Northwest RPDC

Join us for a full-day MAP-A Training designed to build educator confidence in the Missouri Assessment Program-Alternate (MAP-A) and the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) assessment system.

Participants will strengthen their understanding of the DLM process, effectively utilize the Educator Portal, embed Essential Elements into daily instruction, and increase student readiness throughout the school year.

📍 St. Joseph: August 26
📍 Trenton: September 3
🕘 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Almost 60 educators from across northwest Missouri and beyond are spending the week diving into Kagan Cooperative Learning, discovering practical, research-based instructional strategies that ensure every student is actively engaged in learning—not just a few.

Throughout the training, teachers are experiencing firsthand how cooperative learning structures can transform classrooms by building:
⭐ Student engagement
⭐ Meaningful collaboration
⭐ Positive classroom culture
⭐ Social and communication skills
⭐ Academic achievement

From Classbuilding and Teambuilding to lesson planning and cooperative projects, these educators are adding high-impact strategies to their instructional toolbox that they can immediately take back to their classrooms.

A special thank you to Tom Finnegan, our Kagan trainer, for sharing his expertise and passion for creating learning environments where all students have the opportunity to participate, collaborate, and succeed.

We can't wait to see the impact these strategies will have on students throughout our region!

We’re proud to recognize Kaitlin Whitmore, Anita Yost, and Samantha Troutman from Savannah R-III School District for presenting—twice—at this year’s Literacy Summit. Their willingness to share how they’re transforming middle school literacy instruction is inspiring educators across our region and state.

Thank you for your leadership, your commitment to improving student outcomes, and for generously sharing practices that are changing students’ lives. We appreciate your partnership and the impact you’re making every day!

Please join us in congratulating Melanie Vulgamott of Mid-Buchanan R-V School District and Victoria (Tori) Turner of Spring Garden Middle School (St. Joseph School District) on being named Northwest Missouri’s 2027 Regional Teachers of the Year! 👏

These outstanding educators exemplify the passion, innovation, and commitment that transform the lives of students every day. We are honored to recognize their dedication to excellence and celebrate the incredible impact they have on their schools and communities.

The Northwest Regional Professional Development Center is proud to recognize these exceptional teachers and wishes them the very best as they continue in the Missouri Teacher of the Year selection process.

Read more about their inspiring accomplishments: https://www.nwmissouri.edu/media/news/2026/07/16RPDCteachersoftheyear.htm

RPDC announces 2026-27 Regional Teachers of the Year The Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC) at Northwest Missouri State University has announced two area teachers as its Regional Teachers of the Year.

📌NEWS UPDATE: Thirty‑five teachers are moving full‑speed ahead with DESE in the 2027 Missouri Teacher of the Year Program.
🔗: https://ow.ly/FU8c50ZnXIp

Basic Fact Fluency (Grades 3–5)

These 3–5 teachers explored the Five Fundamentals of Fact Fluency and discovered practical, engaging strategies to help students build accuracy, flexibility, and efficiency on the path to automaticity with multiplication and division facts.

Through hands-on games, routines, and rich mathematical discussions, participants left with classroom-ready ideas to strengthen number sense and develop lasting basic fact fluency. Thank you to everyone who joined us for a day filled with meaningful learning and collaboration!