Teachers, staff go back to school

Planning a superintendent’s conference day is a lot like planning a wedding, says Linda Roth, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in District 13. There are many groups of people to prepare for and the planning process must start at least a year in advance.

With students out of school on Election Day, teachers spent the day attending various seminars, learning how to do their jobs better. Roth said the overall focus for the day was finding ways to meet the learning needs of all students in the district.

Laura Robb, a teacher, author and literacy coach, presented to fifth- and sixth-grade educators about differentiating reading instruction. She gave teachers various methods to reach children with different learning abilities and styles.

This is Robb’s second year working with District 13. Last year, she interacted with teachers through video conferencing. Anna Mihalos, a reading teacher at Howell Road School, said she took part in one of Robb’s workshops and was glad to have a chance to meet her in person.

Mihalos noted that Robb was well-received because she not only preaches, she teaches. “She has a lot of ideas and strategies, but you know she actually used them with children,” Mihalos said.

Erica Pecorale, a literacy and special education professor who has worked with teachers in more than 25 districts on Long Island, presented to kindergarten and first-grade teachers. She focused on how to use literature to create reading and writing lessons. In keeping with the day’s theme, she discussed ways to meet the diverse learning needs of students in a classroom.

Pecorale, who has been working with teachers in the district since the start of the school year, said kids are growing up in a highly-literate, print-saturated society and teachers must recognized that in their instruction.

Roth said that there was a lot good words from teachers about Robb, Pecorale and the other presenters. “I try to personally call each professional developer, thank them and share some really positive feedback with them,” she said.

She noted that for national speakers such as Laura Robb, she has to make the reservation well in advance. “Two years ago I booked her for this day,” Roth said.

In addition to several outside speakers, many district teachers led workshops. Roth said she is aware of what areas her in-house educators specialize in and could best lead their colleagues.

James A. Dever School teachers Joan Seidl and Eileen Wallace led a presentation on Fundations, a new reading program being used in kindergarten classes this year in the district. Seidl said that the program focuses on letter identification, phonics and handwriting. She and Wallace had piloted the program, which is why they were chosen to teach their colleagues about how to best implement Fundations in the classroom. “The teachers are eager to use it,” Seidl said. “It’s something that the kids can really benefit from.”

Professional development must be meaningful, Roth explained, for it to have an impact in the classroom. She said many workshop topics are chosen because the teachers in that department or grade level want the additional training. “It comes through understanding what the teachers need,” she said, “and then I go out and get the person.”

Howell Road School second-grade teacher Nancy Faccio attended a workshop to learn about the Fast Math computer program. Since conference day, she has already started using it in her classroom and said the students like it. “It’s actually a great program,” Faccio said. “It really helps them to become familiar with their basic math facts.”

Faccio said the program caters to each student’s individual needs because they can complete a lesson at their own pace. She also said it has a teacher component so she can monitor every child’s progress.

Physical education teacher Kevin Olsen went to a workshop about adapting his program for children with seizure disorders, asthma, autism and spinal muscular issues as well as cancer survivors and those suffering from obesity. The workshop was led by physical therapist Shoshana Bazini.

“It was outstanding just to get a handle on how to best help students with any of those disabilities,” Olsen said. He added that the teachers also learned about how they could recommend students for the Empire State Games for the physically challenged.

All staff in the district had an opportunity to learn on Nov. 3. Secretaries were given a choice between a beginner or intermediate level seminar on Microsoft Excel. Nurses attended an offsite program on environmental health and the flu, while art and music teachers attended an arts conference at the Uniondale Marriott.