Durham Public Schools PL

Presenters: Colleen Robinson | [email protected] | Teaching and Learning Coach; Mary Alice Sprinkle | [email protected] | Instructional Coach; Zoe Bodnar | [email protected] | Science Specialist
Location: Forest View Elementary School Various Locations
Description: This session is for Forest View staff: Join us for a cross-grade conversation designed to strengthen how we support students as learners across K–5. In this collaborative session, teachers and specialists will explore vertical connections in ELA, math, and science—celebrating what students bring with them, identifying shared priorities, and clarifying how instruction builds from year to year. Together, we’ll examine where students thrive, where they get stuck, and how consistent practices—like explicit teaching, small-group design, and progress monitoring—can help every student access and extend learning.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, ELA
Topic(s): English Learner Services, Exceptional Children, Increased Rigor, Assessment for Learning, 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, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Specialists, Teachers

Presenters: Jeri Jackson | [email protected] | Principal; Amanda Fuentes | [email protected] | Coach; Escarleth Rivera | [email protected] | Coach
Location: Lakewood Elementary School Media Center
Description: Teachers will be utilizing the DPS Explicit Teaching lesson template with workflows tailored for HMH. Aligning the template to HMH means stronger pacing, clearer questioning, and more targeted feedback across classrooms. Teachers will leave with a polished lesson template, ready-to-use prompts, and a quick-look checklist to support daily planning and walkthrough alignment.
Subject Area(s): ELA
Topic(s): Standards Aligned Instruction
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Assistants, Teachers

Presenters: Kirsten Botts | [email protected] | Magnet Coordinator
Location: Morehead Elementary School Whitt's room
Description: Teachers will learn ways to use Montessori materials to help support literacy in the classroom.
Subject Area(s): Strategy-Based for any content, ELA
Topic(s): Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Erica McRae | [email protected] | Teaching and Learning Coach/MTSS Facilitator; Colleen Miller | [email protected] | Assistant Principal; Teresa Van Acker | [email protected] | Montessori Director
Location: Little River Elementary School Media Center
Description: During this session, participants will review Montessori curriculum maps to gain a better understanding of how to navigate the components, problem solve issues associated with it, and give suggestions for changes that can be made to future maps.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, ELA
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers