Durham Public Schools PL

Presenters: Christine Fierro | christine_fierro@dpsnc.net | Instructional Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 118
Description: Learn about the tenets behind and about Peter Liljedahl's "Thinking Classrooms". We will engage in non-curricular thinking tasks, explore practices 1-3, and plan for possible curricular thinking tasks.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA , Healthful Living
Topic(s): Increased Rigor (DOK), Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: India C. Williams | indiac_williams@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 109
Description: We will explore the Science of Reading to learn how decoding X language comprehension = reading comprehension. This session is tailored to all core and elective contents.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, ELA , Healthful Living
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Explicit Teaching, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Differentiation/Scaffolding
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Interventionists, Teachers

Presenters: Brenda Blue | brenda_blue@dpsnc.net | K-5 Teaching and learning Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 111
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: Priscilla Graves | priscilla_graves@dpsnc.net | Curriculum and Instructional Management Coordinator; Malika Becton | malika_becton@dpsnc.net | Curriculum and Instructional Management Coordinator
Location: Hillside High School Room 206
Description: This interactive workshop will explore proven, research-based strategies to increase student engagement across content areas and grade levels. Participants will examine practical tools and techniques—such as active learning, student voice and choice, and technology integration—to foster a more inclusive and energized learning environment.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, ELA
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Digital Teaching and Learning, Assessment for Learning, Beginning Teacher Support, Coaching and Mentoring, Culturally Responsive Practices, Differentiation/Scaffolding, English Learner Services
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Assistant Coordinators, Assistant Principals, Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Teachers

Presenters: Charlene Martin-Klein | charlene_martinklein@dpsnc.net | K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Specialist
Location: Hillside High School Room 107
Description: Dr. David Hadley (National Defense University) will lead the seminar/discussion on this timely topic. Participants will receive the documents in advance so they can prepare for the seminar. All participants must pre-register with the Ashland Institute. Lunch will be provided. Register here: https://go.teachingamericanhistory.org/l/556702/2025-03-05/qv6mqx
Subject Area(s): Social Studies
Topic(s): Increased Rigor
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Christine Fierro | christine_fierro@dpsnc.net | Instructional Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 118
Description: Learn about the tenets behind and about Peter Liljedahl's "Thinking Classrooms". We will engage in non-curricular thinking tasks, explore practices 1-3, and plan for possible curricular thinking tasks.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA , Healthful Living
Topic(s): Increased Rigor (DOK), Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Justine Daniel | justine_daniel@dpsnc.net | Teaching & Learning Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 113
Description: In this session strategies and classroom activities to build classroom culture, trust and a sense of belonging will be shared and modeled. Activities range from Week 1 activities to build a positive learning environment to strategies on how to engage learners through reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Communication Skills, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Beginning Teachers
Targeted Instructional Grades: 5th Grade, 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Assistants, Teachers

Presenters: Delphia Daniels | delphia_daniels@dpsnc.net | Literacy Coach; Latoya Johnson | latoya_judd@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 105
Description: This session gives teachers tools to increase student engagement using five of Hattie’s highest-impact strategies. We’ll focus on helping students show their thinking in visible ways—through discussion, feedback, reflection, or peer teaching. Teachers will learn what covert engagement and overt engagement look like, and why both are important in every classroom. We’ll walk through each strategy with real examples, build understanding, and give teachers space to plan lessons using what they’ve learned. Activities like the “Apply It!” planning challenges will help teachers match engagement strategies to their own content. The session also includes a reflection and exit ticket to help teachers decide what to try first and what they might still have questions about. We’ll start by sparking curiosity and making connections to what teachers already do, then build new learning in a way that’s clear and usable. Strategies are modeled, discussed, and practiced with support—and teachers will leave with next steps they can use right away. Teachers will need access to the curriculum materials (HMH, ARC, Eureka2, etc.) for planning purposes.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Effective Feedback Strategies, Explicit Teaching
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Priscilla Graves | priscilla_graves@dpsnc.net | Curriculum and Instructional Management Coordinator; Malika Becton | malika_becton@dpsnc.net | Curriculum and Instructional Management Coordinator
Location: Hillside High School Room 206
Description: This interactive workshop will explore proven, research-based strategies to increase student engagement across content areas and grade levels. Participants will examine practical tools and techniques—such as active learning, student voice and choice, and technology integration—to foster a more inclusive and energized learning environment.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, ELA
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Digital Teaching and Learning, Assessment for Learning, Beginning Teacher Support, Coaching and Mentoring, Culturally Responsive Practices, Differentiation/Scaffolding, English Learner Services
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Assistant Coordinators, Assistant Principals, Instructional Coaches, Mentors, Teachers

Presenters: Shanea Carr | shanea_carr@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 204
Description: Participants will engage in the seminar process and find ways to implement collaborative conversations in their classrooms.
Subject Area(s): Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Increased Rigor (DOK), Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Culturally Responsive Practices, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers