MEDIA INVITE
Contact: Dr. Andria Saia, Executive Director
Capital Area Intermediate Unit
717-732-8400
asaia@caiu.org

Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU) is proud to share that our organization has been recognized in the Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association’s (PenSPRA) 2019 Excellence in Communications Contest!

This year, over 230 outstanding entries from across the state were submitted for rigorous judging, and of those entries, CAIU has received the distinction of being awarded four awards:

• 1st Place Award of Excellence, Graphic Design Category: Agenda Manager Booth
• 2nd Place Award of Honor, Publication Category: CAIU Strategic One-pager
• 2nd Place Award of Honor, Special Purpose Project: CAIU Compliments
• 3rd Place Award for Merit, Social Media Category: CAIU Social Media Presence (@CapitalAreaIU)

To see our award-winning materials, click here

The Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU) was pleased to host a Legislative Breakfast on Friday, March 6, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at CAIU’s office, 55 Miller Street, Enola. The event provided legislators, school district superintendents and technical school directors from the Capital Region the opportunity to gather and have informative discussions about the challenges facing public schools.

CAIU Executive Director Dr. Andria Saia, welcomed State Representatives Sheryl Delozier, Barbara Gleim, Patty Kim, Andrew Lewis, Thomas Mehaffie III and Greg Rothman. Senators John DiSanto and David Arnold Jr. and Representative Dawn Keefer sent staff members on their behalf. Twenty-one school district administrators also attended.

Foregoing the typical panel format, the roundtable conversation generated more productive discussions between school administrators and their school district’s legislative leaders. Conversations focused on topics identified as present-day issues facing public education.

“Collaborative exchanges between our lawmakers and our school district leadership are critical to the ongoing success of public education. The format we chose allowed for authentic conversations and the sharing of important information and perspectives. I am honored that the Capital Area Intermediate Unit can serve to make these critical conversations happen. We look forward to continued partnership with all of our community leaders to better serve the 85,000+ students in our region,” said Dr. Saia.

At the conclusion of the event, Representative Greg Rothman shared, “It is absolutely critical that we have opportunities such as this to encourage communication with each other and hear from our school administrators who serve on the frontlines of educating children. These types of meetings are extremely valuable.”

For more information, contact Marketing and Communications Specialist Amy Beaver at 717-732-8486
or abeaver@caiu.org.

Level I: Mondays from 6-8:00pm, February 24 - April 13, 2020
Level II: Thursdays from 6-8:00pm, February 20 - April 9, 2020
Level III: Tuesdays from 6-8:00pm, February 18 - April 7, 2020

Level I - This is a beginner class. No previous experience with sign language is needed. The course will include ABC's and numbers, basic vocabulary, light conversation and an introduction to Deaf Culture.

Level II - This class assumes that the participant has acquired basic skills taught in an introductory course. The course will continue vocabulary development. Level II will also introduce classifiers, directionality, and some basic ASL grammar.

Conversation/Level III - This class will focus on using ASL in conversation. It is designed for those who have completed levels 1 and 2 and would like more exposure to American Sign Language. Topics covered will include classifiers, non-manual markers, idioms, and ASL grammar within conversational topics.

Deadline to register is Thursday, February 13, 2020

For more information regarding registration and to view the brochure please Click Here.

Level I: Tuesdays from 6-8:00pm, September 24 - November 12, 2019
Level II: Thursdays from 6-8:00pm, September 26 - November 14, 2019
Level III: Wednesdays from 6-8:00pm, September 25 - November 13, 2019

Level I - This is a beginner class. No previous experience with sign language is needed. The course will include ABC's and numbers, basic vocabulary, light conversation and an introduction to Deaf Culture.

Level II - This class assumes that the participant has acquired basic skills taught in an introductory course. The course will continue vocabulary development. Level II will also introduce classifiers, directionality, and some basic ASL grammar.

Conversation/Level III - This class will focus on using ASL in conversation. It is designed for those who have completed levels 1 and 2 and would like more exposure to American Sign Language. Topics covered will include classifiers, non-manual markers, idioms, and ASL grammar within conversational topics.

Deadline to register is Thursday, September 19, 2019

For more information regarding registration and to view the brochure please Click Here.

Following a comprehensive screening and interview process with many qualified candidates, the Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU) Board of Directors appointed Dr. Thomas M. Calvecchio as assistant executive director during the May 23, 2019 Board meeting. Dr. Calvecchio joins the CAIU team starting Monday, July 1, 2019. 

“It is with great excitement and honor that I begin this new journey at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit,” said Dr. Calvecchio. “I am excited for the opportunity to meet CAIU at the intersection of entrepreneurship and educational excellence, and plan far into the future in support of the children and districts we serve.”

Calvecchio brings more than 14 years of educational experience in various roles at intermediate units and school districts. He served as a principal with Delaware County Intermediate Unit and as director of special education and pupil services with Chester Upland School District, under the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Before joining the CAIU, he served as administrator on assignment with Chester County Intermediate Unit.

He says his experience in diverse roles, in a wide variety of districts, best equips him for serving the CAIU’s service region, which includes school districts in Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry and northern York counties. Serving in both highly-urban and highly-rural constituencies, Dr. Calvecchio added, “Although challenging, it was a life-changing experience for me. It allowed me to become a true servant leader and showed the importance of authenticity and relationship building as cornerstones to my personal ethic.”

He holds certificates for Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, Principal and Supervisor of Special Education from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Calvecchio completed his doctoral work and Superintendent Letter of Eligibility at Neumann University. In his role as assistant executive director, Calvecchio will oversee CAIU’s Human Resources and Communications, focusing on organizational development, culture and climate.

The CAIU is also looking forward to having Calvecchio onboard. Dr. Andria Saia, CAIU executive director, said, “As an IU, I believe we are the business of people. Our primary mission is to support and serve the children, parents, teachers, administrators and community members of the Capital Region. We went out in search of a great leader who was ready, willing and able to support and grow our staff, and ensure that the CAIU reflects internally and externally how very much we value our people who carry out the CAIU vision of educational excellence.”  She concluded by saying, “In Dr. Calvecchio, the interview team unanimously felt they had found the leader they desired. We are so excited to have him as part of the team.”

Level I: Tuesdays from 6-8:00pm, June 11 - July 23, 2019
Level II: Thursdays from 6-8:00pm, July 30 - September 3, 2019

Level I - This is a beginner class. No previous experience with sign language is needed. The course will include ABC's and numbers, basic vocabulary, light conversation and an introduction to Deaf Culture.

Level II - This class assumes that the participant has acquired basic skills taught in an introductory course. The course will continue vocabulary development. Level II will also introduce classifiers, directionality, and some basic ASL grammar.

Conversation/Level III - This class is not offered during the Summer session.

Deadline to register is: Level I-June 7th, Level II-July 25th

For more information regarding registration and to view the brochure please Click Here.

The ENGINE of Central PA, Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators and Entrepreneurs, a project of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC), fiscal sponsor, has just been selected to join the STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice, SLECoP. In a highly competitive process, ENGINE of Central PA was named one of 15 new ecosystems selected to join the global movement devoted to dramatic improvement in how students learn.

STEM Learning Ecosystems build meaningful regional connections among educators, business and industry partners, afterschool and summer programs, to prepare students for the opportunities and challenges of the future. Each ecosystem connects to counterparts from across the country and world, enabling the exchange of best practices, information and resource-sharing.

"In Pennsylvania the STEM Ecosystem approach has been a key strategy for aligning resources, connecting organizations, and building supports for all learners across the commonwealth to have access to high quality STEM experiences. We are excited to collaborate with the ENGINE of Central PA STEM Ecosystem to build a strong network for learners to build the skills for the STEM workforce" stated Judd R. Pittman, Special Consultant to the Secretary of Education for STEM.

ENGINE covers a 12-county region including Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Cumberland, Dauphin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, and Schuylkill. Therefore, it was critical to establish an executive leadership team that could represent regional territories as we develop equitable opportunities for preK-12. The executive leadership team of ENGINE of Central PA includes outreach officers Jessica Rice, Director of Education at Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, and Michele Crowl, Executive Director of Discovery Space; and regional directors Michael Baker, Curriculum Consultant of Central Intermediate Unit 10; Lauren Beal, STEM Supervisor of Lebanon/Lancaster Intermediate Unit 13; Annie Milewski, Director of Curriculum and District Support Specialist of Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29; Susan Voigt, Educational Services Supervisor of Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15; and Peney Wright, STEM/STEAM Curriculum and Instruction Specialist at Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11.

Click here to read the complete press release.

The Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU) was pleased to host a Legislative Breakfast on Friday, March 22, 2019, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at CAIU’s office, 55 Miller Street, Enola. The event provided legislators, school district superintendents and technical school directors from the Capital Region the opportunity to gather and have informative discussions about the challenges facing public schools.

CAIU Executive Director, Dr. Andria Saia, welcomed State Senators John DiSanto, Mike Folmer and Mike Regan, as well as State Representatives Sheryl Delozier, Barbara Gleim, Dawn Keefer, Mark Keller, Patty Kim, Andrew Lewis and Thomas Mehaffie, III. Representatives Torren Ecker and Greg Rothman sent staff members on their behalf. Twenty-six school administrators also attended.

Foregoing the typical panel format, the roundtable conversation generated more productive discussions between school administrators and their school district’s legislative leaders. Conversations focused on topics identified as present-day issues facing public education.

“It was wonderful to have so many of our local legislators, and schools districts administrators join us this morning. We had very positive conversations, and our organization looks forward to continued collaboration with all of our community leaders to better serve the 85,000+ students in our region,” said Dr. Saia.

At the conclusion of the event, Senator John DiSanto shared, “I thoroughly enjoyed today’s roundtable with several of my school district superintendents. It was one of the most engaging and productive meetings I have had on pressing issues facing public education since becoming a State Senator. I welcome and look forward to continued dialogue.”

For more information, contact Marketing and Communications Specialist, Amy Beaver at 717-732-8486
or abeaver@caiu.org.

Level I: Tuesdays from 6-8:00pm, February 19 - April 16, 2019
Level II: Thursdays from 6-8:00pm, February 21 - April 11, 2019

Level I - This is a beginner class. No previous experience with sign language is needed. The course will include ABC's and numbers, basic vocabulary, light conversation and an introduction to Deaf Culture.

Level II - This class assumes that the participant has acquired basic skills taught in an introductory course. The course will continue vocabulary development. Level II will also introduce classifiers, directionality, and some basic ASL grammar.

Conversation/Level III - This class is not offered during the Spring session.

Deadline to register is Tuesday, February 12, 2019.

For more information regarding registration and to view the brochure please Click Here.

The Capital Area Intermediate Unit is proud to announce that Alice Womer, a speech/language pathologist for the CAIU, is the winner of this year’s Decima award. The award was established to honor the life of the late Josephine Decima, a former CAIU educator, who helped pioneer the field of special education in central Pennsylvania.

Geri Schaffer, who nominated Womer for the award, said this about her in the application for nomination:

“Over the years that I've worked with [Alice], I've watched students grow and learn. They respect her, and they know she cares about them. She cares about their school environments, their skill levels, their goals and their success. But, more importantly, she cares about them, personally. She pays attention to their extracurricular activities, their friends and family, and the dreams they have for themselves. Then, she goes to work finding ways to connect the dots for them.”

Womer will be officially presented with the award at CAIU’s December board meeting and she will also be honored during All Staff Day in January.

About Josephine Decima
During her nearly 40-year career in teaching, Josephine J. Decima was a pioneer in the field of special education in central Pennsylvania. She believed that students with special needs were entitled to a strong academic program supplemented by life-skills training. She fought tirelessly to improve instructional programs and experiences for children with physical and mental challenges. Decima was a lifelong advocate for special-needs children, and an inspirational role model for teachers.

Level I: Tuesdays from 6-8:00pm, September 25 - November 13, 2018
Level II: Tuesdays from 6-8:00pm, September 25 - November 13, 2018

Level I - This is a beginner class. No previous experience with sign language is needed. The course will include ABC's and numbers, basic vocabulary, light conversation and an introduction to Deaf Culture.

Level II - This class assumes that the participant has acquired basic skills taught in an introductory course. The course will continue vocabulary development. Level II will also introduce classifiers, directionality, and some basic ASL grammar.

Conversation/Level III - This class is not offered during the Fall session.

Deadline to register is Tuesday, September 18, 2018.

For more information regarding registration and to view the brochure please Click Here.

• Advocacy for the educational needs of all children, especially those with physical and mental challenges.
• Compassion for students with special needs.
• Commitment to help children with special needs become a vital part of the community.
• Effort to provide valuable and practical life experiences for students with special needs.
• Willingness to share knowledge, skills, and experiences with colleagues in order to strengthen educational programs and pedagogy.
• Initiative to seek and provide services for students with special needs.

Nominations
Nominations can come from professionals or the community. Nominees must be an educator of students with special needs who works within the CAIU service area and must hold PA Level II Certification in the area of special education.

Nomination Deadline Extended: Friday, November 2, 2018

Download nomination instructions and form:
2018 Decima Award Nomination Instructions and Application

The Capital Area Intermediate Unit Board of Directors hired Gregory Milbrand as the CAIU’s assistant executive director at its regularly scheduled Board meeting on August 23, 2018. He is currently scheduled to begin work with the CAIU in mid-October.  

Milbrand said he is eager to join the CAIU. “In all my interactions with the Capital Area Intermediate Unit, I am consistently impressed with the professionalism, intellect, and expertise among the staff members,” Milbrand stated. “It is my honor and privilege to join this team of talented individuals and I cannot wait to get started!”         

The CAIU is also looking forward to having Milbrand onboard. Dr. Andria Saia, CAIU executive director, said, “We are extremely excited to have Mr. Milbrand join the CAIU team.  He brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge, as well as the essential desire to be of service to others.”  She concluded by saying, “He is a welcome addition, and I am certain will be a great asset to the IU family and the communities we support.”        

Most recently, Milbrand served the East Pennsboro Area School District as the assistant superintendent and previously, as the acting superintendent and the supervisor of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Prior to joining the East Pennsboro team, he worked for the Halifax Area School District as the middle school principal and assistant secondary principal.  He gained valuable classroom experience within the Central Dauphin School District where he taught eighth grade earth and space science at Central Dauphin East Middle School, and fourth and fifth grade at North Side Elementary School.

Milbrand earned his Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Education in school administration, K-12 principal certification, and Superintendent Letter of Eligibility from Shippensburg University.  He is currently enrolled in doctoral studies in educational leadership through Immaculata University. 

In his free time, Milbrand enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, playing golf, and cheering on the New York Yankees.

The Capital Area Intermediate Unit is excited to announce it will be hosting their Third Annual Tinker Expo on Tuesday, October 23, 2018!  Please share this spectacular news with your staff (flyer is attached).

The Tinker Expo will offer over ten concurrent sessions related to STEAM, the 4 C’s, and the maker movement.   Sessions will include interactive sessions in robotics, engineering, coding, design thinking and more. Along with an optional half-day BREAKOUT EDU session, this year the Tinker Expo will include a new half-day DRONES IN EDUCATION session! 

Registration is $100 a person, which will include a $10 food truck voucher for each attendee. An additional fee for the Drones in Education session of $150 will apply (includes session, Drone, and Drones in Education book) and an additional fee for the Breakout EDU session is $75 (includes session and Breakout EDU box and materials).

Space is limited!  Register today at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/tinkerexpo18

2018 CAIU Tinker Expo

Join the CAIU for an eye-opening session on Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention in Schools presented by Dr. Scott Poland on Friday, September 28. With the prevalence of suicide in our society, the information presented is critically important when working with our youth. The incidence of youth suicide requires that schools increase suicide prevention efforts and that they be prepared to respond if a suicide occurs in order to reduce suicide contagion.

Presenter Dr. Scott Poland, internationally renowned author, licensed psychologist and expert on youth suicide and school crisis, will help administrators, teachers and school-support personnel increase their understanding of suicide and recognize the most common factors in youth suicide. Participants will learn effective strategies to prevent youth suicide and lessons from the aftermath of numerous suicides.

Participants will be able to:

• Identify protective factors and primary prevention programs to prevent youth suicide.
• Identify key myths about suicide.
• Learn how to develop a comprehensive best practices model for suicide prevention, intervention and postvention in the schools that includes depression screening.
• Learn what constitutes a comprehensive suicide assessment and the importance of parent notification and collaboration with community services.
• Learn the importance of follow up once a student is determined to be suicidal and the importance of a re-entry program if the student has been hospitalized. Understand the relationship between self-injury and suicide.
• Learn best practices in suicide postvention.
• Learn the lessons from a number of legal cases where schools were sued following a youth suicide.
• Understand the complex relationship between bullying and suicide.

When: Friday, September 28, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Where: CAIU, Susquehanna Room
Cost: $30 per participant, includes lunch and materials
Registration: no later than Sept 18, http://48carats.caiu.org/

Registration is open for the following Sign Language Classes:
Level I: Mondays from 6-8:00pm, June 18 - July 23, 2018
Level II: Tuesdays from 6-8:00pm, June 19 - July 24, 2018

Level I - This is a beginner class. No previous experience with sign language is needed. The course will include ABC's and numbers, basic vocabulary, light conversation and an introduction to Deaf Culture.

Level II - This class assumes that the participant has acquired basic skills taught in an introductory course. The course will continue vocabulary development. Level II will also introduce classifiers, directionality, and some basic ASL grammar.

Conversation/Level III - This class is not offered during the Summer session.

Deadline to register is Monday, June 11, 2018.

For more information regarding registration and to view the brochure please Click Here.