Durham Public Schools PL

Presenters: Beth Rhodes | beth_rhodes@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Riverside High School Room A216
Description: This session will provide a basic background understanding to support the importance of reading fluency for all students in all content areas. Participants will leave with strategies and resources to effectively implement and build student fluency in any content area.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Digital Learning Standards, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, ELA , Healthful Living, Occupational Course of Study
Topic(s): Explicit Teaching, Instructional Assistants, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Assistants, Specialists, Instructional Coaches, Interventionists, Teachers

Presenters: Kelly Newsome | kelly_newsome@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Riverside High School Room A214
Description: for high school teachers to learn how to use choice boards in their classrooms as a way to foster student engagement and improve overall achievement.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, ELA , Healthful Living
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Increased Rigor, Differentiation/Scaffolding
Targeted Instructional Grades: 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Hannah Hribar | Hannah_Hribar@dpsnc.net | Lead EC Facilitator; Ajalyn Baker | Ajalyn_Baker@dpsnc.net | Lead EC Facilitator; Wendy Vavrousek | Wendy_Vavrousek@dpsnc.net | EC Director
Location: Riverside High School Room C233
Description: This session will help general education teachers enhance their knowledge regarding exceptional children policies and practices, effectively collaborate with EC colleagues, and prepare for and engage in your students' IEP meetings.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Exceptional Children
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Thomas Young | thomas_young@dpsnc.net | CTE Curriculum and Instructional Management Coordinator; Alycia Worthy | Alycia_worthy@dpsne.net | CTE Curriculum and Instructional Coordinator
Location: Riverside High School Room B223
Description: This PD session helps educators learn how to effectively group students to maximize collaboration, engagement, and academic success. The session covers research-based grouping strategies, classroom management tips for group work, and tools to assess group dynamics and productivity
Subject Area(s): Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, Healthful Living, Occupational Course of Study
Topic(s): Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Assistants, Teachers

Presenters: Brenda Blue | brenda_blue@dpsnc.net | K-5 Teaching and learning Coach
Location: Riverside High School Room B224
Description: The goal is to equip teachers with strategies to design and deliver lessons that purposefully increase student engagement and improve learning outcomes.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Equity, Explicit Teaching, Increased Rigor, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Beginning Teachers, Culturally Responsive Practices, Differentiation/Scaffolding, English Learner Services, Exceptional Children, MTSS, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Assistants, Itinerant Teachers, Teachers

Presenters: Amy Beebe | amy_beebe@dpsnc.net | Instructional Coach
Location: Riverside High School Room C236
Description: Strategies for increasing student voice.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Culture and Climate, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Malvola Clark | malvola_clark@dpsnc.net | Teaching & Learning Coach
Location: Riverside High School Room A218
Description: Teachers will learn how to design and align formative and summative assessments on SchoolNet and Mastery Connect that accurately measure student mastery of specific North Carolina Learning standards.
Subject Area(s): Digital Learning Standards, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Topic(s): Digital Teaching and Learning, Assessment for Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Teachers

Presenters: Pascalle V. Adams | pascalle_adams@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Riverside High School Room C238
Description: What if every student had a structure to clarify, communicate, and build on their thinking—every day, in every subject? This interactive session introduces powerful thinking routines that promote deeper learning and academic discourse across K–12 classrooms. Participants will explore routines like See-Think-Wonder, Claim-Support-Question, and Connect-Extend-Challenge, and learn how to embed them into existing lessons. Through modeling, practice, and planning time, teachers will leave with ready-to-use strategies and a clear implementation plan tailored to their content area. Whether you're new to thinking routines or looking to refine your practice, this session will equip you with tools to make student thinking visible, accessible, and meaningful.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Topic(s): Increased Rigor (DOK), Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Sandi Burns | sandral_burns@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach; Kris Carabetta | kristina_carabetta@dpsnc.net | EC Inclusion Teacher
Location: Riverside High School Room A219
Description: Get ready to dive into the world of co-teaching! In this interactive session, participants will explore what true co-teaching and specially designed instruction (SDI) look like in action. Together, we'll brainstorm and build creative strategies and classroom plans that make collaboration seamless and student success unstoppable.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Exceptional Children
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Dr. Temperance Tobe | temperance.tobe@dpsnc.net | CIMC; Lucretia Smith | lucretial_smith@dpsnc.net | CIMC; Jennifer Watson | jennifer_watson@dpsnc.net | CIMC
Location: Riverside High School Room A219
Description: Supporting beginner teachers through creative lesson planning, and utilizing technology and resources.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Digital Learning Standards, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, ELA
Topic(s): Building Learning System Capacity, Communication Skills, Curriculum and Instruction, Digital Teaching and Learning, Effective Feedback Strategies, Explicit Teaching, Beginning Teacher Support, Coaching and Mentoring, Information Technology
Targeted Instructional Grades: 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Assistant Coordinators, Assistant Principals, Directors, Instructional Coaches, Interventionists, Mentors, Teachers

Presenters: Beth Rhodes | beth_rhodes@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Riverside High School Room A216
Description: This session will provide a basic background understanding to support the importance of reading fluency for all students in all content areas. Participants will leave with strategies and resources to effectively implement and build student fluency in any content area.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Digital Learning Standards, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, ELA , Healthful Living, Occupational Course of Study
Topic(s): Explicit Teaching, Instructional Assistants, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Assistants, Specialists, Instructional Coaches, Interventionists, Teachers

Presenters: Mia Morris | mia_morris@dpsnc.net | CTE Lead Coordinator; Rosalind Garmon | rosalind_garmon@dpsnc.net | CTE Equity Specialist
Location: Riverside High School Room D244
Description: Earning an Industry-recognized credential opens doors to internships, college-credit, and aligned careers. This session will focus on teaching educators of all grade levels (CTE and non-CTE) the benefits of students optimizing the integration of core subjects and career-focused learning to enhance career-focused opportunities. By the end of the session, participants will be able to make connections to the acronym "CREAM: Credentials Rule Everything Around Me" through active learning, content alignment, and the potential to earn a transferrable industry-recognized credential.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Digital Learning Standards, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, Healthful Living, Occupational Course of Study
Topic(s): Assessments-Data-Accountability, Digital Teaching and Learning, Standards Aligned Instruction, Student-Centered Learning, Assessment for Learning, Communication Skills, Curriculum and Instruction, Effective Feedback Strategies, Equity, Information Technology
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, Interventionists, Assistant Coordinators, Assistant Principals, Facilitators, Instructional Assistants, Itinerant Teachers, Principals, School Counselors, Specialists, Teachers

Presenters: Dr. Temperance Tobe | temperance.tobe@dpsnc.net | CIMC; Dr. Vimbainashe Chanakira | vimbainashe.chanakira@dpsnc.net | teacher
Location: Riverside High School Room C234
Description: Veteran teachers mentoring and supporting beginner teachers. Why veteran teachers are vital to the retention and success of new teachers.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, ELA
Topic(s): Communication Skills, Curriculum and Instruction, Explicit Teaching, Social Emotional Learning, Beginning Teacher Support, Coaching and Mentoring, Leadership
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Assistant Principals, Directors, Assistant Directors, Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Teachers

Presenters: Hannah Hribar | Hannah_Hribar@dpsnc.net | Lead EC Facilitator; Ajalyn Baker | Ajalyn_Baker@dpsnc.net | Lead EC Facilitator; Wendy Vavrousek | Wendy_Vavrousek@dpsnc.net | EC Director
Location: Riverside High School Room C233
Description: This session will help general education teachers enhance their knowledge regarding exceptional children policies and practices, effectively collaborate with EC colleagues, and prepare for and engage in your students' IEP meetings.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Exceptional Children
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Amy Beebe | amy_beebe@dpsnc.net | Instructional Coach
Location: Riverside High School Room C236
Description: Strategies for increasing student voice.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Culture and Climate, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Sandi Burns | sandral_burns@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach; Kris Carabetta | kristina_carabetta@dpsnc.net | EC Inclusion Teacher
Location: Riverside High School Room A218
Description: Get ready to dive into the world of co-teaching! In this interactive session, participants will explore what true co-teaching and specially designed instruction (SDI) look like in action. Together, we'll brainstorm and build creative strategies and classroom plans that make collaboration seamless and student success unstoppable.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Exceptional Children
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Liz Moffitt | elizabeth_moffitt@dpsnc.net | Director of Math & Science
Location: Riverside High School Room A214
Description: During this session, teachers will have the opportunity to explore customized professional learning modules and resources in DiscoveryEd experience.
Subject Area(s): Science
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Digital Teaching and Learning, DPS Adopted Resources
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Assistants, Instructional Coaches, Interventionists, Teachers

Presenters: Brian Whyte | brian_whyte@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Riverside High School Room C238
Description: Overview on the components of gradual release lesson planning (I do, You do, We do)
Subject Area(s): Science
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Emma Refvem | emma_refvem@dpsnc.net | 6-12 Science Specialist
Location: Riverside High School Room A210
Description: After a full year of implementing North Carolina’s new science standards, this session offers science educators a space to reflect on their teaching experiences, analyze instructional alignment, and collaborate to refine their practice. Through structured reflection, analysis of curriculum resources, and hands-on design time, participants will identify successes and challenges from the past year and co-create materials to better support rigorous, equitable, and student-centered science instruction. This session builds teacher capacity to use Durham Public Schools curriculum resources to plan and deliver differentiated, standards-aligned instruction while fostering curiosity, professional collaboration, and sustained impact into the next school year.
Subject Area(s): Science
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers