Edvantia Launches a New Website

January 22, 2013

This week, Edvantia is pleased to launch a completely revamped website. With a focus on finding workable solutions for the issues facing today’s educators, visitors to edvantia.org can find new and updated services, downloadable resources, and multiple ways to interact. 

“This is another great tool in our belt,” says Jerry Moore, President and CEO of Edvantia. “We’ve offered focused, results-driven solutions for more than 45 years and we’re thrilled to provide this new opportunity for our friends and partners in education who are looking for answers to their most challenging questions.” 

We welcome and encourage you to explore the new website and contact us with any feedback or questions you may have. We can be reached by our contact form, directly at 800.624.9120, or via e-mail at info@edvantia.org.

Edvantia President and CEO Retiring

December 21, 2012

The board of directors of Edvantia, Inc. has announced that its president and chief executive officer, Dr. Doris Redfield, will retire at the end of 2012 and conclude 15 years of service to the non-profit education corporation.

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June 14, 2012

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Free Webinar Series Now Available on Website

March 24, 2012

Recently, Edvantia offered a series of five, free, interactive webinars designed to help you tackle the problems that challenge your school or district every day. Each webinar in this informative series was hosted by one of Edvantia’s experts from its team of former teachers, principals, and state leaders. The topics in the series include:

• Instructional Rounds: A Professional Learning Process for District Leaders
• Online Professional Development: Reaping Local Rewards from Distance Learning
• Data Analytics: New Tools for Improved Decision Making
• District Improvement Coaching: Getting What You Expect from a Coach
• Effective Classroom Questioning: What School Leaders Should See and Hear

We’re confident that these sessions can help shed light on some of the important issues facing educators. Please contact us with any additional questions you may have.

ARCC at Edvantia Publishes Information Briefs

March 23, 2012

The Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center (ARCC) at Edvantia is pleased to announce the publication of a series of information briefs that offer insight into the issues and concepts important to state education agency leaders. “The ARCC’s purpose is to support the efforts in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia,” says Dr. Steven Moats, Director of the ARCC at Edvantia, “and this series of briefs will be a valuable resource as they continue to build their capacity for improving schools.” 

The series of information briefs address topics including:

• Equity and Special Education
• Implementing Purposeful Change
• English Language Learners
• Strategic Implementation
• Providing for Low Socioeconomic Students

Each brief is well-researched and authored by the ARCC’s technical assistance experts to provide state leaders with the most current and relevant tools for the challenges they face. Individual briefs may be downloaded from the Resources section of Edvantia’s website, or by visiting the ARCC at Edvantia site.

Edvantia in the News: Margie Johnson Named to the List of “Top Young Trainers of 2011”

February 08, 2012

Training magazine, a trade publication focused on professional development and training in the workplace, recently announced its list of the “Top Young Trainers of 2011.” Edvantia’s own Instructional Technology Program Specialist, Margie Johnson, was one of the 40 training professionals featured in the magazine. To receive this distinction, individuals were nominated by their peers and selected by a panel of judges based on their leadership skills, the innovative training solutions or programs they developed, and the positive impact of their training. Margie was chosen for her previous work with Metro Nashville Public Schools to create an online professional development video portal and lead efforts in peer coaching and e-learning. We are proud to have Margie’s talents on board at Edvantia and look forward to the new and innovative ideas she comes up with next.

Read the full feature article (pdf) from Training magazine.

Edvantia’s Kristine Chadwick Published in New Book

February 08, 2012

Dr. Kristine Chadwick, Executive Director of Edvantia’s Center for Research and Evaluation Services (CRES) & Jennifer Conner Blatz, Senior Program Officer at the KnowledgeWorks Foundation (KWF), have their case study – “Keep Up with the Program!: Adapting the Evaluation Focus to Align with a College Access Program’s Changing Goals” – published in Jonathan A. Morell’s new book, “Evaluation in the Face of Uncertainty: Anticipating Surprise and Responding to the Inevitable.”

Edvantia Celebrates 45 Years with Dedication of its New Corporate Headquarters in Charleston.

February 08, 2012

Executives and staff of Edvantia, Inc. today were joined by state officials, industry partners, and education leaders to celebrate the organization’s 45th anniversary, and dedicate its new corporate headquarters at the United Center in downtown Charleston. Capping the day off with an open house reception to commemorate the occasion, attendees were invited to tour the new offices, learn about several key programs, and talk with Edvantia representatives about the organization’s impact, particularly in West Virginia.

Edvantia Celebrates 45 Years of Delivering Solutions

October 12, 2011

Executives and staff of Edvantia, Inc. today were joined by state officials, industry partners, and education leaders to celebrate the organization’s 45th anniversary, and dedicate its new corporate headquarters at the United Center in downtown Charleston.

Capping the day off with an open house reception to commemorate the occasion, attendees were invited to tour the new offices, learn about several key programs, and talk with Edvantia representatives about the organization’s impact, particularly in West Virginia.

“We are proud to have been a part of this community for 45 years and to have spearheaded programs that have improved teaching and learning for students throughout Appalachia,” said Edvantia President and CEO Doris Redfield. “I am really excited that we are able to celebrate this milestone with our clients, friends, and education industry partners today.”

Redfield said maintaining Edvantia’s corporate headquarters in Charleston was important to its management and leaders. “Today is not only a celebration of our past – it is also a celebration of our future! Last year we had the opportunity to move our headquarters and we elected to stay in downtown Charleston. By locating our corporate headquarters in the United Center, we are reaffirming our commitment to this city and West Virginia for years to come. What a great way to celebrate our 45th anniversary!”

Since its founding as the Appalachia Educational Laboratory in 1966, Edvantia has been dedicated to developing knowledge, resources, and professional services to improve education. A not‐for‐profit educational research and development corporation, Edvantia offers comprehensive services grounded in research and best practice that help educators meet the needs of all students.

Redfield said, “I am proud of how far we have come since 1966. We are proven experts in program evaluation and school improvement.Our processes have been honed over the last 45 years to create a unique blend of hands‐on experience and keen insight so that Edvantia can offer a depth of understanding into local and regional issues that is unmatched in the industry. It’s a great day for Edvantia!”

Edvantia in the News: Univ. of Kentucky Article Examines Success of Science Initiative

May 13, 2011

UKNOW, the news service of the University of Kentucky, recently released an article, “Appalachian Science Initiative Shows Long-Term Results,” discussing the work of the Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative (ARSI). The ARSI was a project of the National Science Foundation that sought to improve science and math education in the rural Appalachian counties of Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Much of the ARSI’s success is thanks to the work of Edvantia’s Keith Smith. Dr. Smith was involved in the initial development of the ARSI, served as its project director, and worked with some of those same communities as the project director for the Coalfield Rural Systemic Initiative. To read the full article, click here.

National Report on Parental Information and Resource Centers Highlights Edvantia’s WV Center

October 29, 2010

The National Coalition of Parental Information and Resource Centers (NCPIRC) recently published a data book on their national outcomes. The book, Great Families Mean Great Schools: PIRC Outcome Data 2008‐2009, details the impact state PIRCs have had on parents and school‐family relationships and features the achievements of notable PIRCs throughout the country. One of those centers featured is Edvantia’s West Virginia Parent Connections (WVPC).

Edvantia to be Evaluator on i3 Grant

August 16, 2010

Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) in Kentucky was recently selected as one of the 2010 Investing in Innovation and Improvement (i3) highest‐rated applications by the U.S. Department of Education. JCPS was one of only 49 winners out of nearly 1,700 applications. The i3 competitive grants support innovative practices that improve student achievement.