Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV

10/15/2026

National White Cane Safety Day is celebrated annually on October 15 to honor the independence, achievements, and rights of people who are blind or visually impaired. In addition, the month of October is designated as White Cane Safety Month. This is a great time to raise public awareness, And recognize the white cane as a vital tool for safety and independence.

On Friday, October 9, Derek Gould (Wilmington) and Alexander Swartz (Mercer) traveled to the Allegheny intermediate Unit to participate in Cane Quest, a regional Orientation & Mobility challenge sponsored by the Braille Institute. The goal of Cane Quest is to give students the opportunity to demonstrate their cane skills, build confidence, and connect with other students who also use a white cane. Way to go, Derek and Alexander!

10/15/2026

On Wednesday October 14th twenty MIU IV School Districts gathered at SRU to compete in the first Academic Games competition of the 2026 - 2027 season. There were 399 total students across five divisions who participated in Onsets. At the conclusion of each competition awards are given to Undefeated Individual students as well as top place winning teams. Congratulations to all winners and participants on a job well done!

The Following Team Awards were presented:

Elementary (3 - 4) Division:
First Place from Grove City Area School District- Eagles Wild
Second Place from Slippery Rock Area School District - Top Dogs
Third Place from Mercer Area School District - Team Bacon

Elementary (5 - 6) Division:
First Place from Mercer Area School District - The 6 - 7 Waffle Goats
Second Place from Hermitage School District - FireStorm
Third Place from Hermitage School District - Fire
Fourth Place from Mohawk Area School District - Twizzlers
Fifth Place from Laurel - The Green Beans

Middle (7 - 8) Division:
TIE for First Place from Hermitage School District - Onstopables & Fire it Up
Second Place from Mercer Area School District - Onsets of the Wild
Third Place from Grove City Area School District - Best in the Nest
Fourth Place from A Combo Team (Students from Multiple Districts) - The Set Captains

Junior (9 - 10) Division:
First Place from Mohawk Area School District - Coke
Second Place from A Combo Team (Students from Multiple Districts) - Logical Legends

Senior (11 - 12) Division:
First Place from Butler Area School District High School - The Tuffies
Second Place from Karns City Area School District High School - Off Sets

Photos of winning teams and undefeated individuals can be found below.

10/13/2026

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10/13/2026

We’re hiring! 🚀

Our team at MIU IV is expanding, and we are looking for:

Supervisor of Special Education

Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI)

If you're interested (or know someone who would be a great fit), check out the full job descriptions and apply here:

👉https://www.miu4.org/departments/human-resources/employment-opportunities

10/12/2026

On October 8th, Act 89 School Counselors Brittany Schneider, Lee Ann Wisman, and Kristen Shoemaker had the opportunity to attend the Children’s Grief Summit at The Caring Place in Warrendale.

This educational event focused on understanding how grief impacts children and adolescents. Throughout the day, attendees gained valuable resources, strategies, and ideas for supporting grieving students in their schools.

The summit also provided a meaningful opportunity to network and collaborate with fellow educational professionals, hear from student leaders, share experiences, and explore ways to strengthen grief support within the nonpublic schools served by Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV (MIU4) in Mercer, Lawrence, and Butler counties.

The event also highlighted the importance of student-led initiatives and raising awareness for National Children’s Grief Awareness Day on Thursday, November 19, 2026.

We are grateful to The Caring Place for the opportunity to learn, connect, and strengthen our ability to support students navigating grief and loss throughout the school communities we serve.

10/02/2026

Learning from Our Community Heroes! 🚒

Today, the MIU IV Grove City Early Intervention Classroom had a very special visit from some of our local first responders! Our students had the opportunity to learn about fire safety and important safety procedures, explore a real fire truck, and discover more about the important work firefighters do in our community.

From seeing the equipment up close to learning about how first responders help keep us safe, it was a fun and meaningful hands-on learning experience! ❤️

A huge thank you to our local Pine Township firefighters for spending time with our students and helping make safety learning so memorable! 👩‍🚒👨‍🚒🚒
And thank you to the GCEIC team for organizing such a great learning opportunity for our children!

09/21/2026

MIU IV is hosting a dyslexia simulation event in the evening of Thursday, October 8, 2026, presented by the International Dyslexia Association of Pennsylvania. This interactive experience offers a firsthand look at the challenges of dyslexia while sharing practical accommodations and strategies to support individuals with dyslexia.

Dyslexia Simulation

09/14/2026

Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV is proud to announce that we have been officially recognized by the Pennsylvania Positive Behavior Support (PaPBS) Network for implementing Program-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PWPBIS) with fidelity during the 2025-2026 school year! 🌟

Not only did we hit our target, but the MIU IV Early Intervention Program has earned recognition for Tiers 1-2-3 Sustaining—a testament to our ongoing commitment to supporting the whole child and removing non-academic barriers to learning.

This achievement wouldn't be possible without the incredible dedication of our educators, staff, students, and community partners. Thank you for consistently showing up, setting high expectations, and creating a positive environment where everyone can thrive. 💙 🙌

Our team will be recognized with this honor at the 2026 PaPBS & MTSS Integrated Implementers’ Forum this November!

08/20/2026

Are educators ready to lead in the age of AI? 🤖
MIU IV is partnering with Carlow University to offer a new PDE-Approved AI Endorsement Program.

These courses equip PK-12 teachers and administrators with the tools to navigate AI ethically and innovatively.

This 4-course, hybrid graduate sequence covers everything from AI foundations to human-centered leadership. At $700 per course, it’s an investment in the future of learning. Even better? These credits can be applied directly toward Carlow University's M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction (AI Emphasis).

Whether you want to stay ahead of educational tech trends or take the next step in your graduate degree, this pathway is built for you.

🔗 Learn more and register today: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=22654&I=5434653

08/19/2026