Durham Public Schools PL

Presenters: Karen Thompson | [email protected] | OEE Director; April Cheek | [email protected] | EC Pre-K Director; Melissa Anders | [email protected] | EC PK Facilitator; Renee Harris | [email protected] | EC PK Facilitator; Qushanna Glass | [email protected] | Pre-K Coach; Michelle Meade | [email protected] | Pre-K Coach; Shewahn Lee | [email protected] | Transition to K Facilitator; Lamisa Cameron | [email protected] | Universal Programming Facilitator
Location: Oak Grove Elementary School
Description: Preschool teachers and the OEE leadership team will review and discuss the OEE department goals for the year, the first 10-days checklist, preschool updates, health and safety requirements, and state DCDEE licensure rules, PLC, curriculum, and EC non-negotiables for the 2026-2027 school year. Preschool teachers will have an opportunity to ask clarifying questions so they are prepared for their students and families to begin the school year.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Strategy-Based for any content, ELA , Healthful Living
Topic(s): PLC Professional Learning Communities, Social Emotional, Curriculum and Instruction, Data Analysis, Exceptional Children, Health and Safety
Targeted Instructional Grades: Pre-K
Targeted Roles: Instructional Assistants, Teachers

Presenters: various | [email protected] | Specialists and Directors
Location: Other... Year Round Schools
Description: Instructional Staff will gather in content specific groups to receive curriculum updates, consider priority standards and plan for the first unit of instruction
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, Healthful Living, Occupational Course of Study
Topic(s): Assessment for 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, Leadership
Targeted Roles: Instructional Assistants, Teachers

Presenters: Sashi Rayasam | [email protected] | Director of English Learner Services; Wendi Love | [email protected] | ESL Instructional Facilitator, Secondary; Katie McClure | [email protected] | ESL Instructional Facilitator, Elementary; Courtney Chavez | [email protected] | ESL Coordinator
Location: Staff Development Center M9
Description: ESL teachers at year-round schools will reconnect to review data, design schedules, and plan instruction. Teachers will also receive updates on testing accommodations, ML plans, and initial testing schedules.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Topic(s): English Learner Services
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 7th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Alina Castillo | [email protected] | School Support Specialist
Location: Rogers-Herr Middle School
Description: Get ready to build, explore, and play with algebra! In this hands-on session, you'll refresh your skills with Algebra Tiles and discover engaging ways to use them during the Building the Knowledge phase of explicit teaching. Come ready to think, create, and remember—math is more fun when you can build it! You will also earn an NCCAT micro-badge.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics
Topic(s): Explicit Teaching, Curriculum and Instruction, DPS Adopted Resources
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Interventionists, Teachers

Presenters: Amy Jenkins | [email protected] | Teaching and Learning Coach
Location: The School for Creative Studies Room 116
Description: Teachers will learn a practical framework for planning and implementing effective small-group instruction in secondary classrooms. Participants will unpack standards, identify learning targets, use assessment data to determine flexible groups, and explore structures that make small-group instruction manageable in middle and high school settings. Teachers will leave with a ready-to-use planning template and strategies they can implement immediately.
Subject Area(s): Arts, Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, CTE, Healthful Living, Occupational Course of Study
Topic(s): Building Learning System Capacity
Targeted Instructional Grades: 7th Grade, 9th Grade, 11th Grade, 6th Grade, 8th Grade, 10th Grade, 12th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Ron Wahlen | [email protected] | Director of Digital Teaching and Learning; Kim Gugino | [email protected] | Media Lead and Media Coordinator
Location: Eastway Elementary School Media Center
Description: Participants will explore district guidelines for staff, students, and families; examine leading AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, etc., and learn how AI can support productivity, communication, instructional planning, and personalized learning.
Subject Area(s): Digital Learning Standards, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Topic(s): Digital Teaching and Learning, Media Coordinators, Curriculum and Instruction, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening
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, Leadership
Targeted Roles: Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, Leads, Assistant Coordinators, Assistant Principals, Principals, Teachers

Presenters: Tonya Enoch | [email protected] | Teaching & Learning Coach; Maekrisha Jones | [email protected] | Math Coach
Location: Oak Grove Elementary School Media Center
Description: This interactive professional learning session equips educators with practical, research-based strategies for explicitly teaching students how to think about their thinking before, during, and after reading. Participants will explore how metacognitive instruction improves comprehension by helping students monitor their understanding, recognize when meaning breaks down, and apply appropriate fix-up strategies. Participants will also examine how explicit metacognitive instruction supports all learners, Participants will also examine how explicit metacognitive instruction supports all learners.
Subject Area(s): Global Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, CTE, Healthful Living
Topic(s): Explicit Teaching
Targeted Instructional Grades: 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Teachers

Presenters: Stephanie Brock | [email protected] | School Support Specialist; Sequeria Lawler | [email protected] | School Support Specialist
Location: Oak Grove Elementary School TBD
Description: Participants will strengthen their understanding of how to effectively use exit tickets within the Eureka Math² curriculum to monitor student understanding and inform instructional decisions. The session will focus on analyzing exit ticket data, identifying patterns in student learning, and using evidence from daily formative assessments to plan responsive instruction, intervention, and enrichment. Through collaborative discussion and practical application, participants will develop strategies for using exit tickets to support high-quality implementation of Eureka Math² and improve student outcomes.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics
Topic(s): Explicit Teaching, Curriculum and Instruction, MTSS, Standards Aligned Instruction, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Leads, Facilitators, Specialists, Teachers

Presenters: Julie Scott | [email protected] | School Support Specialist; Alyssia Dais | [email protected] | School Support Specialist
Location: Hope Valley Elementary School C-9
Description: This professional learning series is designed to equip elementary instructional assistants (IAs) with the foundational tools and management strategies needed to lead high-impact small group instruction.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics
Topic(s): Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Standards Aligned Instruction, Student-Centered Learning
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Assistants

Presenters: Kimberly Siegers | [email protected] | Coach; Marcia Jacobs | [email protected] | Coach
Location: Hope Valley Elementary School Media Center
Description: Learn how to use Depth of Knowledge (DOK) to increase the rigor of classroom instruction. Participants will explore the four DOK levels, practice developing higher-level questions and tasks, and leave with strategies to promote deeper student thinking and learning.
Subject Area(s): Mathematics, ELA
Topic(s): Explicit Teaching, Increased Rigor
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Interventionists, Teachers