A Sizzling Summer of FEA Professional Development Institutes
FEA Summer Institutes
Volusia | Palm Beach | DTU/BTU
(Photos above are from the Thinking Math PD Instiutute offered by the Volusia Teacher Organization. Click the photos to open.)
| Photo 1: Particvipants of Thinking Math begin in the classroom working individually. |
Photo 2: Michalle Mumma, Trish Kramnick, Frances Irby-Fries, Barbara Preston, Barry Hecht, Lisa Willis, Peggy Stortz, Kath Duren |
| Photo 3: Who said learning isn't fun? This group knows how to put the fun in Thinking Math! |
Photo 4: Susan Tomas, Bryan Cummings, Kathy Wichman, April Jolie, Jane Howe |
| Photo 5: Their instructor keeps her class focused. |
Photo 6: Jenna Porter, Valerie Hardy, Toni Evans, Ginny Mazza, Tanece Plowden, Michalle Mumma |
In addition to the backyard barbeques and the occasional trips to the beach, members spent the summer preparing for the new school year. This summer the received help from the FEA 2010 Professional Development Institutes. Below you'll find articles and photos from the five PD Institutes that were held around the state. You'll also find out how you can take advantage of training that will make the difference for you and your students.
Central Region: Two Weeks Packed with PD
Volusia’s Summer Professional Development Institute sponsored by FEA was well received by members. With the new textbook adoption series and the change in classroom demands, the Volusia Teachers Organization (VTO) continues to take an active approach to professional development and has not lost sight of the importance of face-to-face training.
As budgets continue to decrease, priorities have shifted and face-to-face trainings are close to becoming extinct. However, the voices of many members in Volusia county were heard when VTO and FEA came together to create a plan to offer one of the five ESOL face to face training components this summer (June 16-19th and ending on October 2nd).
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Row 2( L to R): April Jollie, Barbara Preston, Ginny Mazza, Kath Duren, Frances Irby-Fries,
Back Row (L to R): Bryan Cummings, Kathy Wichman,Barry Hecht,
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Twenty-five educators took part in this newly created sixty hour Linguistics course with the help of NEA trainers: Theresa Montana and Rosalinda Quintanar. With quality professional development, VTO members had the opportunity to meet state requirements by taking part in a course that will be most memorable, teacher friendly and student focused. FEA created a model that can be modified in other locals, if there is district buy-in, to offer this course in lieu of an on-line course. VTO had the opportunity to have two members trained to teach this course in the future.
This summer we were able to meet the needs of close to one hundred teachers from various grade levels and schools. Teachers use this time during the summer to collaborate with others and learn effective strategies to use in the classroom with their students in the fall. Due to FEA's support, we were able to offer Thinking Math I, Thinking Math II, Managing Anti-Social Behavior and ESOL-Linguistics, a state mandated course.
Dr. Primrose Cameron-Hall
Professional Development & Membership Specialist Volusia Teachers Organization
386-238-1605 or 1-866-281-1605
Southern Region: Members Host Their First Annual PBCTA-FEA Regional Summer Institute
| Photo 1: A sweet way to learn fractions | Photo 2: Blocking out ratios |
Photo 3: Participants with Linda Wright |
| Photo 4: Participants with Kathleen Towler | Photo 5: Sue's ratio project | Photo 6: Linda Wright's Think Math Algebra Training |
| Photo 7: Tarara with some of the members who attended her class |
Photo 8: Members engaged in Linda's Wright's Thinking Math Algebra Training | Photo 9: Brian Spivey and his group |
The Palm Beach Classroom Teachers Association (PBCTA), with the support and financial backing from the Florida Education Association was finally able to have their very first Regional Institute during the week of August 2nd through August 6th. The Regional Institute was a great success with over 70 teachers throughout Palm Beach County registering for the event. Some participants even traveled great distances by car and stayed overnight in the Colony Hotel on Atlantic Avenue to attend the institute!
The Regional Summer ER&D Institute was held at the Old School Square, a historic landmark located in Delray Beach, Florida. Old School Square was once, one of the very first elementary schools built in Palm Beach County, Delray Beach Elementary School built in 1913. The site was appropriate for learning, laughing, and having fun, which was what the participants and the facilitators did!
The ER&D courses that were offered during the Institute were Thinking Math: Journey to Algebra- facilitated by Linda Wright and Bryan White, Managing Anti Social Behavior: facilitated by Brian Spivey and Rosalyn Moore, Beginning Reading Instruction: facilitated by Kathleen Towler, and Foundations I: facilitated by Tarara Johnson.
The 1st Annual PBCTA-FEA Regional Summer Institute was planned and arranged by Susanna Livingston, CTA’s ER&D Local Site Coordinator with the support of PBCTA President, Robert Dow and PBCTA staff person, Tony Hernandez. With the assistance of the facilitators, Rosalyn Moore, Bryan White, and Dr. Kathi Gundlach- CTA’s Vice President, the participants were able to receive a complimentary breakfast and lunch on the first and last day of the conference. Prizes were given out each day during every course so that every person attending left with a gift!
The participants were extremely appreciative of this opportunity. Susanna has stated that she is still receiving emails from participants expressing how much they enjoyed the week, and how amazed they were with all of the information that they received. She still receives inquiries about when more courses will be available. The committee meets next month in hopes of planning another event sometime in the near future.
CTA’s President, Robert Dow, made a special visit to each classroom on the last day of the institute to remind them of the importance of Professional Development and advocacy. During the special “last day lunch,” facilitators were surprised with songs and poems that their course participants had created for them and a special gift from both FEA and CTA. Participants also received a graduation certificate designating how many Master Plan points they will be receiving.
All in all, it was great fun and great learning!! A testimony to what true learning should look and feel like in every classroom across the state and nation!
Submitted by Susanna Livingston, Local Site Coordinator (PBCTA)
Photo 1: BTU-Education Support Professional member Carmel Jean Francois studies her notes during a recent Educational Research and Dissemination training session.
Photo 2: BTU-Vice President for Charter Schools Liz Fisher and BTU-Charter School Professional member Ann Sampson lead a professional development demonstration during a recent Educational Research and Dissemination training session.
Photo 3: From left, BTU-Vice President for Charter Schools Liz Fisher, BTU-Education Support Professional member Carmel Jean Francois, BTU-Charter School Professional member Ann Sampson, BTU-Education Support Professional member Lori Silveri and BTU-Education Professional member Brenda Fischer participate in a group professional development learning exercise during a recent Educational Research and Dissemination training session.
