Alpena schools hold workshop for teachers
Crystal NelsonAn area-wide professional development day was held for kindergarten to 12th grade educators Monday. The event was sponsored by the Alpena Montmorency Alcona Educational Service District and focused on the topic of differentiated instruction.
AMA ESD Superintendent Brian Wilmot said with the exception of Alpena Public Schools, teachers from Alcona, Atlanta, Hillman and Bingham Academy for the Arts were in attendance.
"These are really great opportunities for teachers to improve their professional skills without going to the universities and take graduate level courses or travel 300 miles downstate. Right here, locally, we have some quality programs," he said.
Director of Special Education Sue Grulke said the development day wasn't so much to give philosophy or to motivate the teachers but rather to give them practical tools to be able to go back into their classrooms and implement them immediately if they want to.
Wilmot said having a themed professional development day hasn't always been the way the days are organized. He said feedback from past professional development days asked the agency to stick to a theme which they are trying this year.
Educators in grades K-6 were able to listen to speaker Grant Hegenauer who addressed why differentiated instruction is important in today's classrooms. The second session for elementary school educators was taught by Grulke, Meaghan Gauthier and Courtney Hauff, staff at AMA ESD.
Thirty Supporting Our Students kits were given to the elementary schools and contained teaching tools. The SOS kits included a talking dictionary, visual schedules, a fidget cushion, etc., as well as CDs and manuals teachers can use in their classroom planning.
"They're low and mid level technology that assist struggling or at risk students in the classroom," Grulke said of the kits.
Secondary educators attended an interactive full day session held at Alpena High School on differentiated instruction presented by Kristine Gullen.
Wilmot said one reason the AMA ESD did the professional development day is because its board and administration has gone on the record saying all kids can learn. He said they also realize that not all kids learn the same way and the AMA ESD has the responsibility to help teachers develop the strategies and tools to address their learning needs.
The AMA ESD have two professional development days throughout the year. Wilmot said he will be discussing plans for February's professional development day in the near future.
Crystal Nelson can be reached via e-mail at cnelson@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693.
