ALL Teacher-Directed PD that is not accounted for in the system-wide sessions listed here on this site, or through your building communication, should be tracked using the PDP Tracking Form.
ALL teachers please click the button below to complete the form by End of Day 5/28.
MVYPS's System-wide Commitments
A System-Wide Commitment to Our Children
Emphasis on Teaching Models That Better Support All Learners -Co Teaching
Emphasis on Physical and Emotional Welfare of Our Students – VOCAL
Prioritize Alternative Approaches to Discipline – Think:Kids – Collaborative Problem-Solving
A Commitment to Nurturing the Culture Within Our Schools
Emphasis on Physical and Emotional Welfare of Our Staff – Behavioral Health
Emphasis on Relationships and Themes of Care
Focus on Strategies to Improve School Climate – EDSCLS
A Commitment to a Strong School Community Approach
A Commitment to Building Maintenance and Upgrade
Emphasis on Increasing Family Engagement
Explore Programs That Increase Support of Our Community
This half day of professional development is entirely structured around both district/school-directed and teacher-directed professional learning and development. It is MVYPS' hope that schools will take this time to structure PD and teaming efforts that promote their school and staff informed initiatives/school improvement actions. Also, it is MVYPS' hope that teachers will take advantage of the latter half of the day to engage in professional development that is collaborative, authentic and relevant to their practice, related to individual professional development plans, and enriches the learning experience of the students in their classrooms (see note below). ESPs have a normal contractual work day on this PD day and there are PD options provided for ESPs below.
MVRHS- 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
School-led PD 11:30 to 1:30 pm
Teacher-directed PD 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
K-8 Schools- 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
School-led PD 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Teacher-directed PD 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm
PLEASE NOTE: System-wide and school-sponsored PD will be offered on these days during teacher-directed time, but teachers/staff are not contractually obligated to participate in these offerings.
Who: All faculty should refer to their building leaders for the PD agenda in their respective schools.
Purpose: Facilitate and provide ongoing relevant PD related to building-based initiatives
Time:
MVRHS- School-led PD 11:30 to 1:30 pm [Click link for agenda]
K-8 Schools- School-led PD 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Location: TBD by building
Communities of Practice (CoPs) at MVYPS
For 2024-20245 MVYPS will support the ongoing work of Communities of Practice as a high quality form of professional development. Through entitlement grant funds, the Superintendent is able to provided CoPs that have experienced ongoing success and support in the past with the opportunity to continue their work.
CoPs are required to meet for no less than 6 hours across the school year, with times being organized by the facilitator and the CoP members. Some CoP facilitators may choose to offer meeting times during teacher-directed PD time, while others may also meet after school and during other non-contractual times.
Click the arrow to the right to expand the list of available 2024-2025 CoPs for MVYPS educators.
Focus Areas(s):
Many of the CoPs focus on different buckets related to MVYPS' Commitments 2023-2024. The most common buckets are as follows.
Bucket 1: A System-wide Commitment to Our Children
Emphasis on teaching models that better support all learners
Emphasis on physical and emotional welfare of our students
Bucket 2: A Commitment to Nurturing the Culture within our Schools
Emphasis on relationships and themes of care
Emphasis on strategies to improve school climate
8th Grade English CoP (5/28, 3pm meeting by Zoom Link.)
This CoP will focus on core topics of curriculum and instruction in English language arts and the bridging of learning across the 8th to 9th grade transition. At times, this group may be meeting with 9th grade core.
English - Facilitator: Amy Wallace
8th Grade Math CoP (Contact Vanessa Forrester for scheduled meeting dates, locations and times.)
This CoP will focus on core topics of math curriculum and the bridging of learning across the 8th to 9th grade transition. At times, this group may be meeting with 9th grade core teachers to collaborate.
Math - Facilitator: Vanessa Forrester
Middle School Science CoP May 28th from 1:00 - 3:00 (hybrid- Edgartown School science lab room 248 or Zoom) .
This CoP will focus on core topics of curriculum and instruction in Science at the middle school level and the bridging of learning.
Science - Facilitator: Sara Hoffman
Please complete this survey that will help guide our discussion. I have responses from 8 of you from earlier in the year.
During the PD time our goal is to share about the resources that we are currently using to monitor student progress and how we can offer continuity and support to our students that move from school to school around the island. The survey results will help guide future software, curriculum, and professional development choices.
9th Grade English Language Arts (ELA) CoP (Contact Christine Ferrone for scheduled meeting dates, locations and times.)
This CoP will support the MVRHS' 9th grade ELA team in coming together to discuss changes to ELA programming at this grade level.
Facilitator: Christine Ferrone
Desmos Math CoP (Contact Eve Heyman for scheduled meeting dates, locations and times.)
This CoP will discuss and problem solve the implementation of Desmos Math into your curriculum with other educators at MVYPS.
Facilitator: Eve Heyman
Middle School Social Studies CoP (Contact Stacey Morris for scheduled meeting dates, locations and times.)
This CoP will focus on core topics of curriculum and instruction in Social Studies at the middle school grade level.
History - Facilitator: Stacey Morris
K-8 Art CoP (Contact Nichole Shank for scheduled meeting dates, locations and times.)
This CoP will discuss topics together related to the instructional practices of art education in the elementary/middle schools at MVYPS.
Facilitator: Nichole Shank
K-8 Health/Family & Consumer Science CoP (Contact Jane Taylor for scheduled meeting dates, locations and times.)
This CoP will engage in ongoing topics related to instructional practices of health education at the elementary and middle school level. Special focus topics may be on the Michigan Model Curriculum and other related curricula for health education at MVYPS, as well as the new MA Comprehensive Health and PE Frameworks (2023).
Facilitator: Jane Taylor
K-8 Library Science CoP (Contact Caitlyn Clark for scheduled meeting dates, locations and times.)
This CoP will engage in ongoing topics related to supporting library sciences at the elementary and middle school level.
Facilitator: Caitlyn Clark
K-8 School Counselor CoP (Contact Joanie Creato for scheduled meeting dates, locations and times.)
This CoP will engage in ongoing topics related to school counseling at the elementary and middle school level. The K-8 School Counselor CoP meets with community partners and consult with CoP members on student cases. They meet every other month.
Facilitator: Joanie Creato
K-8 Spanish CoP (Contact Theresa Holmes for scheduled meeting dates, locations and times.)
This CoP will engage in ongoing topics related to the instructional practices of Spanish language education at the elementary and middle school level. Initial discussion this year will be focused on the STAMP assessment.
Facilitator: Theresa Holmes
K-12 Performing Arts CoP (Contact Abigail Chandler for scheduled meeting dates, locations and times.)
This CoP will engage in ongoing topics related to supporting the performing arts education at MVYPS, including all levels k-12.
Facilitator: Abigail Chandler
MVRHS Science CoP (Contact Louis Hall for scheduled meeting dates, locations and times.)
This CoP will support the MVRHS science team in coming together to discuss instructional practice, curriculum, and student learning as relevant to high school science.
Facilitator: Louis Hall
Speech & Language Pathologist CoP (Contact Hannah Beford for scheduled meeting dates, locations and times.)
This CoP will support the coming together of SLPs at MVYPS to discuss related topics of practice in the field of Speech and Language pk-12.
Facilitator: Hannah Beford
Building Bridges to Support Stronger Comprehension: The interdependence of teaching semantics, morphology and comprehension
Who: K-3 Classroom teachers, Reading Specialists, and Special Education Teachers
Purpose: In this PD session, we will cover ways to strengthen elementary literacy instruction to support stronger comprehension. There is a lot of emphasis on foundational literacy skills in the primary classroom. In order for children to become proficient readers and writers they must learn, practice, and deepen their understanding about and interplay of semantics, morphology and comprehension; these topics will be addressed during this session. We will also sprinkle in a bit of orthographic mapping and high frequency word learning into this PD session.
Objectives: In this session we will:
• Gain a deeper understanding of what semantics and morphology are and why they are important pieces in the big picture of comprehension in K-
• Learn about current best practices in teaching comprehension in K-3 and how to implement those practices with any curriculum.
• Solidify understanding of high frequency words vs. sight words, and best practices for teaching high frequency words.
• Solidify understanding of orthographic mapping, why it's important, and best practices for building this skill.
• Get hands on practice, and walk away with tools and strategies to implement.
Time: 3:00-5:00
Facilitators: Deb Dunn, Edgartown School K-2 Reading Specialist
Location: Edgartown School (Room TBD)
Registration: RSVP to Deb Dunn by Monday, May 26 at 3pm
MVYPS focus area(s):
A System-Wide Commitment to Our Children
Emphasis on Teaching Models That Better Support All Learners
Who: Special education teachers/liaisons Representatives from each school
Purpose: Facilitate and provide resources for teachers to help build standards based goals that are data driven.
Objectives: Introduce this software to teachers across all the schools to start to familiarize them on how it works and to allow some exposure for the rest of the year-so that they are able to use it effectively next year.
Time: 3-4pm
Facilitators: Hope MacLeod and Representative from Goalbook
Location: TBD
Registration: RSVP to hmacleod@mvyps.org
MVYPS focus area(s):
System-Wide Commitment to Our Children
Emphasis on Teaching Models That Better Support All Learners
How We Use the i-Ready to Meet the Needs of Individual Students and Support Current Lessons
Who: All 5-8 Math Teachers are welcome
Purpose: Collaboratively share out and review all the ways we use iReady in 6th - 8th grades.
The discussion will include:
The History of iReady use at OB (2017 - today) and how it's evolved.
Diagnostic - administration, preparation, reflections, etc.
Instruction/Lessons - lessons to support current learning, filling in gaps, MCAS prep, paper lessons, learning games, etc.
Standards Mastery - as review, as retakes, as assessments
Q&A
Time: 3:00-4:00 pm
Facilitators: Annie Treitman, Eve Heyman and Danielle Light
Location: Oak Bluffs School, Danielle Light’s room
Email Annie, Eve or Danielle with questions
MVYPS focus area(s):
System-Wide Commitment to Our Children
Emphasis on Teaching Models That Better Support All Learners
Who: All Math and STEM teachers (all grades) and co-teachers (SPED and ESL teachers)
Purpose: Join Rebecca Solway, West Tisbury teacher, and Kelly Cooney, ELL Coach, to explore how Math Language Routines (MLRs) can support all learners—especially multilingual learners—by making mathematical thinking visible through structured, purposeful interaction. Please bring a math lesson you'd like to adapt.
Objectives: In this session, we will:
Unpack key principles behind effective language routines
Try out an Information Gap activity
Explore the full set of MLRs and plan how to embed them into your instruction
Time: 1-3pm
Facilitators: Rebecca Solway and Kelly Cooney
Location: MVRHS Culinary Arts Dining Room
Registration: Before attending, please take a moment to fill out this short survey Pre PD survey
System-Wide Commitment to Our Children
Emphasis on Teaching Models That Better Support All Learners
A Commitment to Nurturing the Culture Within Our Schools
Focus on Strategies to Improve School Climate (Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Instruction)
Who: All MVYPS teachers and leaders
Purpose: During this 90 minute session, educators and leaders will come together to reflect on themselves, their personal and professional needs, and what really drives their passion to teach and lead. The group together will look at the Personal Continuous Improvement process to plan some ways that they might plan with themeselves in mind as they move out of 2024-2025 school year and into the 2025-2026 school year. We will use tools like the POISE assessment, Getting to Why, and PCI.
By the end of this 90-minute session, participants will be able to:
Reflect on personal and professional identity by identifying key values, needs, and motivations that drive their work as educators and leaders.
Examine their current state of wellbeing and purpose using tools such as the POISE assessment and Getting to Why protocol.
Understand the Personal Continuous Improvement (PCI) process and how it can support goal-setting and intentional planning for the next school year.
Draft initial ideas for personal and professional growth to carry forward into the 2025–2026 school year, with themselves as central to the planning process.
Engage in collaborative reflection and dialogue to build community and inspire clarity and commitment for the upcoming year.
Time: 3-4:30pm
Facilitators: Kim Garrison, MVYPS Behavioral Health Coordinator
Location: TBD
Registration: Use this form to register by 5/27 at 4 pm. [This session has been canceled due to low registration]
MVYPS focus area(s):
System-Wide Commitment to Our Children
Emphasis on Teaching Models That Better Support All Learners
A Commitment to Nurturing the Culture Within Our Schools
Emphasis on Physical and Emotional Welfare of Our Staff – Behavioral Health
Emphasis on Relationships and Themes of Care
Focus on Strategies to Improve School Climate
Who: All General Education and Special Education Teachers
Purpose: To provide some strategies and information on working on supporting students in the classroom who struggle with social/emotional development
Objectives: Teachers will learn support strategies for working with students in classes experiencing social-emotional challenges
Time: 3-4pm
Facilitators: Shane Schofield
Location: Zoom
Registration: Please reply using this link
MVYPS focus area(s):
System-Wide Commitment to Our Children
Emphasis on Teaching Models That Better Support All Learners
Emphasis on Physical and Emotional Welfare of Our Students
Prioritize Alternative Approaches to Discipline – Think:Kids
A Commitment to Nurturing the Culture Within Our Schools
Emphasis on Physical and Emotional Welfare of Our Staff
Emphasis on Relationships and Themes of Care
Focus on Strategies to Improve School Climate
Introduction to Collaborative Problem Solving [2 PDPs upon completion]
Who: All MVYPS educators and staff interested in learning the foundations and theory behind Collaborative Problem Solving*.
Time: Self-directed, self-paced virtual learning series
Purpose: MVYPS has worked with Think:Kids to provide MVYPS educators and staff free access to this learning module.
This 2-hour, self-paced course introduces the basic principles of Collaborative Problem Solving, an innovative, trauma-informed, and evidence-based approach to understanding and helping kids and adults with behavioral challenges. The principles of Collaborative Problem Solving® will be discussed, while outlining how the approach is uniquely suited to the needs of today's educators and students. The CPS approach aligns with CASEL's 5 core competencies, integrates with MTSS frameworks, PBIS, and restorative practices, is evidence-based, neurobiologically and trauma-informed, and child and family-centered.
Participants learn a more empathic and accurate understanding of what causes unmet expectations and challenging behavior and are exposed to an overview of the three key components of the approach. These courses lay the foundation for attending Essential Foundation in Collaborative Problem Solving (Level 1)
Objectives:
Understand what really causes challenging behavior or unmet expectations in others.
Discover the limitations of motivational approaches as a solution to unwanted behavior.
Learn three ways to respond to unwanted behavior and the best times to use them.
See how the approach can positively change interactions and outcomes with youth and adults.
Location: A link to the learning platform will be provided upon registration. Please register here by TUESDAY, 5/27 to receive access.
Contact Kim Garrison with questions.
Focus Area(s):
Bucket 1- A System-wide Commitment to Our Children >
Emphasis on teaching models
Emphasis on physical and emotional welfare of our students
Prioritize alternative approaches to discipline
Bucket 2- A Commitment to Nurturing the Culture within Our Schools >
Emphasis on relationships and themes of care
Strategies to improve school climate
*Note: This course is not for those educators who have been trained in Level 1 or Level 2 CPS Practices. This course is for those educators/staff who are curious about CPS and want to develop a foundational understanding for the practice.
Introduction to Everyday Speech (SEL Curriculum) [2 PDPs]
Who: Open to all MVYPS educators (k-12) and specialists
Time: Self-paced, virtual learning
Purpose: MVYPS has purchased a full site license for MVYPS educators to access the Everyday Speech SEL Curriculum. In October 2023, on-boarding support from Everyday Speech was provided to MVYPS staff interested in previewing/using the curriculum in their classes. This opportunity is again available to interested educators who would like a license to the program, to view the pre-recorded onboarding session, and to explore the grade-level curriculum.
In order to access a site license, please contact Kim Garrison requesting an account. The pre-recorded onboarding sessions will be sent to you once you have an account. You can also access the MVYPS Everyday Speech PD Guide here. This will help you to engage in self-directed professional development for using Everyday Speech's SEL Curriculum.
Those individuals who completed the on-boarding PD, or who have been collaborating as a team in using Everyday Speech may want to meet and discuss its use, implementation, and or collaborate on scope and sequence.
Location: Virtual (and in-person as self-directed)
Contact Kim Garrison with questions.
Focus Area(s):
Bucket 1- A System-wide Commitment to Our Children >
Emphasis on teaching models
Emphasis on physical and emotional welfare of our students
Bucket 2- A Commitment to Nurturing the Culture within Our Schools >
Emphasis on relationships and themes of care
Strategies to improve school climate
Purpose: To learn about the rights of immigrant students in our public schools.
Objectives:
Consider the experiences of immigrant students and their families.
Understand immigrant student stressors possibly impacting student performance.
Familiarize yourself with Know Your Rights and Family Preparedness materials.
Time: Asynchronous and at your own pace
Facilitators: MIRA Coalition,
MIRA is New England's largest coalition advocating for the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees, https://miracoalition.org/
Location: Webinar access
Focus Area(s):
Bucket 1- A System-wide Commitment to Our Children >
Emphasis on physical and emotional welfare of our students
Bucket 2- A Commitment to Nurturing the Culture within Our Schools >
Emphasis on relationships and themes of care
Strategies to improve school climate
Online Learning Modules that Cover Your Unique PD Needs!
Act Now! These IRIS STAR Legacy Modules are only free until December 2025
Purpose: These modules are amazing! They are self-guided and self-paced. The IRIS Modules cover numerous relevant topics in a way that is in-depth but approachable; most ranging from 1.5 to 3 hours to complete. They cover a wide range of educational topics to tailor professional learning to your personal and professional needs. Thirty-seven modules are now available, and more are added all the time. These topics range from evidence-based instructional practices in a range of content areas, behavioral practices, IEP related topics, instructional practices to support teaching English learners, and so much more!
Professional development certificates are provided from IRIS for completing the IRIS STAR Legacy Modules.
You can read a more detailed description of the Modules offered by clicking here. Information on how to register is detailed below
Objectives: Each module has a set of learning objectives. Click on the module title to access this information.
Registration: Getting started couldn’t be simpler!
Browse available IRIS STAR Legacy Modules and select those that best suit your PD needs.
Add the modules of interest to your "Cart" and "Proceed to Checkout." Then you can add them to your account to access.
Work through the module to completion. Note: Some modules expire after a certain amount of time (e.g., 90 days).
Collect your certificate of completion. Your IRIS PD Certificate (accessible through email or as a downloadable PDF) includes your name, the module you completed, the date, the clock hours you earned, and your pre- and post-test scores, if you choose.
Below is just a sample of recommended sessions that align with MVYPS' Focus Areas and provide PD in required areas for recertification:
System-Wide Commitment to Our Children
Emphasis on Teaching Models That Better Support All Learners
Differentiated Instruction: Maximizing the Learning for ALL Students
Autism Spectrum Disorder (Part 1): An Overview for Educators,
High-Quality Mathematics Instruction: What Teachers Should Know
Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD): Using Learning Strategies to Enhance Student Learning
Emphasis on Physical and Emotional Welfare of Our Students
Prioritize Alternative Approaches to Discipline
Addressing Challenging Behaviors (elementary or secondary)
Behavioral Strategies (elementary or secondary)
Classroom Behavior Management Part 1 & Part 2 (elementary or secondary)
Purpose: March 3rd, 2025 was #SELday. The SELday Summit (virtual) hosted on 3/3/2025 provided sessions to educators across various topics where SEL is relevant. The recordings and slides are available for access asynchronously on this PD day. The #SELday Summit was sponsored by CASEL, Six Seconds, SEL4US, and the Urban Assembly. See topics and access to these webinar recordings below.
Objectives: (vary by session)
Time: Asynchronous (Staff can access at any time.)
Facilitators: Vary by session
Location: SEL Day webinar recordings
Sessions available:
MVYPS focus area(s):
System-Wide Commitment to Our Children
Emphasis on Teaching Models That Better Support All Learners
Emphasis on Physical and Emotional Welfare of Our Students
A Commitment to Nurturing the Culture Within Our Schools
Focus on Strategies to Improve School Climate – EDSCLS
Who: K-2 ESPs- ESPs not working in Edgartown need permission from their building leader to attend
Purpose: Join Deb Dunn, K-2 Reading Specialist, to learn all about the "The Science of Reading" and your critical role in supporting your students and the classroom teacher in strengthening students' foundational literacy skills so they can be successful readers and writers.
Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will:
•Understand the brain science and research that helps us understand how children learn how to read.
• Learn the meaning and importance of key terms and vocabulary you hear in the K-2 literacy classroom (phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, phonics, high frequency words, etc.) and understand how and why these "foundational" skills are necessary for children to succeed as readers.
• Learn, practice, and take away best practices in foundational reading instruction to use in the classroom to support students (and teachers).
• Recognize and own the important role of ESPs in the literacy classroom! You make a difference!
Time: 1:00-2:30
Facilitators: Deb Dunn, Edgartown School K-2 Reading Specialist
Location: Edgartown School (Room TBD)
Registration: RSVP to Deb Dunn by 5/26 at 3pm
MVYPS focus area(s):
A System-Wide Commitment to Our Children
Emphasis on Teaching Models That Better Support All Learners
Who: All MVYPS Educational Support Professionals (ESPs)
Purpose: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is pleased to share a new and growing set of resources to support the onboarding and continued professional learning for paraeducators across Massachusetts. District administrators, school leaders, and paraeducators are welcome to access and use the first two e-learning modules in a larger series aimed at providing targeted learning and support for paraeducators. Paraeducators across Massachusetts informed the design and directly contributed to these modules.
Objectives: Varies based on module
Time: Asynchronous
Facilitators: MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Location: Click the links to specific topics (available by clicking on the videos on the right-side of the page or by going directly to DESE's webpage)
Registration: No prior registration required
MVYPS focus area(s):
A System-Wide Commitment to Our Children
Emphasis on Teaching Models That Better Support All Learners
Exciting Online Learning Opportunities for ESPs!
Act Now! These IRIS STAR Legacy Modules are only free until December 2025
Purpose: These modules are amazing! They are self-guided and self-paced. The IRIS Modules cover numerous relevant topics in a way that is in-depth but approachable; most ranging from 1.5 to 3 hours to complete. They cover a wide range of educational topics to tailor professional learning to your personal and professional needs. Thirty-seven modules are now available, and more are added all the time. These topics range from evidence-based instructional practices in a range of content areas, behavioral practices, IEP related topics, instructional practices to support teaching English learners, and so much more!
Professional development certificates are provided from IRIS for completing the IRIS STAR Legacy Modules.
You can read a more detailed description of the Modules offered by clicking here. Information on how to register is detailed below
Objectives: Each module has a set of learning objectives. Click on the module title to access this information.
Registration: Getting started couldn’t be simpler!
Browse available IRIS STAR Legacy Modules and select those that best suit your PD needs.
Add the modules of interest to your "Cart." Then you can add them to your account to access.
Work through the module to completion. Note: Some modules expire after a certain amount of time (e.g., 90 days).
Collect your certificate of completion. Your IRIS PD Certificate (accessible through email or as a downloadable PDF) includes your name, the module you completed, the date, the clock hours you earned, and your pre- and post-test scores, if you choose.