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Durham Public Schools PL
Welcome to the Durham Public Schools Professional Learning Schedule of Professional Learning! Here you will find a comprehensive list of PL sessions occurring throughout our district.

If you are looking for on-demand PL, click here to view the DPS Asynchronous PL Course Catalog.
Venue: Lucas Middle School TBA clear filter
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Tuesday, July 29
 

8:30am EDT

Culturally Responsive Montessori Schools and Classrooms (MS Focus) | Facilitated by Magnet Programs | Advanced Academics-AIG; Exceptional Children; Lucas Middle School; Magnet Programs; Mentors; Principal Supervisors; Specialized Services; Student Support
LIMITED
Tuesday July 29, 2025 8:30am - 11:30am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Presenters: CMSTEMP | [email protected] | Presenter; Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE
Topic(s): Culturally Responsive Practices, Social Emotional, Student Wellness and Advocacy, Equity, Instructional Assistants, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Coordinators, Directors, Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Assistant Principals, Facilitators, Instructional Assistants, Principals, School Counselors, Specialists, Teachers
Tuesday July 29, 2025 8:30am - 11:30am EDT
Lucas Middle School TBA

8:30am EDT

The Montessori Cultural Curriculum: The Springboard to Reading and Writing | Facilitated by Magnet Programs | Advanced Academics-AIG; Exceptional Children; George Watts Elementary School; Little River Elementary School; Lucas Middle School; Magnet Program
LIMITED
Tuesday July 29, 2025 8:30am - 11:30am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Presenters: Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Linda Zankowsky | [email protected] | Presenter; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY This session focuses on how the Montessori cultural curriculum lays the foundation for reading comprehension and vocabulary development. We’ll explore how it provides rich, authentic reading and writing opportunities, from oral composition and read-aloud for young children to reading and writing composition for older students. The session will also cover research supporting this approach, key considerations in selecting texts for the cultural curriculum, and hands-on work with specific books.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Social Studies, CTE, Healthful Living
Topic(s): Increased Rigor, Curriculum and Instruction, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Standards Aligned Instruction, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Assistant Principals, Principals, Teachers
Tuesday July 29, 2025 8:30am - 11:30am EDT
Lucas Middle School TBA

8:30am EDT

Principles of Outdoor Learning In Montessori Environments (MS ONLY) | Facilitated by Magnet Programs | Advanced Academics-AIG; Exceptional Children; Lucas Middle School; Magnet Programs; Mentors; Specialized Services; Student Support Services; Arts Educat
LIMITED
Tuesday July 29, 2025 8:30am - 11:30am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Presenters: Geoff Sheelen | [email protected] | Presenter; Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY 8:30-9:30 Little River 10:00-11:30 Hub Farm (117 Milton Rd, Durham NC 27712) Principles of outdoor learning History of programming at the Hub Farm Vision for the future of the programming at the Hub Farm Guided tour of Durham Public Schools’ unique outdoor learning campus Opportunities for Q&A with Geoff Discussion on the proposed plan for future programming at the Hub Farm
Subject Area(s): CTE, Healthful Living
Topic(s): Social Emotional, Student Wellness and Advocacy, Outdoor Learning, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Assistant Principals, Principals, Teachers
Tuesday July 29, 2025 8:30am - 11:30am EDT
Lucas Middle School TBA

8:30am EDT

Making the Science of Reading Work in a Montessori Primary Classroom | Facilitated by Magnet Programs | Advanced Academics-AIG; English as a Second Language; Principal Supervisors; Curriculum and Instruction; Exceptional Children; George Watts Elementary
LIMITED
Tuesday July 29, 2025 8:30am - 11:30am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Presenters: Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Amanda Watson | [email protected] | Presenter; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY This session will help Primary teachers seamlessly integrate SOR into the Language area of the Montessori classroom.
Subject Area(s): ELA
Topic(s): Increased Rigor, Curriculum and Instruction, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Standards Aligned Instruction, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Teachers
Tuesday July 29, 2025 8:30am - 11:30am EDT
Lucas Middle School TBA
  ELA, Pre-K, Kindergarten
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8:30am EDT

DEEP DIVE--Montessori Lower Elementary Math Instruction | Facilitated by Magnet Programs | Beginning Teachers Program; Curriculum and Instruction; George Watts Elementary School; Little River Elementary School; Mentors; Morehead Elementary School | Lucas
LIMITED
Tuesday July 29, 2025 8:30am - 11:30am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Presenters: Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Katie Mosquera | [email protected] | Presenter; Seth Webb | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY Rediscover the beauty, logic, and transformative power of Montessori mathematics and geometry - revisiting how math and geometry become tools for discovery, allowing students to construct their understanding through hands-on materials and guided exploration. Rooted in Montessori’s principles of sensorial learning, reasoning, and abstraction, participants will deepen their practice with essential materials and strategies that empower children to uncover mathematical and geometric truths for themselves. Participants will renew their understanding of math and geometry, not as isolated subjects, but as universal languages—tools that help children uncover patterns, relationships, and the interconnectedness of the universe, fulfilling the deeper purpose of Cosmic Education. The morning Lower Elementary sessions will focus on building fluency, vocabulary, and multi-step reasoning through core math and foundational geometry materials. The Upper Elementary afternoon sessions will Emphasize abstraction, advanced operations, and deriving relationships in math and geometry through discovery.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics
Topic(s): Increased Rigor, Curriculum and Instruction, Standards Aligned Instruction, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 2nd Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Assistant Principals, Instructional Assistants, Principals, Teachers
Tuesday July 29, 2025 8:30am - 11:30am EDT
Lucas Middle School TBA

1:00pm EDT

Book Chats | Facilitated by Magnet Programs | Advanced Academics-AIG; English as a Second Language; Equity; Healthful Living and Physical Education; Lakewood Montessori Middle School; Principal Supervisors; Specialized Services; Student Support Services;
LIMITED
Tuesday July 29, 2025 1:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Presenters: Kara Watson | [email protected] | Presenter; Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator; Lorie Martin-Massink | [email protected] | Presenter
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY Book Chats! is a program created by Lakewood Montessori educators to help students build goal setting skills, establish themselves as regular readers, improve fluency, build vocabulary, strengthen comprehension, have scheduled opportunities to check out books, and learn to talk about literature. “The act of goal setting, therefore, is a practice that educators can use to help fuel students’ learning-to-learn skills, such as a sense of agency, intrinsic motivation, and capacity to manage their own learning.” Student Goal Setting: An Evidence-Based Practice Through our Book Chat plan, we allow students to self-select books. There is abundant research to support this effort. According to a study done by the Institute of Educational Sciences, “student self-selection of reading materials leads to greater pleasure and interest in reading (2017).” This same study shows that this joy and curiosity results in a greater motivation to read. Communities visit the library in school approximately every two weeks. We call this visit Book Chats. Adults meet with individual students to update their digital book tracker, (students have a paper tracker they must bring to every Book Chat. We talk about books they’ve recently completed, remind them of their goal, sometimes do a fluency check, help students find their ‘next book’, and encourage them to persevere with their reading.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE
Topic(s): Culturally Responsive Practices, Communication Skills, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Coordinators, Directors, Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Assistant Principals, Facilitators, Instructional Assistants, Principals, School Counselors, Specialists, Teachers
Tuesday July 29, 2025 1:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Lucas Middle School TBA

1:00pm EDT

Culturally Responsive Montessori Schools and Classrooms (MS Focus) | Facilitated by Magnet Programs | Advanced Academics-AIG; Exceptional Children; Lucas Middle School; Magnet Programs; Mentors; Principal Supervisors; Specialized Services; Student Support
LIMITED
Tuesday July 29, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Presenters: CMSTEMP | [email protected] | Presenter; Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE
Topic(s): Culturally Responsive Practices, Social Emotional, Student Wellness and Advocacy, Equity, Instructional Assistants, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Coordinators, Directors, Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Assistant Principals, Facilitators, Instructional Assistants, Principals, School Counselors, Specialists, Teachers
Tuesday July 29, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Lucas Middle School TBA

1:00pm EDT

The Montessori Cultural Curriculum: The Springboard to Reading and Writing | Facilitated by Magnet Programs | Advanced Academics-AIG; Exceptional Children; George Watts Elementary School; Little River Elementary School; Lucas Middle School; Magnet Program
FILLING
Tuesday July 29, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity filling up
Presenters: Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Linda Zankowsky | [email protected] | Presenter; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY This session focuses on how the Montessori cultural curriculum lays the foundation for reading comprehension and vocabulary development. We’ll explore how it provides rich, authentic reading and writing opportunities, from oral composition and read-aloud for young children to reading and writing composition for older students. The session will also cover research supporting this approach, key considerations in selecting texts for the cultural curriculum, and hands-on work with specific books.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Social Studies, CTE, Healthful Living
Topic(s): Increased Rigor, Curriculum and Instruction, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Standards Aligned Instruction, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Assistant Principals, Principals, Teachers
Tuesday July 29, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Lucas Middle School TBA

1:00pm EDT

DEEP DIVE--Montessori Upper Elementary Math Instruction | Facilitated by Magnet Programs | Lakewood Montessori Middle School; Beginning Teachers Program; Curriculum and Instruction; George Watts Elementary School; Little River Elementary School; Lucas Mid
LIMITED
Tuesday July 29, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Presenters: Rita Rathbone | [email protected] | Facilitator; Katie Mosquera | [email protected] | Presenter; Seth Webb | [email protected] | Facilitator; Kelly Bush | [email protected] | Facilitator
Location: Lucas Middle School TBA
Description: THIS SESSION IS FOR EMPLOYEES OF A MONTESSORI SCHOOL OR DISTRICT INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS ONLY Rediscover the beauty, logic, and transformative power of Montessori mathematics and geometry - revisiting how math and geometry become tools for discovery, allowing students to construct their understanding through hands-on materials and guided exploration. Rooted in Montessori’s principles of sensorial learning, reasoning, and abstraction, participants will deepen their practice with essential materials and strategies that empower children to uncover mathematical and geometric truths for themselves. Participants will renew their understanding of math and geometry, not as isolated subjects, but as universal languages—tools that help children uncover patterns, relationships, and the interconnectedness of the universe, fulfilling the deeper purpose of Cosmic Education. The morning Lower Elementary sessions will focus on building fluency, vocabulary, and multi-step reasoning through core math and foundational geometry materials. The Upper Elementary afternoon sessions will Emphasize abstraction, advanced operations, and deriving relationships in math and geometry through discovery.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics
Topic(s): Increased Rigor, Curriculum and Instruction, Standards Aligned Instruction, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 5th Grade, 7th Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Assistant Principals, Instructional Assistants, Principals, Teachers
Tuesday July 29, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Lucas Middle School TBA
 


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