Regional In-Service Education Center

Region 7 Center’s Mission

Our mission is to provide sustained, comprehensive, effective professional learning that addresses the needs of all educators in our area of the state in order to provide the best educational opportunities possible for all students.  Recognizing that becoming an effective educator is a continuous process, we are committed to providing ongoing opportunities to all educational personnel, administrative and instructional alike, to maximize their understanding and abilities in specific content areas as well as in the areas of effective pedagogical methods and state-of-the-art technological applications.  By developing and maintaining a community of learners among all of our participating schools and University of Montevallo personnel, we provide collaborative opportunities for cooperative work, research, and mentoring.  All of our activities are aimed at the improvement of educational achievement for all students so that they are able to achieve the goals they set for themselves in life.

Region 7 School Districts

Services provided by the RIEC

Data-Driven Professional Learning  Sessions

RlCs design and develop unique programs to meet specific needs at the region, district, and school level. RlCs collaborate with administrators and leadership teams of teachers to determine content needs, delivery strategies, and scheduling. Tailored professional learning sessions provide the region, districts, or schools an opportunity to design, develop, and implement professional learning aligned to identified needs. These sessions may be an extension of the RIC summer professional learning opportunities.

Site-based Instructional Support

RlCs provide site-based instructional support. This may include but is not limited to (1) RlCs presenting process-based classroom demonstrations aligned with state and district standards or small groups of teachers debriefing on the strategies used in the demonstrations; (2) RlCs providing teacher mentoring support to teachers within the first three years of their teaching career; (3) RIC facilitating instructional rounds with teachers and school leadership team focused on a problem of practice; or (4) Technology integration support.

Professional Learning Community Support

This support may include, but is not limited to, designing, developing, and implementing sessions focused on utilizing a collaborative team approach to support the learning of all students. This may include helping the region, districts, or schools in creating a guaranteed and viable curriculum, using assessments to monitor student learning, applying data-driven instruction practices, and creating a schoolwide plan for intervention and extensions.

Professional Learning Unit (PLUs) Support

RlCs design, develop, and implement professional learning units to support leaders and aspiring leaders in Alabama. These PLUs are submitted to the Alabama Council for Leadership Development (ACLD). ACLD approved professional studies require multiple professional development experiences over time, address the Alabama Standards for Instructional Leaders, and align with the Alabama Standards for Professional Development. RlCs are available to facilitate PLUs if the submitted application is approved.

Associated Programs and Initiatives

The Center collaborates with the Office of Student Learning through the Alabama State Department of Education.

Directions

From Birmingham:

Take I-65 South. Follow I-65 South to Co Rd 87 in Calera. Take exit 234 from I-65 South. Follow Smokey Road, Co Rd 24, and Hwy 119 to your destination in Montevallo. Parking for UM-RIEC is at Myrick Hall or any yellow-lined parking space.

From Montgomery:

Take I-65 North. Follow I-65 North to AL-245 S in Shelby County. Take exit 228 from I-65 North. Continue on AL-25 South. Drive to King-Harman Street in Montevallo. Parking for UM-RIEC is at Myrick Hall or any yellow-lined parking space.