Durham Public Schools PL

Presenters: Iwinosa Idahor | iwinosa_idahor@dpsnc.net | Office of Equity Affairs; Keaundra Robinson | keaundra_robinson@dpsnc.net | Office of Equity Affairs; Kamia Norman | kamia_norman@dpsnc.net | Southwest ES; Angelia Ball Smith | Angelia_BallSmith@dpsnc.net | Y.E. Smith ES; Rita Rakestraw | Rita_Rakestraw@dpsnc.net | Ignite! Online Academy/Lakewood MMS
Location: Hillside High School Room 214
Description: Objective: To create a space where educators will learn from and with each other about how to support, affirm, empower, and impact young girls of color, in and out of the classroom.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, ELA , Healthful Living, *None (Non-Instructional)
Topic(s): Communication Skills, Equity, Culture and Climate, Social Emotional Learning, Student Wellness and Advocacy, Culturally Responsive Practices, 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: Assistant Principals, Principals, School Counselors, 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: Hillside High School Room 203
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: India C. Williams | indiac_williams@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 111
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: Diana Franklin | Diana_franklin@dpsnc.net | TLC
Location: Hillside High School Room 108
Description: We speak about rigor frequently but do all educators completely understand what this means or how we can help all students think at higher levels? In this session we will synthesize a workable definition of what rigor is based on several sources as well as our own background knowledge. We will analyze the level of thinking required for different activities based on both Bloom's Taxonomy and Webb's Depth of Knowledge. We will also discuss how to provide the appropriate scaffolding to guide academically diverse students to be able to complete higher level tasks and questions. We will then explore how to use different AI tools to easily increase the DOK level in different tasks and questions. Finally, teachers will have time to create a learning activity to implement their new understanding. We will use different higher thinking level activities and strategies throughout the workshop as exemplars for the participants.
Subject Area(s): Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, ELA , Healthful Living
Topic(s): Advanced Academics-AIG, Increased Rigor
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Beth Spataro | bethnicole_spataro@dpsnc.net | Secondary Literacy Specialist; Wendi Love | Wendi_Love@dpsnc.net | ESL Facilitator for Secondary
Location: Hillside High School Room 112
Description: During this session, participants will learn about the science of reading and learn to apply this learning to identify reading needs in their secondary classrooms. This session will meet the needs of secondary content teachers, ESL and EC teachers.
Subject Area(s): Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Assessment for Learning, Differentiation/Scaffolding, English Learner Services, Exceptional Children
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Teachers

Presenters: Rob Jones | robert_jones784@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 114
Description: Participants will explore the importance of goal setting in the classroom through the lens of the 6 Phases of Learning.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Increased Rigor, Differentiation/Scaffolding, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Zachary Osofsky | zachary_osofsky@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 115
Description: Presenters will engage in academic argumentation to experience how argumentation advances literacy, content learning, and academic achievement. Presenters will then have an opportunity to plan their own argumentation activity for their future students.
Subject Area(s): Social Studies
Topic(s): Advanced Academics-AIG, 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 Coaches, Teachers

Presenters: Shanea Carr | shanea_carr@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 213
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

Presenters: Charlene Martin-Klein | charlene_martinklein@dpsnc.net | K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Specialist
Location: Hillside High School Room 202
Description: Spend the day immersed in the powerful history of Historic Stagville, one of North Carolina’s largest pre–Civil War plantations. Participants will take a guided tour led by Stagville staff, gaining firsthand insight into the lives of the enslaved people who lived and labored on the land. Following the tour, educators will engage in a hands-on lesson planning workshop using primary source documents from the Stagville archives. Together, we will explore how to bring this history to life in the classroom through inquiry-based instruction and document analysis. Participants must pre-register by emailing charlene_martinklein@dpsnc.net before August 1.
Subject Area(s): Social Studies
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Increased Rigor, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Standards Aligned Instruction, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Coaches, Teachers

Presenters: Kelly Newsome | kelly_newsome@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 105
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: Iwinosa Idahor | iwinosa_idahor@dpsnc.net | Office of Equity Affairs; Keaundra Robinson | keaundra_robinson@dpsnc.net | Office of Equity Affairs; Kamia Norman | kamia_norman@dpsnc.net | Southwest ES; Angelia Ball Smith | Angelia_BallSmith@dpsnc.net | Y.E. Smith ES; Rita Rakestraw | Rita_Rakestraw@dpsnc.net | Ignite! Online Academy/Lakewood MMS
Location: Hillside High School Room 214
Description: Objective: To create a space where educators will learn from and with each other about how to support, affirm, empower, and impact young girls of color, in and out of the classroom.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, ELA , Healthful Living, *None (Non-Instructional)
Topic(s): Communication Skills, Equity, Culture and Climate, Social Emotional Learning, Student Wellness and Advocacy, Culturally Responsive Practices, 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: Assistant Principals, Principals, School Counselors, 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: Hillside High School Room 203
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: Delphia Daniels | delphia_daniels@dpsnc.net | Literacy Coach; Latoya Johnson | latoya_judd@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 107
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: Rob Jones | robert_jones784@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 114
Description: Participants will explore the importance of goal setting in the classroom through the lens of the 6 Phases of Learning.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Increased Rigor, Differentiation/Scaffolding, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Zachary Osofsky | zachary_osofsky@dpsnc.net | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: Hillside High School Room 115
Description: Presenters will engage in academic argumentation to experience how argumentation advances literacy, content learning, and academic achievement. Presenters will then have an opportunity to plan their own argumentation activity for their future students.
Subject Area(s): Social Studies
Topic(s): Advanced Academics-AIG, 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 Coaches, Teachers