Local Action
A lot of FEA PD has been happening across Florida this summer! The July and August PD newsletters highlighted the events at several of the Regional Training Centers. Here is a quick look at some of the other PD happenings:
ER&D Local Site Coordinator Meeting
Eleven Educational Research & Dissemination(ER&D) Local Site Coordinators from small, middle, and large locals around the state met together with FEA PD Staff at Saddlebrook, June 24 & 25. During their time together the LSCs shared their successes and the current issues in advancing their local's ER&D program. Successes include:
- Hosting members from locals new to ER&D
- Building training cadres in regions
- Increasing the number of trainers in Strategies for Student Success and Meeting the Standard for Paraprofessionals
The LSCs also discussed current issues:
- Funding to pay trainers
- Fees for non-members who want to take courses
- Using ER&D as a recruitment tool as part of a membership drive
- Location for training
- Holding regional trainings with companion locals
- Building partnerships with district staff and school principals
- Sharing costs with the district
- Ensuring participants are eligible for and receive inservice credit
- Developing partnerships with friendly businesses (credit unions) and union
partners (Valic, Liberty Mutual, Member Benefits, etc.) - Handling attendance, course registrations and no-shows
- Marketing the courses to educators, principals and district staff
- Communicating with participants during the course
- Follow-up at the end of the course
Their time together helped the LSCs get fresh ideas to move their ER&D program to the next level. LSCs will be able to share resources/ideas/issues on a new wiki site so they can have ongoing communications through the school year.
If you need more information or have questions about ER&D or Local Site Coordinators, please contact Charley McClaren at charley.mcclaren@floridaea.org.
Bay County's Action Learning - Leadership Effectiveness
| Action Learning Leadership Lab |
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| In picture are: First row (L to R): Kari Moseley, Kimberly Rega Second row (L to R): Cindy Menfi, Tracey Sirmans, Stephanie Blount Third row (L to R): Virginia McDaniel (co-leader), Charlotte Blue, Cecilla Page Fourth row (L to R): Pequetta Freeman, Cara Elmore (NEA), Sheila Tripp, Frances Gordon,Marsha Hall, Susanne Fortune (co-leader) |
| Missing from the pictures are: Casey Bush and Linda Pitts |
FEA's Action Learning Leadership Lab was attended by 14 ABCE members at Bay County PD Institute in June 2009. This four day program was designed to increase effectiveness in one's self as we communicate with others while presenting information. The lab provided practicing, learning; reflecting and gaining insight to (good and not so good) behaviors to effectively interact with others. Meeting the challenges of this decade will require us to have different attitudes, skills, and awareness about our self and others. Each day's learning's reflected on the application for self, team, the organization and school.
How leaders or people respond to the challenges of this decade will help determine not only the future of our organization, but will also influence the survival and effectiveness of the public school system itself.
When ask what would you say if ask to recommend this program to a colleague, one person wrote, "This program helped me to become more sensitive and aware of myself as a person, how others perceive me and how I perceive others". Some one else said, "This course is not just for leaders, everyone needs to experience this."
For more information about the Action Learning Leadership Lab, please contact Susanne Fortune at susanne.fortune@floridaea.org.
St. Lucie and Volusia Offer English Language Learners Course
| ELL Class | |
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| ELL Class Carousel | ELL Instructor Jesse Harris (standing) with class at work |
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ELL Class Lesson Planning |
ELL Instructors JoAnn Williams and Jesse Harris |
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The class included:
Volusia: |
St. Lucie: |
St. Lucie Classroom Teachers Association (SLCTA) and the Volusia Teachers Organization (VTO) teamed up to offer the NEA English Language Learners course on August 3-6 in Ft. Pierce. Two VTO trainers facilitated the course for eight SLCTA and three VTO participants. Karen Lyman, SLCTA Membership Specialist, said the participants' "enthusiasm was unbelievable." She added that training was exemplary because the course includes "great strategies for all students and the instructors, JoAnn Williams and Jesse Harris, continually drove home the theory into practice." Due to a continual interchange of ideas and an opportunity to practice the strategies in the group setting, this type of face-to-face training is highly advantageous over the traditional on-line ESOL training. Immediately following the training, the group met together and developed plans to implement the course to meet the requisite for teachers needing 60 hours or as one component in the 300 hour ESOL requirement. SLCTA is planning to offer the course four times during the 2009-10 school year. In addition, SLCTA will be working with the course experts and the district ESOL department to develop an 18 hour training for teachers who need this level of coursework.
The NEA English Language Learner course will be featured in the October PD Newsletter. If you need information about this course, please contact Blanca Sotelo, blanca.sotelo@floridaea.org.
Hernando Classroom Teachers Association Summer PD HCTA offered the AFT School Home Connection and Delivering Effective Professional Development trainings on August 3-7.
| Hernando School Home Connection and DEPD Class |
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| Front row (left to right): Jen Sisco, Pam Jones, Debra Byrd, Elnora Hill, Kathy Hamm, Susan Miranda Back row (left to right): Caprice Kamin, Jen Campbell, Karen Ogren, Dan Beeman, Dennis Soponyai, Matt Goldrick, Vince LaBorante |
