Durham Public Schools PL

Presenters: Matthew Jones | [email protected] | Assistant Principal; Gwen Dorman | [email protected] | Principal; Nancy Wicker | [email protected] | Coach
Location: Mangum Elementary School 25
Description: Staff will vertical plan with each to other to help understand the standards from the other grades and how they impact students going from grade to grade.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Data Analysis, DPS Adopted Resources, Standards Aligned Instruction
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Assistant Principals, Principals, Teachers

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: Robert Weldon | [email protected] | Principal
Location: E.K. Powe Elementary School 500
Description: Participants will be introduced to the IB magnet school model and rigor in the classroom.
Subject Area(s): Digital Learning Standards, Mathematics, ELA
Topic(s): Increased Rigor, Curriculum and Instruction
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Assistants, Instructional Assistants, Teachers

Presenters: Victoria Powell | [email protected] | Assistant Principal; Bianca Hunt | [email protected] | Instructional Coach; Alycia Crews | [email protected] | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: C.C. Spaulding Elementary
Description: Staff will look at iReady and mClass data to determine next steps for core and MTSS tier instruction. Staff will work on planning for the remainder of quarter 1.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, ELA
Topic(s): MTSS, Curriculum and Instruction, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Interventionists, Instructional Assistants, Teachers

Presenters: Kendra Jarrell | [email protected] | Teaching and Learning Coach; Felisha deBlaquiere | [email protected] | AIG Specialist
Location: George Watts Montessori School Media Center
Description: Teachers will get a general overview of the difference between Costas and DOK and will complete a sorting task with their grade level band PLCs. Then, teachers will break off into their grade level band PLCs with a facilitator and for the first half of the time, look at current work plans and assess the level of rigor/DOK levels. The second half of the time, they will work on planning work plans for the upcoming week/weeks using what they learned and practiced in this session.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics
Topic(s): Increased Rigor
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Specialists, Teachers

Presenters: Latoya Johnson | [email protected] | Teaching & Learning Coach
Location: Murray-Massenburg Elementary School Media Center
Description: What is the difference between higher order thinking and rigor? During this professional development session, teachers will deepen their understanding of Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK) and how it connects to task rigor and student thinking. Participants will learn how to analyze, design, and adapt instructional tasks to promote higher levels of cognitive engagement. By the end of the session, teachers will be able to identify DOK levels within their lessons, create purposeful questions and activities that move students beyond recall, and apply strategies to foster critical thinking and problem-solving in everyday instruction.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Topic(s): Increased Rigor
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: All Roles (Non-Specific)

Presenters: Corin Muller-Yoder | [email protected] | Coach
Location: Southwest Elementary School
Description: Teachers will review core content materials to identify components of the explicit teaching model. Teachers will plan for the intensification of the "we do" stage of the the model through increasing the use of joint construction and supported practice in a lesson plan.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction, Effective Feedback Strategies, Standards Aligned Instruction, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Amy Sanchez | [email protected] | IBYP Magnet Coordinator; Robert Oechslin | [email protected] | AIG Specialist
Location: Burton Elementary School Media Center and Data Room
Description: Teachers will prepare for individual student data talks by synthesizing data in tracking spreadsheet and updating class data walls.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, ELA
Topic(s): Data Analysis
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Lanisha Hinton | [email protected] | Principal
Location: Sandy Ridge Elementary School PLC Room or Grade Level Chairperson's Classroom
Description: K-2 teachers will create SMART literacy stations for and 3-5 teachers will plan lessons and gather resources for quarter 2.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Standards Aligned Instruction
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Instructional Assistants, Teachers

Presenters: Jazma Dickerson | [email protected] | Instructional Coach
Location: Lyons Farm Elementary Media Center
Description: Teachers will receive the Quarter 2 unit maps and engage in a guided discussion on the importance of unpacking standards and aligning instruction to the pacing for the quarter. Following the overview, teachers will break out into PLCs to collaboratively review their standards, plan instructional sequences, and identify key focus areas for upcoming units.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Victoria Creamer | [email protected] | principal; Lindsay Boykin | [email protected] | AP; Delphia Daniels | [email protected] | coach
Location: Creekside Elementary media center
Description: Teachers will analyze an upcoming lesson for reading or math and identify the components of the explicit teaching framework within it.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, ELA , Healthful Living
Topic(s): Increased Rigor
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
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

Presenters: Victoria Creamer | [email protected] | principal; Lindsay Boykin | [email protected] | AP; Delphia Daniels | [email protected] | coach
Location: Creekside Elementary media center
Description: Participants will analyze an upcoming reading or math lesson to determine DoK levels for instruction and learning activities.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, ELA , Healthful Living
Topic(s): Increased Rigor, Curriculum and Instruction
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers