Durham Public Schools PL

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: 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: Amanda Bowers | [email protected] | School Support Specialist
Location: W.G. Pearson Elementary School
Description: Introduction to K-5 Science curriculum resources and updates for this school year. Time for exploration of resources with support of content specialist.
Subject Area(s): Science
Topic(s): Outdoor Learning, Beginning Teachers, Curriculum and Instruction, DPS Adopted Resources, Increased Rigor, Reading‚ Writing‚ Thinking‚ Speaking‚ Listening, Standards Aligned Instruction
Targeted Instructional Grades: 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 5th Grade, Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade
Targeted Roles: Instructional Coaches, Teachers