The hazy days of summer were active this year for North Colonie Central School District staff.

“This summer, district staff at every level has had the opportunity to discover new professional areas as well as reinforce old areas,” said Superintendent of Schools Randy Ehrenberg. “Continued learning throughout the summer helps us to stay on the right track and work toward envisioning the school year ahead.”

Ehrenberg attended a three-day Superintendent’s seminar sponsored by the New York State Council of School Superintendents. The North Colonie Administrative Council, made up of building principals and district directors and supervisors, also met for a two-day workshop to work on current initiatives in areas such as writing and technology, helping them to focus their bi-monthly meetings during the year.

“Most people look at the summer traditionally as a time for teachers to relax,” said Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Joseph Corr. “But here it can be a time for professional development, where teachers can recharge, refresh and reflect for the upcoming school year.”

This summer, K-12th grade teachers had the opportunity to explore curriculum workshops in a variety of areas. From world history and creative writing to building on past workshops in differentiated instruction and integrating instructional technology into math classrooms, staff researched, developed and reworked curriculum units and new ways of teaching them.

In December, professional development within the district will continue to grow when teachers participate in grade-level meetings that focus on specific topics, some of which are from the summer curriculum workshops. Like in past years “turn-key trainers” or teachers who have taken part in the summer workshops, will provide instruction and resources for their fellow colleagues, so that they, too, can implement new teaching strategies into their classrooms.

Teachers who are new to the district participate in a mentor program, which was an initiative established at North Colonie schools back in 1989. The program pairs new teachers with veteran teachers, usually from the same grade-level and/or subject area.

“We’ve always believed in having an experienced teacher work with a new teacher,” said Corr. “That way new teachers will learn the culture of the district.”

The district’s annual “Mentor Day” will be held on August 29, where the teams of teachers will have a chance to talk about issues and topics of concern prior to the beginning of school.

Other activities that teachers engage in over the summer include:
· A new teacher reading orientation, where elementary teachers get a glimpse of North Colonie’s balanced literacy program;
· An elementary teacher orientation, where teachers brush up on the many facets of elementary education;
· The new teacher orientation, where staff who are new to the district attend sessions related to discipline, classroom management, the mentor program, study skills and financial planning; and
· BOCES workshops for professional development in areas such as reading and writing.

“Professional research and development over the summer makes it possible for teachers to develop the quality instruction they need to meet the needs of all children,” said Corr.