The Kenosha Unified School District and the University Wisconsin-Parkside have partnered together to offer The DELTA Academy, a high quality, ongoing, teacher leadership development program for formal, informal and aspiring teacher leaders in the KUSD.

This project-based professional learning opportunity will bring together school-based teams of teachers committed to equity for all students from across the KUSD to:

• develop leadership skills
• design, implement and evaluate a school-wide, equity focused project, and
• influence practice in their buildings towards collaborative, learner centered, and culturally responsive teaching

DELTA Academy members will participate in interactive activities that will introduce them to the theory and practice of key diversity and equity concepts. They will also develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions required for effective teacher leadership in and beyond their buildings. Teams will use data to identify a school improvement area to be addressed through the implementation of a school-wide equity project, and to ensure the success of their activities, teams will receive a budget to help fund their work.

DELTA Academy activities will occur over four phases:

Teachers who successfully complete the DELTA Academy will be called upon to provide professional learning opportunities for their colleagues, to open their classrooms to others as demonstration sites of best practices, and to share the success of their projects locally and nationally. The Academy experience can also be mentioned in one's Professional Development Plan, and used to support candidacy for National Board Certification. In June 2014, program completion will be marked by presentations to the entire KUSD community, and the awarding of certificates from the District and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.