How We Serve

The Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 2 provides services and support to its 74 member school districts throughout Dane, Green, Jefferson, Kenosha, Racine, Rock, and Walworth counties in southern Wisconsin. Working in partnership with school districts, universities, and businesses, CESA 2 strives to be a leader of educational leaders. CESA 2 is governed by section 116.01 of Wisconsin State Statutes, which allows it to enter into contracts and act as a liaison between school districts, the Department of Public Instruction, and the U.S. Department of Education.

Funding for CESA 2 programs and services comes from state and federal grants, professional development workshop fees, and fees paid for specific services.

CESA 2 Will

• Deliver innovative and effective model of professional development and services that have a strong, positive impact on those whom we serve.

• Provide a unique, comprehensive system analysis process for districts and schools that utilizes data to enhance decisions about critical initiatives and performance goals.

• Connect our partners with resources that meet their needs.

• Cultivate partnerships with organizations having specialized and relevant knowledge to enrich the flow of new ideas into CESA products and services.

• Maximize member districts’ cost efficiencies.

• Assess alignment to mission, values and vision in all our work.

• Evaluate results of our work for effectiveness and sustainability.

Capacity Building Framework

CESA 2’s Capacity Building Framework is designed to ensure a well-matched, targeted, and efficient learning and implementation experience. This framework can be applied to both individuals and systems.

CESA 2 is available to guide you along each step of the way! We will assist you in your journey in various ways. Our expert coaches and consultants are versed in this framework. We know that expertise and full implementation doesn’t occur from participating in a single training. We will appropriately match and guide your needs to the appropriate type of training or experience to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of your development experience. Our Professional Development offerings will be labeled with the framework component being targeted. Our school/district professional development plans are designed to produce sustainable system-wide implementation of effective practices. These plans are designed to address capacity building efforts at each of the levels represented in this Capacity Building Framework.

Each level has a particular focus:

Aware: Introduction to a topic, idea, or innovation through presentation, networking, online discovery, workshop, etc.

Comprehend: Recognize the importance and relevance of the topic, make initial connections to the work, and understand the rational through a workshop with content application.

Practice: Work to do it right. Try with support and feedback to build this skill.

Refine: Work to do it better. Apply appropriate strategy independently, adapt practice for unique circumstances, and develop expertise with coaching and feedback.

Teach: Developed deep expertise and acquired sufficient knowledge, skill, and experience to support others’ learning. Gain instructional leadership with support.

Board of Control

The CESA 2 Board of Control acts as the governing body for the agency. The eleven-member board is made up of a delegate from each of the eleven geographical clusters that make up CESA 2’s region. Each member of the CESA 2 Board of Control is a member of his or her local school board. Delegates are elected during the annual CESA delegate convention.

Responsibilities of the CESA 2 Board of Control include:

• Setting policies
• Authorizing expenditures
• Appointing an agency administrator
• Approving service contracts with school districts
• Receiving funding from state categorical aid, as well as, state and federal grants

Board of Control meetings are typically held on the third Tuesday of the month.

CESA 2’s Agency Administrator and its Board of Control are advised by the administrators of the 74 member school districts. The Professional Advisory Committee meets monthly. All CESA 2 school district administrators are invited to attend the PAC meetings. PAC meetings are typically held on the first Friday of the month.

Regional Liaisons

CESA 2 established liaisons in 2014 to ensure a greater level of direct contact with each district.

There are two regional liaisons serving the districts of CESA 2. They meet with superintendents individually and as groups within particular geographic areas.

The role of the liaison is to listen closely to district superintendents and leadership teams to determine areas of need and trends across districts. These connections allow CESA 2 to better develop services to meet district needs and co-create innovative solutions with our district partners.