👁 October is Blindness Awareness Month! 🦯

At CESA 8, we are proud to support our local school districts by providing itinerant vision services to ensure every student with visual impairment has the tools, skills, and confidence to thrive in and out of the classroom.

Meet the CESA 8 VI / O&M Team. Our dedicated specialists work directly with students, families, and school teams across CESA 8 districts.

(Pictured left to right) Annie Schumacher (TVI), Kate Hebel (TVI), Erin Vande Hei (TVI), Jessica Gauthier (O&M), Stephanie Senft (TVI), Courtney Franz (TVI), not pictured Maggie McGinty (O&M)

Understanding the Roles

TVI (Teacher of the Visually Impaired): Focuses on accessible learning! They adapt classroom materials into Braille, large print, or tactile formats, teach assistive technology, and work directly with teachers and students to ensure seamless access to the curriculum.

O&M (Orientation & Mobility Specialist): Focuses on independence and safe movement! They teach students how to navigate their environments from school hallways to community sidewalks using white canes, sensory cues, spatial mapping, and route planning strategies.

Teaching the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC): Beyond general academics, both our TVIs and O&M specialists teach the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). This specialized framework covers essential life skills that fully sighted students typically learn by visual observation, including independent living, social interaction, self-advocacy, sensory efficiency, and career exploration.

Together, this group is dedicated to fostering independence, confidence, and lifelong success for their students! 💡📚

#BlindnessAwarenessMonth #CESA8 #VisionServices #TVI #OrientationAndMobility #ExpandedCoreCurriculum #InclusiveEducation #StudentSuccess

Congratulations to Crystal Valley from the Gillett School District, our latest Picture for a Pie winner! 🥧📸 Thanks for sharing a picture that captures the people and moments that make CESA 8 special. Enjoy the pie, Crystal!

October is National Principals Month! We’re celebrating the principals who lead with purpose, support their staff, champion students, and help their schools thrive. Thank you for all you do to make a difference every day! 👏📚

October 6th is National Coaches Day! 🏆 Today we celebrate the coaches who teach, encourage, challenge, and inspire on the field, in the classroom, and throughout our schools. Thank you for helping others reach their potential!

Happy World Teachers’ Day! 🍎 Today we celebrate the teachers who inspire curiosity, build confidence and help students discover what’s possible. Thank you for the difference you make every day!

Today we celebrate our school custodians! From early mornings to late nights, they help create clean, safe, and welcoming spaces where students and staff can learn, work, and thrive. Thank you for all you do!

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Every student deserves to feel safe, included, and valued at school. Together, we can create communities where kindness matters, differences are respected, and every learner belongs. 💙

Discover new ways to inspire mathematical thinking! The CESA 8 Math Network offers two engaging sessions focused on problem-solving, collaboration, and practical strategies aligned with today's classrooms. Save your spot: https://tinyurl.com/3w5axkvk

📸 Pictures for a Pie is back! Snap a photo of a CESA 8 person in action or yourself at a CESA 8 event, scan the QR code, and submit it for a chance to win a delicious pie! 🥧

Congrats to our August winner, Gillett's Crystal Valley! 🎉

📱 SNAP. SCAN. SUBMIT. Attending a CESA 8 event? Take a selfie. Grab a team photo. Capture a CESA 8 person in action. Then scan the QR code and send it our way. 📸 Your picture could win you a PIE from OJ's Midtown Restaurant.

Thanks to Bonduel School District Superintendent Joe Dawidziak for presenting at our latest PAC meeting! Joe shared the leadership activities he uses to engage, develop & support his staff. We appreciate you sharing your ideas and experiences with us, Joe!

Summer meals can make a big difference. The Beecher-Dunbar-Pembine Summer Food Pilot Program connected students and families with nutritious food while exploring a new approach to summer meal access. Watch the story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSa2Oipl0HA

When it comes to school finance, experience matters. The CESA 8 Business Team brings decades of expertise in school finance, education, and financial management to help districts make informed decisions and plan for the future.

Lights, camera, CESA 8! 🎥 Find us on YouTube at @CESAeight for videos, resources, updates, and a closer look at the work happening throughout our region. Click subscribe and come learn with us!

Build better math foundations for young learners! Join CESA 8 to explore counting, advanced counting, subitizing, and play-based strategies that support early number sense. Two sessions available. Register: https://tinyurl.com/w7m7c54a

Constitution Day is a chance to recognize the document that established our government's framework and continues to guide our nation. Today, we honor its legacy and the principles of liberty and justice.

A big congratulations to our own Dean Leisgang, named the 2026 WiRSA CESA Employee of the Year! Dean helps schools across Wisconsin find their voice, build trust and bring communities together around student success. Read more: https://www.cesa8.k12.wi.us/article/3131765

Congratulations to Clintonville Superintendent Troy Kuhn. We were honored to present Troy with this year's WSPRA Amplify Award! The annual award honors individuals who go above and beyond to amplify school public relations and communications in their districts. Congrats, Troy!

Thanks to all of our superintendents who made the trip to NWTC for a special September PAC meeting! We appreciate the time together, the productive conversations, and the opportunity to share ideas and strengthen connections across our region.

September 11th is Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Today, we pause to remember those we lost, honor the heroes who served, and recommit ourselves to making a difference through service.