How do we meet the needs of all students based on their readiness

levels, interests and learning styles?

Vision StatementThe Clarkstown Central School District is where students become well-rounded critical thinkers able to communicate effectively and become responsible, ethical contributing members of a global society. As life-long learners, students will use their respective talents and skills to collaborate, innovate and positively change their community and the world.

Mission StatementThe Clarkstown Central School District, in partnership with the community, will meet the individual academic and social emotional needs of all students within a safe environment while empowering them to reach their full potential in a complex society.

GoalsGoal 1 - Academic: Advance Learning for All StudentsGoal 2 - Social-Emotional & Ethical: Support the Social-Emotional and Ethical Development of All StudentsGoal 3 - Capacity-Building: Invest in the Skills, Knowledge and Expertise of the CommunityGoal 4 - Safety: Maintain and Promote Safe and Respectful Environments

Finding the Right Balance to our Pace

Professional Development Plan Midyear Review

Lynn RafalikSusan Yom

At the core, what matters?● Three ways to improve student learning at scale:

○ Increase the level of knowledge and skill the teacher brings to the instructional process.

○ Increase the level and complexity of the content that students are asked to do by providing cognitively demanding tasks.

○ Ensure that students are actively developing their habits of learning and increasing the level of students’ active learning (engagement) of the content. City, E. A., Elmore, R. F., Fiarman, S. E., & Teitel, L. (2009). Instructional rounds in

education: A network approach to improving teaching and learning.

Teacher

Student

Content

Professional Development Plan GoalsGOAL #1: WRITING: Re-envision Writing instruction across K-12 Classrooms

and Content Classrooms

GOAL #2: CO-TEACHING: Reexamining our beliefs and practices around

teacher collaboration in a shared classroom

GOAL #3: DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION: Meeting the needs of all learners

These goals work in concert to develop a coherent culture of instructional practice throughout the district.

Goal Area Action Steps Accomplished In Progress In Design

Meet bi monthly with entire district PD Committee

Writing Move all K-8 schools to become Teacher’s College Project Schools

Writing Provide ongoing, onsite pd for teachers

Writing Provide instructional leadership PD for principals

Writing Conduct surveys to evaluate effectiveness

Co-Teaching Conduct a needs assessment

Co-Teaching Identify and observe current Co-Teaching models and practices

Co-Teaching Provide Co-Teaching workshops and coaching K-8

Co-Teaching Provide instructional leadership PD for principals

Co-Teaching Conduct surveys to evaluate effectiveness

Diff. Inst.Identify current strengths and challenges regarding differentiated instruction

Diff. Inst. Develop a common understanding of differentiated instructional practices

Diff. Inst.Select appropriate professional development consultant and offer training to principals and department chairs

Diff. Inst.Continue to support ongoing professional development in technology and the Learner-Active Technology Infused Classroom approaches

Diff. Inst.Create and deliver PD opportunities for Reading, Math, and ENL specialists in diff. inst.

Diff. Inst. Conduct surveys to evaluate effectiveness

Diff. Inst. Conduct instructional walkthroughs with consultant

Math Establish SubCommittee of PD committee for math

Math Learn about the most recent research on how to design PD in math

Math Design draft goal and action steps for district PD committee

Co-Teaching Year 1 Implementation● As of late October, nine elementary schools and Felix Festa Middle School are

participating in this work

● We have established two elementary cohort groups and one middle school cohort

= 87 teachers (general ed, special ed, ENL)

● Each cohort has participated in workshops and coaching/walkthrough

opportunities

● Baseline surveys and workshop surveys provide data and needs from our teachers

● Special Education Advisory Group discusses implementation, data and

observations

Co-Teaching Workshop Focus● Learning and utilizing the six models of Co-teaching

● Planning, lesson design, adaptive materials, goal setting, task analysis in designing

instruction in inclusive settings for struggling learners

● Opportunities for teams to work together to problem solve and plan

● Future workshops this year will continue work in the models of teaching, student

engagement and behavior.

Co-Teaching Walkthroughs/Coaching Focus● Observed over 40+ teachers with Consultant providing formal and informal feedback

● Some teachers are beginning to utilize the six models of teaching in their planning and

instruction

● Debrief sessions have been beneficial and powerful

● Further opportunities with walkthrough/coaching sessions for the remainder of the

year

● Proud of teachers who are making these changes in their teaching to move towards

instruction of smaller groups of students to target instruction

Next Steps● Further observation and consultation with G and R Consulting Group for

future planning, workshops and coaching

● Will conduct teacher survey at end of May to compare with baseline

needs assessment

● Build upon work with present teachers but expand opportunities for

middle school and high school co-teaching teams for 2018-19

● Review data and results with Special Education Advisory Group

● Work with Principals to ensure more common planning time in co-

teachers schedules for next year

● Celebrate our successes!

Leadership Matters

Lucy West

Developing a Common Understanding● Instructional Leadership workshops – 5 days with Lucy West from

Metamorphosis, LLC. All grades 6-12 department chairs, building administrators, and central administration are participating. Through these workshops, we will discuss what matters in teaching and learning.

● Teacher’s College Leadership Series ● Partnering with Rockland County districts to build curriculum and strengthen

teaching and learning initiatives together in foreign language with Dr. Eddy, Greg Tang in math, home and careers, health, art, and more.

Technology and LATIC● Ongoing professional development tech offerings during and after school

in Google Suite, Google Expeditions, Coding, See Saw, Discovery Education,

and assistive technology workshops by Greg Montague and Christina

Amendola, instructional specialists.

● There are four cohorts of teachers learning how to infuse learner active

technology strategies in the middle school. 45 teachers are at various

stages of implementation.

Intervention and ENL ● Principals will spend one day with Jim Wright to discuss RTI practices in the

district and provide half day sessions at schools for teams and specialists.

● Elementary Math AIS specialists are currently working with a consultant for

5 onsite workshop days to deepen mathematical content knowledge,

increase talk moves, and to develop the five practices of orchestrating

mathematical discussions. Also, they attended Greg Tang and Sherry

Parrish workshops.

● Reading Specialists will continue in March for Orton-Gillingham Training II.

● ENL Teachers attended a workshop at TC for ENL specialists as well as have

attended workshops through RSE-TASC.

Teachers leading Professional Development● At the middle and high school, there were nearly 50 presentations and 40

presenters. There were a range of topics (see appendix).

● A note of thanks from teachers to the presenters, “Jenn and Danielle's session on

notebooking/coteaching today and it was AMAZING. Their perspectives on what GOOD teaching looks like is something

that every teacher needs to hear, in addition to their brilliant interactive notebook! It was innovative, helpful, and

interactive. I think that the entire department (and all departments, to be honest) would benefit from this session.”

Work in Progress● Currently, the districtwide PD Committee has a subcommittee reviewing

the Board of Education’s request to consider adopting a fourth goal in the

area of K-12 mathematics.

● The PD committee will continually review the current goals and action steps

to provide recommendations and feedback for next year’s goals.

Next: Teacher’s College Writing and Reading Initiative in K-8 schools

Appendix

Teacher Led Workshops (at South HS) given on Superintendent’s Conference DayTitle of the Workshop Name of Presenter(s)/ Facilitator(s)

Introduction to the TI-Nspire Calculator Meagan Bechard

South PE teachers using google classroom and forms Art Bonifati

Exploring Explore Learning Explore Learning/ Cunningham

Using Google apps to integrate Inquiry Design and Project Based Learning in the

classroom. Jason Burdick and Don Mullane

SS New Framework Regents Item Design Jordan Turner/Melina Balducci

World Languages Department Round Table Alina Poulos and Trinidad Arizmendi

Mindsets & Motivation: Strategies & Application Kathleen Dwyer/Kevin Horan

Integrating Authentic Assessments in the Classroom Susan Phalen and Catherine Basciano

Mindfulness in the Classrooml Mary Patella/Kathy Ryan

Debriefing Courageous Conversations: Dr. Arnold Dodge

Writing Quality IEPs and Assistive Technology Overview David Carlson

skill based writing... steps to a well written essay Penelope Macias

Breaking Out of the NGSS Science Standards Heidi Bernasconi and Patti Latin

Using Technology to Enhance Mathematics Learning Dr. Mary Ann Gavioli

9/11 Memorial Museum Resources Cathy Montague/Brian Kiernan

Next Generation Standards for Math Tara Horowitz/Jonathan Chernick

Title: Tough Talk in Literature: Designing Lessons for Dealing with Hot Button

Issues Karen Czajkowski and John Harrigan

IB 101 Tom Jeffery

Differentiation in the Classroom Mary Chamberlain/Kathy Ryan

Mental Health Awareness Shari Ovadia/Canals

Coteaching and Notebooking 101 Danielle Sweeney & Jen Mazza

Using Socratic Seminars to Prepare the 21st Century Learner Stephanie Costa and Susanne Cangemi

Signs of Drug Use Sergeant Doug Paquette

Chrome Extensions for Education Greg Montague

Teacher Led Workshops (at Festa MS) given on Superintendent’s Conference Day