Professional Development

The Professional Development Department is committed to coordinating efforts to provide daily opportunities for training and support for our SCSD Staff that would help them to maintain continuity in communication and learning for our SCSD Students & Families. The following is a summary report of that work for the past calendar month.

The following professional learning offerings were available to staff:

-Getting to participate in the process from start to finish was beneficial for me to understand the process.

-The hands-on experience of working with a small group to build a project-based learning lesson.

-Collaborating with other coaches to create a project.

-Time to work on my own PBL project and get feedback from peers to make it better.

-I had opportunities for collaboration, networking and reflection!

-Sharing our beginning of the year activities and getting ideas and seeing what others have been up to in their classes.

-Walking away with the majority of a project-based activity completed was powerful.

-I can create these types of activities going forward and support teachers with increasing engagement and achievement.

-Seeing examples of PL and being encouraged that I do some of these strategies already.

-Discussing the culture trees and thinking about our next goal for our next impact cycle.

-Being able to access the digital lessons online and being provided with additional activities/supports.

-Seeing how to access 2nd Step digitally was very helpful.

Constructive Feedback Quotes

-Go over how to pace the lessons and still teach all of the information for the curriculum.

-Do a follow up a couple months later to ensure teachers are using with fidelity.

-Have extra materials on-hand.

-Leave enough time for logistical/ professional info, it feels too rushed at the end.

-Go over how to pace the lessons and still teach all of the information for the curriculum.

-There were moments when the PBL planning process was a bit overwhelming.

-Having future PBL sessions to check in with how it is going... perhaps a PBL Course 102?

Each month we will be highlighting the coaches and lead teachers in one or more buildings doing amazing things in the District.

Jennifer Gregory

Fuse Fellow, Content Liaison

Most rewarding part of the job: I became a teacher because I want to empower children to be successful, lifelong learners. Being a teacher is an important role because you become influential in a child’s life by inspiring, encouraging, and motivating them to reach their full potential in learning. Everyday you come to work, you get to educate and inspire young minds to hopefully grow up and make a difference in the world. The most rewarding work I do is helping my students gain the skills, knowledge, and attitude necessary, not only for lifelong learning but also for becoming a cooperative, respectful, and caring citizen within our society.

Positive impact my work has on staff and students: As a team leader and a Fuse Fellow, I feel that it is important to lead by a positive example. I strive daily to be a compassionate, enthusiastic, nurturing teacher; one who is committed to making a difference in the lives of the children and families that I serve. I hope my colleges think of me as a fellow teacher who they can come to for support when times are tough or to seek advice.

Something special about my school community: STEAM @ Dr. King is always going above and beyond for our students. We have a great group of teachers who work together to create a family like environment for all our students. Our school community is always there for our family's to help support in anyway we can. Our school is a fun, positive place to be.

Additional information to share or highlight: I love being a teacher. Each day is a new adventure. From helping students achieve their goals, to helping shape the lives of future generations, teaching is a challenging but highly rewarding profession and there is no other profession I can see myself in.

.

Lisa Watts

Interdisciplinary Coach

Professional Superpower: empathetic and adaptable

Most rewarding part of the job: Problem solving with my colleagues through a collaborative process is the most rewarding work in my role. I love working together to find solutions that have a positive.

Positive impact my work has on staff and students: The work I do has a positive impact on staff and students by providing teachers a "safe space" to reflect and collaborate which impacts student learning.

Something special about my school community: Our school community has supportive relationships amongst staff and students, which makes it feel like an extended family.

Fuse Fellow, Demonstration Teacher, ELA Skills Grade 1

Professional Superpower: Patience & adaptability

Most rewarding part of the job: The most rewarding work I do in my role has to be aiding my students in their growth as individuals. Watching them grow in their independence as learners and become more expressive brings me so much joy!

Positive impact my work has on staff and students: The work I do as an educator positively impacts the staff and students by contributing to a positive school climate. I build strong, positive relationships with the students and staff through conversation, intentionality, and peace.

Something special about my school community: Family involvement is something I find special about my school community.

Maya Jean

Demonstration Teacher, ELA Skills Grade 2

Professional Superpower: Multi-tasker

Most rewarding part of the job: The most rewarding work I do in my role is creating and maintaining a positive environment amongst my teams. Also, experiencing 'aha-moments' and providing students with skills needed to go on and do bigger and better things.

Positive impact my work has on staff and students: As a teacher leader I am given the opportunity to challenge myself personally and professionally. I'm looking forward to collaborating and sharing my new learnings with my peers. Through close collaboration, I'm hoping to create and incorporate plans that will have a great impact on students achievements.

Something special about my school community: My school community continuously cultivates a supportive and respectful relationship between staff, students, families and the community.

Rose Webb

Demonstration Teacher, Math Grade 1

Professional Superpower: Super-motivation

Most rewarding part of the job: I think the most rewarding work is being to help guide students and peers. I enjoy helping and assisting wherever I can. Its brings me joy to see light bulbs be lit when students finally get a concept or when students are able to show growth mindset in and out of the classroom.

Positive impact my work has on staff and students: The role that I play positively impact staff and students by allowing myself be a place that you can come to help.

Something special about my school community: My school community is special because more hands make lighter work. We are a family that values one another.

Ashley Burke. Math Interventionist

Professional Superpower: Using student data to meet their needs and promote student growth.

Most rewarding part of the job: The most rewarding work that I do in my work is seeing the smiles on the students faces with they finally get a concept we have been working and when they connected each others work to each other. The student realizing that they can use the strategy they feel most comfortable with to solve the problem and seeing peers do it differently is so amazing to watch.

Positive impact my work has on staff and students: The role I do in the QR positively impact staff and students because they are able to transfer their learning in the QR room directly back into the classroom. I love hearing teachers come to me and say , "(student) said they learned this strategy with you and used it to solve a problem in class." That makes me happy because the goal is for students to transfer their learning from the QR back into the classroom because the math is universal.

Something special about my school community: The special thing about my school community is that we all work hard to build positive relationships with students and families in order to promote student success. My school community is consistently going above and beyond to ensure that students and families feel supported and we establish a positive school-home connection.

Is there anything else you'd like to share or highlight: is that we all work hard to build positive relationship with students and families.

Fuse Syracuse (SyraFuse) strives to implement and scale personalized and blended learning across the Syracuse City School District by creating and training teacher leaders as change agents. The Fuse Syracuse initiative recruits a group of educators called Fuse Fellows for a 1-year fellowship. Fellows will be trained on personalized learning models and best practices, blended learning tools and strategies, coached on classroom implementation, and supported to establish their own “Lighthouse Classroom” to serve as a model of personalized and blended instruction in their building and district.

Fuse Fellows are passionate, curious innovators in their schools who model a growth mindset, and are open to trying new things and taking their practice to the next level. They are natural change agents for their schools, and welcome the opportunity to advance the field through their own leadership and instructional innovation. We are now working with cohort 7 of the fellowship!

Cohort 7 members in alphabetical order: Maria Alejo, Sarah Baszto, Amanda Brogan, Alajah Brooks, Nikki Bucktooth, Erin Clarke, Colleen Colabufo, Nicole S. Crisalli, Audrey L. Delany, Kelly Donlon, Mary R Drucker, Megan P. Etoll, Amy Fowler, Lillivette Garcia, Todd J. Germain, Jennifer A. Gregory, Heidi J. Kresser, Adam A Linden, Pauline Mabie, Wendy Mathews-Sisley, Angel McFadden, Michelle Pavone, Malinda Pienkowski, Krista A. Podolny, Michelle A. Polsin, Brittany Ray, Jennifer Satalin, Nicole Sebold, Madison E. Shaw, Olivia Shaw, Colleen Shiel, Kristin Smith, Rachel Smith, Rachel Socia, Diane Weismore, Shawn Warr, Latoya Wilson

The Impact Coaching Team uses a Dialogical Coaching model. This model of coaching balances advocacy with inquiry to foster improvement. Both the coach and teachers are experts and learners. The dialogical coach uses both powerful questions and shares strategies within the Impact Cycle to help the teacher reach a personally set goal based on the classroom’s current reality. The metaphor is the coach and teacher as equal partners. This confidential partnership is entirely focused on making it easier for teachers to meet the needs of their students.

Professional Superpower: Organization

Most rewarding part of the job: Working with such knowledgeable people who are so passionate about their job.

Positive impact my work has on staff and students: Watching my instruction help students to become and grow as readers.

Professional Superpower: Teaching Spanish & Supporting Colleagues.

Most rewarding part of the job: Helping others grow their skills.

Positive impact my work has on staff and students: I hope as a result of my work students/colleagues feel supported and seen.

Most rewarding part of the job: Collaborating with SCSD teachers and support staff to support and engage students and families.

Positive impact my work has on staff and students: I build genuine relationships with staff and students and empower them to recognize and build on their own greatness.

Email: mtezuka@scsd.us
Website: http://www.syracusecityschools.com/districtpage.cfm?pageid=585
Location: 1005 West Fayette Street, Syracuse, New York 13204, USA
Phone: (315) 435-6358
Twitter: @SCSDPL