On September 26, 2025, the Pine Room at the Gallup District Office buzzed with energy, creativity, and collaboration as Discovery Center Assistants (DCAs) from across the region gathered for a full-day kickoff summit. NCCE trainers, Tammy Dunbar, Dixie Harper, and Marcie Lear, had the privilege of leading this inspiring event designed to launch the 2025–2026 DCA Professional Learning Program.
Setting the Stage
The day began with a warm welcome from District Leader Kristen Bischoff, whose remarks set a tone of vision and empowerment. DCAs were invited to “Tell Their Story”, through interactive activities that celebrated their unique journeys and roles in student learning.
Supporting Characters
We were honored to feature guest, Phil Neilson, from the Octavia Fellin Public Library, who showcased their rich physical and digital collections, teacher resources, and makerspace opportunities. Also, a video spotlight on New Mexico author Daniela Ramirez added a local literary touch that resonated deeply with the DCAs.
The Plot Thickens: Collaborative Clusters
One of the summit’s highlights was the launch of the Learning Cluster Collaboration model. DCAs were grouped by geographic region to foster ongoing peer support and shared professional development. Each cluster designed a flag to represent their area, sparking creativity and pride in their local communities.
A Book About Your Life
In a reflective midday session, each attendee wrote short pieces about their lives and shared them via Padlet. The stories were heartfelt, humorous, and powerful reminders of the diverse experiences of our DCAs.
Indexing the Year Ahead
We introduced the Professional Development Plan, which offers flexible learning pathways including:
- Onsite job-embedded coaching
- Virtual coaching
- Monthly cluster meetups
- Access to the Microsoft Teams DCA Hub: a centralized space for resources, collaboration, and expert support.
DCAs completed a survey to personalize their learning journey, ensuring that support is tailored to their goals and needs.
Setting the Scene: Grade-Level Workshops
In the afternoon, DCAs broke into grade-level groups (Elementary, Middle, High) for focused discussions. These sessions revisited goals set during Destiny Trainings and explored new strategies for instructional partnerships and student engagement.
Footnotes & The Next Chapter
The Gallup DCA Summit was more than a training—it was a celebration of stories, a launchpad for growth, and a commitment to community. NCCE is excited to continue this journey with our DCAs throughout the year, supporting their leadership and learning every step of the way.
“Let’s keep telling our stories. They matter!”
Written by: Dixie Harper