating in Discovery Education’s Digital Leader Corps professional learning model. Featuring a unique combination of professional learning, pedagogy, and tools, Digital Leader Corps offers participating educators proven strategies and approaches for integrating educational technologies and digital media into classroom instruction.

These strategies and approaches are then practiced in educator created, student-centered Learning Labs. In these labs, teachers practice and adapt their new skills in a classroom setting before sharing their successes broadly with their colleagues. The Digital Leader Corps program provides teachers continuous customized, job-embedded consultation, with on-going modeling, coaching, and feedback from Discovery Education experts in the pre-planning, stakeholder communications, and implementation phases.

“One of the core principles guiding every single member of our team is the belief that all students deserve a quality education,” explained Dr. Deborah Kerr, District Administrator of the School District of Brown Deer. “Through this new professional learning initiative, our educators are building a culture of continuous improvement that will help ensure they are always prepared to provide our diverse student population the best education possible.”

The implementation of Digital Leader Corps will also support the deeper integration of digital content into teaching and learning across the district. Among the resources SDBD’s educators have used since 2014 to create a dynamic digital learning environment are Discovery Education’s award-winning , Social Studies Techbook, and Streaming Plus service.

Discovery Education’s Science Techbook is a digital textbook that utilizes an inquiry-based format built on the 5E model, helps teach students to read, write, and think like scientists through hands-on labs, digital explorations, an interactive glossary, and data analysis activities. Discovery Education’s Social Studies Techbook is a digital textbook that uses an inquiry-based instructional approach that emphasizes informational text literacy, analytical writing, and problem-solving skills that students will apply in the classroom and beyond. Finally, Discovery Education Streaming Plus is a comprehensive digital service supplementing instruction across all K-12 curricular areas that helps build students’ mastery in interpreting, understanding, and evaluating information across all subject areas.

SDBD’s educators will continue to be supported by the Discovery Education Community as they transform students’ learning experiences with dynamic digital media. A global community of education professionals, the Discovery Education Community connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing and inspiration.

“Through their investment in digital content and professional learning, the School District of Brown Deer has positioned itself to create powerful, flexible learning environments that will engage learners and improve achievement no matter their background ,” said Emily Keith, Senior Partnership Manager at Discovery Education. “We look forward to working closely with Dr. Kerr and the teachers of this world-class district.”

For more information about Discovery Education’s digital resources and professional learning services, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through Facebook, follow us on Twitter at @DiscoveryEd, or find us on Instagram and Pinterest.

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About Discovery Education
As the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12 classrooms worldwide, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional learning, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries around the globe. Inspired by the global media company Discovery Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com.