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Collaboration Overview

The Collabs

Orion Education and Training offers a variety of collaboration groups throughout the school year, providing educators and school professionals with opportunities to connect, learn, and grow alongside their peers. Designed for staff at all levels—from superintendents and administrators to teachers, business office personnel, technology staff, counselors, and support professionals—these meetings encourage networking, the sharing of best practices, problem-solving, and professional learning. Our collaboration groups help participants stay informed on current issues, build meaningful professional relationships, and bring innovative ideas back to their organizations.

 

 

 

 

 

Logo for ORION COLLABS featuring a stylized bird-like figure and the tagline 'COLLABORATE. LEARN. TAKE ACTION.'

 

 

  • The Curriculum Leaders’ Collaborative is a monthly professional community of practice designed for leaders who are passionate about instructional excellence and systemic growth. It’s a supportive network where leaders can troubleshoot real-time issues, vet new practices, share resources, learn together, and refine their leadership practice in a confidential, high-trust environment. 

     

    Time: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM

    Address: Orion Education and Training, 13939 Diagonal Road, Clearwater

    Facilitator: Jill Lachenmayr

     

    Register Here

  • The Elementary Principals Collaborative is designed to support the complex and multifaceted work of leading at the elementary level. This collaborative provides a dedicated space for leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue around instructional leadership, student needs, professional learning, and the day-to-day challenges unique to elementary schools. Each session will include intentional time for principals to work together to address current and time-sensitive issues, share effective practices, and problem-solve in a supportive, collaborative environment.  

    Time: 12:30-3:30pm
    Address: Orion Education and Training, 13939 Diagonal Road, Clearwater              

    Facilitator:  Pete Bastian    

    Register Here

  • This collaborative is a monthly forum for secondary principals to engage in purposeful collaboration around the unique challenges and opportunities of leading middle and high schools. Recognizing the complexities of secondary leadership—including academic programming, student engagement, staff support, and operational demands—this collaborative creates space for meaningful dialogue and shared learning. Each session will include dedicated time for leaders to work together to address current, time-sensitive issues, exchange effective practices, and collectively problem-solve in a supportive and forward-focused environment.

    Time: 8:30-11:30am
    Address: Orion Education and Training, 13939 Diagonal Road, Clearwater              

    Facilitator:  Pete Bastian               

    Register Here

  • This collaborative is a monthly opportunity for assistant principals and athletic directors to come together in support of the dynamic and often demanding nature of their roles. This collaborative recognizes the unique balance of responsibilities—including student discipline, school operations, event management, and athletic program oversight—and provides a space for meaningful dialogue and shared learning. Each session will include dedicated time for participants to collaboratively address current and time-sensitive issues, share effective practices, and problem-solve in a supportive, solutions-oriented environment.  

    Time: 8:30-11:30am
    Address: Orion Education and Training, 13939 Diagonal Road, Clearwater              

    Facilitator:  Pete Bastian       

     

    Register Here

  • The Business Office Support (BOS) Collaborative is Orion's professional learning and networking community created exclusively for school district business office professionals. Designed to help districts operate efficiently, compliantly, and strategically, BOS provides forward-thinking guidance, practical tools, and collaborative problem-solving for payroll specialists, HR professionals, business managers, and finance leaders. Members stay informed on state and federal regulatory changes, school finance, budgeting, audit preparation, payroll and benefits compliance, labor market and compensation trends, recruitment and retention strategies, and financial software support, while sharing real-time solutions to everyday challenges. Each session combines expert presentations with peer collaboration, giving participants valuable updates and practical strategies they can immediately apply in their districts. 

     

    Time: 9:00-12:00
    Address: Orion Education and Training, 13939 Diagonal Road, Clearwater

    Facilitator:  Kris Misak 

     

    Register Here

  • This monthly community of practice is for educators who want to move beyond just using digital tools and start making them work for student learning. Research often shows that technology does not automatically improve outcomes which is why this group focuses on the how rather than the what. Alice Keeler leads the group in exploring instructional strategies that make technology integration purposeful and impactful. Members work together to evaluate digital practices and redesign lessons to ensure they truly support critical thinking and collaboration. This is a supportive space to troubleshoot real classroom challenges and share resources that have a proven impact on student success.

    Time: TBA
    Address: Orion Education and Training, 13939 Diagonal Road, Clearwater  

    Facilitator:  Alice Keeler

     

    Register Here

  • The eight mathematical practices are the heartbeat of our standards and describe the rich way we want our students to experience the world of numbers. While these practices are meant to guide our instruction, many of our current digital and traditional resources do not always invite students to engage with them in a deep or meaningful way. This collaborative group is a space to explore how we can breathe life back into these standards and make them a constant presence in our classrooms. We will work together to look past the routine of the page and find practical ways to ensure students are engaging in at least one mathematical practice during every lesson. Our goal is to shift the heavy lifting of discovery back to the learners so they can see the patterns and structures that make math so powerful. This network offers a supportive community for educators who want to ensure that every student is a true practitioner of mathematics in every single assignment.

    Time: TBA
    Address: Orion Education and Training, 13939 Diagonal Road, Clearwater  

    Facilitator:  Alice Keeler

     

    Register Here

  • The Leaders in Literacy Collaborative is a monthly community of practice for K–12 teachers and support staff who are passionate about strengthening literacy instruction through the Science of Reading, LETRS, and Structured Literacy. Together, we will bridge research to classroom practice by exploring instructional routines, classroom look-fors, assessment practices, and practical supports that lead to stronger student outcomes. This collaborative is a space to troubleshoot implementation challenges, share resources and successes, and learn alongside colleagues who are committed to continuous growth. Whether you are building your understanding or refining your practice, you'll leave each session with actionable ideas and a network of educators dedicated to improving literacy for every learner.

    Time: TBA
    Address: Orion Education and Training, 13939 Diagonal Road, Clearwater  

    Facilitator:  Cindy Graves

     

    Register Here

  • Elevate your Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs this school year with our comprehensive professional support network. This targeted initiative connects pathway teachers across districts to share resources, build industry partnerships, and collaborate. What’s included:

    • Monthly CTE Newsletter: Stay informed with 9 monthly editions
    • CTE Virtual Meetings: Join our monthly Wednesday sessions via Zoom. We offer identical AM and PM times to fit your schedule—just pick one:
      • Morning Session: 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM
      • Afternoon Session: 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
      • Meeting Dates: Sept. 2, Oct. 7, Nov. 18, Jan. 13, Feb. 10, March 10, and April 14.
    • Cross-District Networking: Coordinate and connect with peer teachers for cross-district visits and business partnership development.
    • Centralized Resource Hub: Access a secure, dedicated digital repository featuring tailored folders for each individual CTE pathway, past newsletters, and curated teaching assets. 

    Facilitator:  Brian Gregoire, Andover CAPS

     

    Register Here

  • True leadership doesn’t always mean stepping into the principal’s office. The Teacher Leader Collaborative is a year-long community of practice designed specifically for classroom educators who want to expand their influence, build leadership capacity, and drive continuous school improvement right from where they are.

    This collaborative recognizes the unique and vital role of the classroom leader—balancing daily instructional excellence with the desire to guide peer collaboration, mentor colleagues, and impact school culture. Over the course of the school year, participants will dive into a variety of high-quality resources to deepen their leadership skills while actively tackling a self-selected Problem of Practice. You won't just talk about leadership; you will design, refine, and execute a practical action plan to solve a real-world challenge in your school building.

    Dates/Times: 

    • Virtual Meetings 4:00-5:00pm: Sept 29, Nov. 17, Jan. 26, Mar. 30
    • In-Person Workshops 8:30am-3:30pm: Oct. 27, Feb. 16, Apr. 6  
    • Location:  Hybrid - Google Meet and Orion

    Facilitator:  Ashley Proehl

     

    Register Here