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Executive Director Notes
 

Supporting Our Members with a Variety of Services

At NWIESC, we are committed to providing programs and services that support the success of our member schools. Below are just some of the opportunities available to you and your district:

• Cooperative Purchasing
• CPI Certification
• Dietitian Services
• Digitarium
• Food Procurement
• Food Service Director Support
• Media Specialist Services
• Mentoring in the areas of Curriculum, Food Service, High Ability, School Counseling, and Technology
• Professional Development 
• STEM Certification
• Study Councils in the areas of Curriculum, Cybersecurity, Early Literacy, Network Administrators, Principals, School Counselors, School Safety, State Reporting, Technology Directors, and Transportation

If you are interested in learning more about any of these services, please don’t hesitate to contact us—we are here to support you!

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Cooperative Purchasing

 
Click Here For Cooperative Purchasing Newsletter 
 

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Food Service

 
 

National School Lunch Week

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) serves nearly 30 million children every school day. President John F. Kennedy created National School Lunch Week (NSLW) in 1962 to promote the importance of a healthy school lunch in a child’s life and the impact it has inside and outside of the classroom.
NSLW25 will be celebrated October 13-17, 2025.
 

2025-2026 NIESC School Food Co-op Meeting Schedule

• September 15, 2025: Plymouth Community Schools, Plymouth, IN
  • Watch Party at Marion Community Schools, Marion, IN
• October 3, 2025: Fairfield Community Schools, Goshen, IN
  • Watch Party at East Central ESC, New Castle, IN
• December 8, 2025: New Prairie United School Corp, New Carlisle, IN 
• January 15, 2026: ZOOM
• February 12, 2026: ZOOM
• March 11, 2026: East Porter County School Corp, Kouts, IN
  • Watch Party at Marion Community Schools, Marion, IN
• April 17, 2026: Rochester School Corporation, Rochester, IN
  • Watch Party at East Central ESC, New Castle, IN
• May 14, 2026: Swan Lake Resort, Plymouth, IN

**These meetings are subject to change. 
 

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Curriculum

There are some exciting opportunities starting!
Sign up today! 

 

Register for the ILEARN Cadre HERE! 

 

Register for the Early Literacy Study Council HERE! 

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Technology Integration

Regional Tech Meetings
THIRD THURSDAYS
September 18^th

Northern Indiana Tech Directors & Coaches
School City of Mishawaka
 
Northwest Tech Directors & Tech Coach Collab
Hanover Community School Corporation
Click here to RSVP 
 
Northeast Indiana Tech Study Council (NEISSC)
East Allen County Schools Annex Building 

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STEM Integration


 

SAVE THE DATE!
Indiana STEM Education Conference
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Purdue University
Spend the day exploring the future of STEM education! Highlights include:

• Keynote by Dr. Kristen Poindexter
• 60+ breakout sessions on curriculum, instruction, careers, and research
• Networking with STEM sponsors
• Resource page with slides and handouts
• Professional Growth Points for educators

Details: Learn more 
Have a great STEM lesson or idea? Submit a proposal.
Registration opens in October  
 

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Want to bring best-practice pedagogy to your district, but not ready to commit to a full-year contract?


 

Whether you’re new to inquiry-based, student-centered learning or simply seeking a refresher, NWIESC offers a wide range of professional workshops designed to fit your schedule. Sessions can be customized as full-day, half-day, or even one-hour formats.
Sample workshop topics include:

• Effective Questioning Strategies
• Inquiry in the Elementary Classroom
• Inquiry in the Secondary Classroom
• Implementing STEM Pedagogy
• Inquiry: What Is It?
• Observing and Evaluating the Inquiry Classroom
• AI in Digital Literacy
• NGSS and Three-Dimensional Learning
• Differentiation in the Inquiry Classroom
• Implementing Indiana’s Integrated STEM Standards
• STEM Certification

For more information! Contact Laura Unsicker: lunsicker@niesc.k12.in.us  
 

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School Counseling

 

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Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities

 

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NWIESC Staff Spotlight 

 

Tara White with her family 
 

Since 2021, Tara White has served as the Media Specialist for NWIESC, bringing a wealth of experience and creativity to the role.
 
Her journey in education began in the classroom as a high school language arts and journalism teacher. After several years of teaching, she transitioned into the corporate world as an editorial and art director at Hallmark Cards, where she developed product lines for national retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Walgreens, and JCPenney. Eventually, the pull of education brought her back, and she has since served as a K–12 media specialist, district library coordinator, Director of Literacy, and in other administrative capacities.
 
Her leadership has extended beyond her district as well. She has served as President of the Association of Indiana School Library Educators (AISLE), a member of the Indiana Library Federation Board of Directors, and President of the New Carlisle Olive Township Library Board of Trustees.
 
A native of Marengo, Indiana, Tara met her husband, Paul, while they were both undergraduates at Indiana University Bloomington. Today, they make their home in New Carlisle and are the proud parents of three children. Their oldest, Lauren, is a project manager for a pharmaceutical company in Indianapolis; Jackson, their son, is pursuing a degree in social work at IUSB; and Morgan, their youngest, is a sophomore business major and member of the women’s basketball team at Daemen University.
 
When not cheering on their kids, Tara and Paul enjoy traveling—and recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a trip to Italy.