Durham Public Schools PL

Presenters: Jennifer Harrison | [email protected] | science lead
Location: Morehead Elementary School Harrison's
Description: Developing materials in line with the new Montessori science pacing guide.
Subject Area(s): Science
Topic(s): Curriculum and Instruction
Targeted Instructional Grades: 5th Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

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: 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: 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: Erin Snyder | [email protected] | MTSS/AIG
Location: Carrington Middle School varied
Description: Teachers will work together to plan units for the second nine week.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Digital Learning Standards, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Strategy-Based for any content, CTE
Topic(s): Increased Rigor, Data Analysis
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Dr. Lori Bruce | [email protected] | Principal; Jamel Anderson-Ruff | [email protected] | Assistant Principal
Location: J.D. Clement Early College High School 208
Description: Participants will engage in data analysis in their content area or a content area closely aligned to their content. Based upon trends in the data, participants will create goals, strategies to support student proficiency and growth. The Book study will be introduced to support continued professional learning that supports student outcomes and cross-curricular connections and support.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Strategy-Based for any content, ELA
Topic(s): Data Analysis
Targeted Instructional Grades: 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 10th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Justin Finger | [email protected] | Teacher
Location: Jordan High School 302
Description: Jordan Science Department will discuss increasing rigor through collaboration and differentiation.
Subject Area(s): Science
Topic(s): Increased Rigor
Targeted Instructional Grades: 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Sabrina Vereen | [email protected] | Interventionist; Alex Hurdle | [email protected] | Intern/Principal
Location: City of Medicine Academy Cybrary, 305, 207, 309,
Description: All EOC Teachers will have Priority PLCs with C&I support. Study: All non-EOC Teachers will study MOY Benchmark data with Grade Level Teams. Act: All non-EOC Teachers will meet with Grade Level Teams to review and update progress monitoring data in Panorama for all Tier 2 and 3 students in MTSS and prepare for the upcoming end of Quarter 1 At-Risk Meetings.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, ELA
Topic(s): Assessments-Data-Accountability, MTSS
Targeted Instructional Grades: 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: All Roles (Non-Specific)

Presenters: Monique Bonner | [email protected] | Adapted Curriculum Specialist; Krista Saunders | [email protected] | EC Director; Lori Platko | [email protected] | Adapted Curriculum Specialist; Kelly Roberts | [email protected] | Adapted Curriculum Specialist
Location:
Description: The PLC will focus on ULS Implementation through collaboration and instructional strategy discussion. Participants will also have input on future PLC topics for the 25-26 school year. Discussion of Meeting Topics and Sites for Upcoming PLC Meetings
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, ELA
Topic(s): Exceptional Children
Targeted Instructional Grades: 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Assistants, Teachers