Strands

STRAND OPTION 1

• Session Title: Chappelow PBIS

• • Date: 5/27/25

  • Time: 8:00 - 11:45 AM

  • Description: The PBIS team at Chappelow will plan our yearly events and buddy classes for the upcoming school year.  We will be grounding ourselves in PBIS research.  

  • Facilitators: Christopher Kieffer, Laurel Kuchman, & Kelly Box

  • Audience: K-8 Teachers from Chappelow

  • Location: Chappelow - Library

  • Registration: Register for this course

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

STRAND OPTION 2 - CANCELED

• • Session Title: Chappelow Skills Block

  • Date: 7/21/25

  • Time: 8:00 - 11:45 AM

  • Description: In this course, we will dive into the importance of creating a strong foundation of literacy skills for our early readers. We will be grounding our work in the Science of Reading and then planning/creating centers and lessons to support students in developing literacy skills.  

  • Facilitators: Laurel Kuchman & Ann Campbell

  • Audience: K-2 Teachers from Chappelow

  • Location: Chappelow - Library

  • Registration: Register for this course

STRAND OPTION 1

• Session Title: Prairie Heights Effective Feedback

• • Date: 5/28/25

  • Time: 12:30 - 4:30 PM

  • Description: Prairie Heights teachers will learn how to provide effective feedback in the Gradient platform.  Teachers will have the opportunity to analyze instructional practices that are designed to provide feedback that guides continuous student growth and achievement.

  • Facilitators: Traci Underwood

  • Audience: All Teachers from PHMS

  • Location: PHMS - Cafeteria

  • Registration: Register for this course

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

STRAND OPTION 2

• Session Title: Backwards Unit Planning for Prairie Heights Gradient Teachers

• • Date: 5/29/25

  • Time: 8:00 - 4:00 PM

  • Description: This PD will be used to help teachers at Prairie Heights internalize a unit in Gradient Learning by first looking at the final products or performance tasks of the unit. By working on the backward design model, teachers will build out their lessons through a variety of activities and formative assessments that align with the summative outcomes. 

  • Facilitators: Traci Underwood

  • Audience: All Teachers from PHMS

  • Location: PHMS - Cafeteria

  • Registration: Register for this course

• • Session Title: Enhancing Preschool Success: Curriculum, Classroom Strategies, and Behavior Management

  • Date: 6/2/25 - 6/5/25

  • Time: 12:45 - 4:30 PM

  • Description: This professional development session is designed to equip preschool staff with essential knowledge and practical strategies to create an engaging, structured, and supportive learning environment for young children. Participants will explore best practices in curriculum implementation, effective classroom management techniques, and proactive behavior support strategies to foster positive student outcomes. Through interactive discussions, real-world examples, and hands-on activities, educators will gain the tools needed to enhance instructional effectiveness, support diverse learners, and promote social-emotional development. This training will empower preschool staff to create a well-balanced learning environment that meets the needs of all children while fostering collaboration among educators, families, and support professionals.  

  • Facilitators: Stacey Gershwin & Nicole Crain

  • Audience: Preschool Teachers

  • Location: Tointon - B219

  • Registration: Register for this course

• • Session Title: Jackson Math Strand (Special Education Focus)

  • Date: 6/4/25 - 6/5/25

  • Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM

  • Description: Educators will explore how to design and implement math centers that foster deep understanding and procedural fluency. We will focus on the Five Mathematical Practices to promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and student discourse. Using classroom data, participants will learn how to create targeted math centers that address student needs, reinforce priority standards, and develop procedural fluency

  • Facilitators: John Fischer and Jen Gross

  • Audience: Teachers from Jackson 

  • Location: Jackson 

  • Registration: Register for this course

• • Session Title: Deepening Instruction with Reading Simplified

  • Date: 6/6/25

  • Time: 8:00 - 4:00 PM

  • Description: Join us for a powerful professional learning session led by Dr. Marnie Ginsberg, creator of the Reading Simplified framework. Participants will engage in high-leverage instructional strategies that support foundational reading development across grade levels. Teachers will learn how to analyze Reading Simplified data to identify each student’s most pressing need and determine responsive next steps. The session will also include collaborative planning time to design effective, intentional instruction aligned to Reading Simplified routines—with opportunities for both cross-school and site-based collaboration.

This is an exciting opportunity to learn directly from the developer of the program and deepen implementation with clarity and confidence.

• • Facilitators: Dr. Marnie Ginsberg, Annmarie Haggin, Michelle Wiest, Dani Hill, Kelly Brandly, and Jen Rios-Alers

  • Audience: K-5 educators at Maplewood, Meeker, and Bella Romero

  • Location: Bella Romero 4-8 

  • Registration: Register for this course

• • Session Title: Supporting Thinking and Writing through Graphic Organizers

  • Date: 6/4/25, 6/5/25, 6/10/25, 6/11/25

  • Time: 12:30 - 4:00 PM

  • Description: In this training teachers will learn about a set of graphic organizers that students can use to promote independence in thinking and writing.  

  • Facilitators: Jennifer Meredith & Anne Ramirez

  • Audience: All Staff from Heiman

  • Location: Heiman - Library

  • Registration: Register for this course

• • Session Title: New ELA Curriculum Planning

  • Date: 6/2/25 - 6/3/25

  • Time: 8:00 - 4:00 PM

  • Description: Teachers will explore the newly adopted ELA curriculum to being planning for 25-26 implementation.

  • Facilitators: Annette Schneider & Amanda Weis

  • Audience: 9th and 10th Grade ELA Teachers from GWHS

  • Location: GWHS

  • Registration: Register for this course

• • Session Title: Shawsheen Strand

  • Date: 6/9/25 - 6/10/25

  • Time: 7:30 - 3:30 PM

  • Description: This summer session will focus on reviewing SEL data to inform next steps for PBIS and MTSS implementation. Staff will also collaborate to plan engaging family nights for the 2025-26 school year. Additionally, teams will work on vertical alignment of math and EL instruction to ensure consistency and rigor across grade levels.

  • Facilitators: Jill Barnes & Heidi Elliott

  • Audience: All Staff from Shawsheen

  • Location: Shawsheen - Library

  • Registration: Register for this course

• • Session Title: Empowering ALL Learners: Planning with WIDA Can Do Descriptors and More

  • Date: 7/17/25

  • Time: 8:30 - 3:30 PM

  • Description: In this professional development session, educators will explore how to use WIDA Can Do Descriptors and other scaffolds to plan instruction that supports ALL learners at various proficiency levels. Participants will learn strategies for scaffolding, modifying, and accommodating lessons to ensure all students can access content and actively participate. Through collaborative discussions and hands-on activities, teachers will develop practical approaches to integrating language supports into their instruction while maintaining high expectations for student learning.

  • Facilitators: Ashely Aragon, Michelle Wiest, Kelly Brandly

  • Audience: Teachers from Bella Romero

  • Location: Bella Romero 4 - 8 Campus

  • Registration: Register for this course

STRAND OPTION 1

• Session Title: Setting a Classroom Culture

• • Date: 7/21/25

  • Time: 8:00 - 4:30 PM

  • Description: Participants will learn restorative justice and trauma informed practices to plan for setting a positive school/classroom culture from day 1.  

  • Facilitators: Jenny Yeager

  • Audience: Teachers from JMSA

  • Location: JMSA

  • Registration: Register for this course

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

STRAND OPTION 2

• Session Title: Enhancing Writing Within EL

• • Date: 7/22/25

  • Time: 8:00 - 4:30 PM

  • Description: Participants will learn strategies to increase and improve the quality of student writing and how to embed writing into the EL content blocks. 

  • Facilitators: Jenny Yeager

  • Audience: K-8 ELA Teachers from JMSA

  • Location: JMSA

  • Registration: Register for this course

• • Session Title: Heath Summer PD Strand - Instructional Practices

  • Date: 7/30/25

  • Time: 8:00 - 4:30 PM

  • Description: Explore instructional practices that engage scholars through curriculum and rigorous expectations.

  • Facilitators: Alex Smith, Dan Rosenfeld, & Dawn Krueger

  • Audience: All Teachers from Heath

  • Location: Heath Middle School

  • Registration: Register for this course

STRAND OPTION 1

• Session Title: Science/Social Studies Planning

• • Date: 7/28/25

  • Time: 8:00 - 4:00 PM

  • Description: This professional development (PD) strand will focus on the vertical alignment of science and social studies standards to ensure continuity and coherence across grade levels. Teachers will collaborate to analyze standards, identify key connections, and integrate them effectively into the current curriculum. Through this structured planning session, educators will develop strategies to scaffold learning, bridge content gaps, and create interdisciplinary opportunities that enhance student understanding.   

  • Facilitators: Tonya Deering & Chloe Knoche 

  • Audience: Teachers from Scott

  • Location: Scott Elementary - Room 26

  • Registration: Register for this course

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

STRAND OPTION 2

• Session Title: Equity Team Planning

• • Date: 7/16/25 - 7/17/25

  • Time: 8:00 - 12:00 PM

  • Description: This professional development (PD) strand will center on advancing equity in education by strategically planning next year’s equity initiatives. Teachers will collaborate to design an inclusive and impactful PD outline that will be delivered building-wide, ensuring all staff are equipped with the tools and knowledge to foster an equitable learning environment. Additionally, the team will develop the "Fall Into Reading" plan for SEL time, selecting diverse texts and meaningful activities that promote social-emotional learning and student engagement.

  • Facilitators: Tonya Deering, Chloe Knoche, & Kimberly Destree

  • Audience: Teachers from Scott

  • Location: Scott Elementary - Room 26

  • Registration: Register for this course