October seems to have gone very quickly! As we wrap up this month, don't forget to check your mailbox at school because we're sending you a small token of our appreciation. If there is anything we can do to assist you or make your leadership role easier, please let us know.
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This month, we're asking you to share your wisdom! How does your district select its "Of the Year" winners? As we make our way through the season, we are collecting examples to help other districts craft their own processes. Examples will be featured in a future District Leader Digest. Do you have a strategy or process for selecting "Of the Year" winners that works well for your district? Share your process with your colleagues by emailing Lauren McCool.
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Practical Professional Development
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New this season, we are excited to introduce the Multicultural Learning Alliance (MLA)! The MLA is for coaches who are early in their DEI journey and want to learn how to develop the knowledge, awareness, and skills needed to effectively engage in diverse spaces.
Different from the Belonging and Inclusion Station, which provides a safe space for interpersonal support at tournaments, the focus of the MLA is to help coaches learn the fundamental concepts about diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as discuss ways to address the unique challenges that face students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. Check out the schedule and what to expect from each session.
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On each district’s NSDA info page (accessed via your NSDA Account), there is an award titled “Trophy Winners.” We get so many questions on how this award is calculated! This award is more formally called the District Sweepstakes Award. It is calculated by the national office and awarded in August of the year following the district tournament. Each district has a traveling trophy that is awarded to the school that earned the District Sweepstakes award the prior season. On page 92 of the Unified Manual, you can learn more about how this trophy is calculated and how, if needed, ties are broken. If you have any questions about this award, please email Lauren McCool.
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Meet the Team: Q&A with Kirsten Ellermann, Membership Coordinator
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Please introduce yourself!
I joined the NSDA in 2017 after working in the mental health field and medical industry. I have a daughter named Hazel who just started middle school. We live in Ankeny, Iowa, which is a city just north of Des Moines.
What does being the Membership Coordinator include?
My role has a wide variety of workflows and responsibilities! I am responsible for some of the awards we process on an ongoing basis (Academic All American, Service Citations, Charters), I do event planning and logistics, and I spend a good portion of my time doing customer service via email and telephone
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As someone who wasn’t involved in speech and debate before working at the NSDA, what is something you like about the activity?
I enjoy seeing coaches grow over time from their first day as a coach to becoming mentors, folks we appreciate on panels, colleagues serving at Nationals, and even just a familiar voice on the phone!
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Don’t Forget – BIS Information Session on October 26
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Has your committee decided on a Belonging and Inclusion Advocate (BIA) for your district tournament series? Not sure what that is or why you should have one? We encourage you to register for the BIS Info Session held on Thursday, October 26 at 6:00 p.m. CT in order to learn more about the purpose of the BIS, what changes have been implemented to make the BIS more approachable and beneficial, and training information for your Belonging and Inclusion Advocate.
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