Everyday conversations with young children can have the power to boost their brain and vocabulary development through the simple act of talking. That is the premise behind a new initiative known as “Talking is Teaching,” which has launched in the communities of the Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District and throughout the state. “Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing” is a public awareness and action campaign that empowers parents and caregivers with fun and easy ways to improve their babies’ and young children’s learning, said Maureen Hollocker, Great Start Collaborative Director, which is leading the regional Talking is Teaching effort.

“While it may sound simple, we all live busy lives and sometimes are task-oriented rather than conversational with our children,” Hollocker said. “Whether you are a parent, caregiver or community member, we all have opportunities to talk with children and this campaign is intended to provide gentle reminders and prompts for conversation.”  Read the full details about the Talking is Teaching campaign

Maureen Hollocker, Great Start Collaborative Director for Charlevoix, Emmet and northern Antrim counties, has been appointed to serve as the Lead Trainer for the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance. The alliance is a national organization that ensures all states have a strong and effective children’s trust or prevention fund capable of leading and investing in strategies, policies and best practices that prevent child abuse and neglect before it occurs.

Hollocker’s work in Northern Michigan is dedicated to building a strong early childhood system where all children can reach their potential, and the national appointment is an extension of her work on a larger scale. She will be serving as the alliance’s Lead Trainer, training other trainers from around the U.S. in “Bringing the Protective Factors Framework to Life in Your Work.” Read the complete announcement about Hollocker's appointment

The 2019-20 Educational Directory is now available as a PDF online. This annual directory provides contact information for all public, charter, and non-public schools in the boundaries of the Char-Em Intermediate School District, covering Charlevoix, Emmet and northern Antrim counties. Additionally, contact information can be found for North Central Michigan College and other entities. Preliminary pupil counts and current taxable values for local school districts are also included. View the 2019-20 Educational Directory 

A new initiative, Career Tech to Careers, is celebrating the decision of high school graduates to enter the workforce after earning their diploma – specifically those students whose high school careers included Career and Technical Education classes.

“There are many ways that young adults can excel in life after they graduate from high school – it can be by attending a college, university or other post-secondary training, joining the military, and also by taking the skills they learned and heading directly into careers,” said Jim Rummer, Career and Technical Education Director for Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District. “This new Char-Em ISD ‘signing event’ initiative recognizes those students who are putting the knowledge and skills they developed through career tech education classes directly to work.”

Pictured is the most recent Career Tech to Careers signing event at Lanzen, Inc. in Harbor Springs with recent graduate Brian Ferrell.

Visit the Career Tech to Careers page to view recent celebrations!

With $294,000 of new funding from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District schools have partnered with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan to secure additional school-based mental health providers at districts including Harbor Springs, Charlevoix, Boyne City, Boyne Falls, and Ellsworth.  Char-Em is also partnering with Alcona Health Center to expand mental health services in the Public Schools of Petoskey utilizing these funds.

The funding is part of the 31n School Mental Health and Support Services grant opportunity to increase school mental health and support services. Read the complete media release about the 31n funding

Char-Em ISD is hiring!

View complete details about the following positions and other job openings in several Char-Em ISD school districts:

• Early Literacy Coach (K-3) / Consultant (Fall 2020)
• Human Resource Clerk
• Special Education Coordinator
• Special Education Teacher Assistant
• Speech and Language Pathologist – Early Childhood (March 2020)
• Teacher Consultant
• Transporter

Precious cargo aboard! Char-Em ISD is looking for substitute bus drivers and riders/aides for our multiple bus routes to and from Char-Em programs. Flexible hours and days mean you choose when you can provide coverage of routes. Char-Em pays for all required driver training (written testing and on-road testing), so experience is not necessary. Experience working with special needs children is not required, but is helpful, as is a compassionate personality. Because of the wide geographical area covered by Char-Em, we pay you from when you leave the house to get to your assigned transportation route each day that you work. Routes may be in Charlevoix, Emmet and northern Antrim counties. Those interested may also start as (paid) aides rather than driver, to see if the job is a good fit.