Program Guidelines for Study Group Liaisons
CFE Volunteer Study Group Liaisons assume the important role of providing objective support to grantwinning teachers and purposeful feedback to CFE staff members. Study Group Liaisons also operate as
intermediaries, communicating to CFE any important information or concerns brought forth during
Study Group proceedings.
Step 1: Attend the Study Group Dinner on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
CFE hosts a Study Group Dinner each year for all Study Group participants (this year it will be
held at UIC Student Center East, 750 S. Halsted). Please plan to attend this wonderful event, as
it gives our Liaisons the chance to participate in the first official gathering of group members,
and allows them to feel like true members of the Study Group Program.
Attend the Study Group Liaison Orientation Meeting: 3:45-4:15pm
Attend the Study Group Team Dinner: 4:15-7:30pm
Remember to bring your personal calendar to the Study Group Dinner!
Step 2: Attend the first Study Group meeting (and at least one additional meeting)
We ask that you attend your group’s first meeting; all Study Groups have been asked to meet at
least once before Friday, August 3rd. Each Study Group is required to meet for a total of 12
hours throughout the course of the program, but they are given the freedom to configure these
meetings in whichever format and at whatever location works best for the group.
Make arrangements to participate in at least one subsequent Study Group meeting. Your Study
Group’s Coach has been given your contact information and has been asked to include you on
all Study Group-related correspondence sent to Team Members. Please inform every member
of your Study Group of the meetings you plan to attend.
Step 3 & 4: Schedule and complete Study Group Team Member Observations
We ask that you visit at least one Team Member classroom, in order to observe implementation
of the Study Group Teaching Method first-hand. Though the observation(s) will most likely take
place in October or early November, we suggest presenting this responsibility to your group
members during the first meeting, so as to solicit Team Member interest. Please inform CFE of
the date and time for at least one of your Team Member classroom visits by Friday, September
14, 2012.
You are more than welcome to visit as many classrooms as you and your Study Group members
agree upon. Please contact the office if you would like copies of any Team Member
applications, and be sure to inform your entire Study Group of any observations you have
scheduled with Team Members. Observations of any Team Member classrooms must be
completed by Friday, November 16, 2012.
Step 5: Attend and participate in CFE’s Workshop on Saturday, September 29, 2012
CFE hosts an annual “by teacher, for teacher” fall conference event, open to all interested
Chicago-area educators. There is an Opening Session at the beginning of the program, and the
remainder of the day is dedicated to small group breakouts, led by past and present CFE grantwinners. Study Group Liaisons are strongly encouraged to attend Workshop and participate in
whatever capacity they are able. We have plenty of volunteer opportunities available on the
day of the event!
Step 6: Complete and mail meeting and classroom observation forms to CFE
Within 48 hours of attending a Study Group meeting, please complete and mail/fax/email a
Study Group Meeting Report to the CFE office.
Within 48 hours of visiting a Team Member classroom, complete and mail/fax/email a Team
Member Observation Report to the CFE office.
Please ensure that all reports are sent to CFE no later than Friday, November 23, 2012. Contact
Andrea Schuster if you require additional report forms or if you have any questions regarding this
component of the Study Group Liaison Program.
Support to Liaisons and Coaches
CFE Program Director: Sarah Hoppe – SHoppe@CFEgrants.org – 312.670.2033
CFE Volunteer Contact: Andrea Schuster – ASchuster@CFEgrants.org – 312.670.2036
CFE Teacher Contact: Nedranae Hunt – NHunt@CFEgrants.org – 312.670.2034
If any particularly troubling (or encouraging!) discussions or occurrences arise while you are at a group
meeting or visiting a classroom, please feel free to contact Andrea Schuster. Andrea will also be checking
in with each Liaison periodically to ensure that all is going smoothly.
We have ten Veteran Coaches who are returning to Coach Study Groups again this year. In addition to
their Coaching responsibilities, many of these individuals will act as CFE Study Group Coach Mentors
throughout the 2012 program. They have been asked to support and guide the new crop of Coaches
throughout the Study Group process, since their experience with the Study Group Program gives them a
firm grasp on its inner-workings and assorted challenges. If you believe that your Coach could benefit
from speaking with her/his Study Group Coach Mentor, please contact Sarah Hoppe, who will be sure to
handle the situation with discretion.
Important Study Group Program Dates:
During your time as a Study Group Liaison, your Team Members might ask questions regarding grant
checks, final report due dates, and the like. Please use the following list of important dates as reference:
At least one Study Group meeting must be held prior to this date – August 3, 2012
Distribution of 1st Team Member check – Study Group Dinner on June 5, 2012
CFE’s 24th Annual Teachers & Leaders and Learners Workshop – September 29, 2012
Final Reports Due – November 30, 2012
Mailing of 2nd Team Member check – December 14, 2012 (or thereabouts)
Wanted: Photographs!
We are always in need of high-resolution digital photos for our promotional materials! If you have a
digital camera, we hope you will take pictures of the teachers collaborating during Study Group
meetings, as well as the students engaged in the implementation of Study Group focal strategies. Please
email all clearly-labeled digital photos to Andrea Schuster at ASchuster@CFEgrants.org.
Thank You for Volunteering as a 2012 CFE Study Group Liaison!
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