Date of completion: February of 2026 - Certificate of Completion

To expand my teacher tool belt I participated in a live Minecraft Education training offered by Stride, my current employer. These four instructor-led 90 minute sessions took place asynchronously through Microsoft Teams meetings. The focus of these sessions was to introduce the basics of Minecraft Education and the integration into our classrooms. By the end of this training I was able to demonstrate my abilities on basic functions like; walking, running, digging, building, code, and journaling. While learning how to use Minecraft was a large portion of our training, the instructors spent time demonstrating how to use Minecraft in our classrooms. The instructors led us through Minecraft's premade lesson plans and explorations. I found this training to be very useful as I had never used Minecraft. My students have a love for Minecraft, so I look forward to using the "challenges" in my science classroom.

Date of completion: Spring of 2025 

During the Spring of 2025 my school began a transition to the online learning system Canvas. To help staff transition we participated in a series of 8  instructor-led live sessions and 10 asynchronous modules. During our various training sessions we learned how to navigate the system, create a custom course, enter grades, and much more. These training sessions covered all information you might need to know about Canvas. Both the synchronous and asynchronous training were overwhelming but much needed. The most helpful part of training was working in a mock course. I have found that hands-on training is the best way to learn new skills. We were able to make assignments, assign them to mock student groups, create calendar events, and embed our learning tools. Working with Canvas is a constant learning experience. Most of my learning now comes from trial and error. On occasion I refer back to those original 10 modules for support.  

Date of completion: '24 -'25 School year, Fall of 2025

For a year and a half our school science team had the opportunity to work with the Center for Grading Reform team. We participated in multiple 3 hour instructor-led, interactive live sessions. We had two focuses in our learning: creating authentic assessments and creating standard aligned units of study. Authentic assessments in science means we are diving much deeper than a simple multiple choice question. Creating standard aligned units of study was the most impactful professional development I have taken a part in. This series of sessions was crafted specifically for our team. Our instructor, Annie, led us through a mock unit on sound waves. She taught us how to implement each part of the standard into our learning. Annie was even able to tailor our experience more specifically to the online learning environment. Creating a standards aligned unit of study went hand in hand with creating authentic assessments. The team at Center for Grading Reform is at the top of my list for recommendations and future professional development sessions. 

Date of completion: Fall of 2023

I completed the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training during my first year at Michigan Virtual Charter Academy. My current certification is set to expire in the Fall of 2026, I will complete a new training at that time. This training was completed through an online module and full day of hands-on training. Crisis Prevention Institute is a nationally certified organization that trains professionals on how to create a safe work environment. My training was focused on safe descalation of students. During the online portion of the training I worked through a series or readings and videos. The online modules mirrored the information that was shared during the in person training. During this in person training we were up and moving. We practice different ways to hold a student from elopement, harm to peers, or harm to self. The goal of each of these holds to prevent harm to both the student and others. While for most of the year I am teaching from home this training still has its benefits. I can use these skills during in person state testing or when working with students at my church if ever needed.