Midland County ESA

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Across Midland County, pinwheels are displayed as a powerful symbol to raise awareness and remind us all of the important role we play in supporting and protecting children. Since 2008, the blue pinwheel has been recognized as the national symbol for Child Abuse Prevention Month. It represents the joy and carefree spirit of childhood along with the hope that every child grows up safe, healthy, and supported in a nurturing family and community environment.

🐣 Spring Into Learning! 🐣
A new season means new opportunities to grow, learn, and show up! Let’s make every day count this spring.

Need support or want to learn more? Visit fewerthan5.com for family resources. Funding for Strive for Fewer than Five is supported by the Region 5 MiFamily Engagement Center.

🚗 Transportation Help 🚗
If getting to school is hard, reach out to your school office. They can provide resources to ensure your child gets to class safely.

Need support or want to learn more? Visit fewerthan5.com for family resources. Funding for Strive for Fewer than Five is supported by the Region 5 MiFamily Engagement Center.

Signs of spring at our Sugnet site!

#studentart #MCESABetterTogether

Registration is now open for the 2026 Summer CTE Camps! Sign up today. ⬇️⬇️

Stay connected with everything happening at Midland County ESA! Download our app today from the App Store or Google Play.

Wednesday was a great reminder of the progress being made across Midland County and throughout Michigan to ensure every four-year-old has access to high-quality preschool.

Superintendent Searles was honored to attend this important event at Henry Doerr Early Childhood Center in Saginaw, where Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that nearly 55,000 children are enrolled in the Great Start Readiness Program as of January 2026, which is the highest enrollment in the program’s history.

PreK for All is open to all Michigan families, regardless of income, helping save an estimated $14,000 per year on child care. To learn more, visit www.midlandesa.org/page/regional-preschool-partnership

Spring Break is almost here!
Reminder that MCESA classes will be out of session March 30 through April 6.
We look forward to welcoming you back on Tuesday, April 7. Have a wonderful break!

🎒 Before You Pack, Don’t Slack! 🎒
Every day leading up to Spring Break is packed with fun lessons and activities, don’t miss out!

Need support or want to learn more? Visit fewerthan5.com for family resources. Funding for Strive for Fewer than Five is supported by the Region 5 MiFamily Engagement Center.

Midland County Educational Service Agency (MCESA) is excited to announce Summer Career and Technical Education (CTE) Camps, offering middle and high school students hands-on opportunities to explore in-demand career pathways and develop valuable, real-world skills.

These engaging camps are designed to introduce students to a variety of high-growth industries through interactive experiences, expert instruction, and community partnerships. Each camp focuses on a unique career field:

Scrub Life: Healthcare Camp – Students will explore the fundamentals of patient care, medical terminology, and healthcare careers through simulations and guest speakers. This camp is offered in partnership with Central Michigan University, Davenport University, and MyMichigan Health. Registration deadline is Tuesday, May 26.

STEM Camp: Underwater Robotics, Semiconductors & 3D Printing – Participants will design and build an underwater robot and test it in a natural setting, while also gaining exposure to cutting-edge technologies. This camp is offered in partnership with Michigan State University Extension. Registration deadline is Tuesday, May 26.

Greater Michigan Construction Academy (GMCA) Construction Camp – Hosted by GMCA, students will gain hands-on experience in the skilled trades, learning from industry professionals and exploring career opportunities in construction. Registration deadline is Thursday, June 4.

Registration is now open, and space is limited for each camp. Scholarships are available to help ensure access for all interested students.

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.midlandesa.org/page/midland-county-career-technical-education

For questions, please contact: cte@midlandesa.org

We’re celebrating March is Reading Month at MCESA! Today, Superintendent Searles visited MCESA's Nature Preschool Classroom at Chippewa Nature Center for story time and had the opportunity to see MCESA Speech-Language Pathologist Lexi Umlor at work, helping students grow their communication skills.

#MCESABetterTogether #MarchisReadingMonth

MCESA was grateful for the opportunity to attend Coleman School District's FFA Agriscience Awards Banquet last evening.

CTE Coordinator Jenny Leslie shared how meaningful it was to see students recognized for their accomplishments.

Congratulations to all of the students on their success!

#CTE #CareerandTechnicalEducation

Local artist and MCESA parent Rocky Maldonado hosted an art class for post secondary students yesterday, where they could create original paintings. This class is the first in a series being offered for post secondary students to explore their creative side!

#MCESABetterTogether

We are lucky to have such a wonderful team at MCESA! Happy St. Patrick’s Day from some of our crew at Longview Early Childhood Center and the administration offices. 🍀

#MCESABetterTogether

Today our Sugnet site is full of collaboration and learning! MCESA educators and partners from local districts are taking part in professional development sessions including Ukeru training as well as pain management & implicit bias training.

#ProfessionalDevelopment #MCESABetterTogether

Our CTE team is at Coleman Community Schools today working with 8th and 11th grade students for the final Reality Store of the 2025-2026 school year! Through this hands-on experience, students get a glimpse of what it takes to manage finances and make important life choices.

Thank you to our volunteers from Case Systems, Michigan Works, Midland Community Corrections, Dow, Greater Michigan Construction Academy, Members First Credit Union, and Wildfire Credit Union for helping make this learning experience possible.

#CareerReady #CTE #RealityStore #MCESABetterTogether

It's a fun and busy Friday for our CTE team! They are spending the day at Bullock Creek Middle School to bring Reality Store to students.

Students are getting a hands-on look at real-life budgeting and decision-making as they explore careers and make choices about housing, transportation, childcare, and more. It’s a fun and meaningful way to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences.

A huge thank you to our volunteers from Dow, Case Systems, MBS International Airport, Members First Credit Union, Wildfire Credit Union, Horizon Bank, Journeys Coffeehouse, and the Midland Police Department for helping make this experience possible for our students!

#CareerandTechnicalEducation #CTE #MCESABetterTogether

Shoutout to our February 2026 Better Together honorees! These team members were recognized by their coworkers for their teamwork, collaboration, and commitment to one another. The full list for February is available to view here: https://aptg.co/D6SSB5

MCESA’s Early Childhood & Family Services Department is representing us well this week at the MiAEYC Conference in Grand Rapids! We’re proud to have our team learning, collaborating, and bringing back new ideas to support young learners and families.

#MCESABetterTogether

We're hiring three additional full-time paraeducators! Interested in joining our team and making an impact? Give us a call!

#JoinOurTeam #NowHiring #MCESABetterTogether