This page serves to document some of the more notable professional development opportunities I have taken advantage of in order to improve as a teacher, leader, and professional.
Education
Teaching Online 101: Teaching in an Online Learning Model
Peoria Regional Office of Education #48
Illinois Virtual School
August 2019
Teaching Online 101 is a self-paced course designed to prepare classroom teachers to effectively facilitate an online course. Topics covered included the importance of communication, professionalism, work-life balance, student feedback, and parent involvement.
Peoria Regional Office of Education #48
Illinois Virtual School
August 2019
Teaching Online 101 is a self-paced course designed to prepare classroom teachers to effectively facilitate an online course. Topics covered included the importance of communication, professionalism, work-life balance, student feedback, and parent involvement.
Chicago Public Schools New Teacher Cohort
CPS Framework Specialists
August 2018 - June 2019
The New Teachers Cohort featured monthly meetings during which participants engaged in professional learning, goal-setting, and time to work and collaborate with each other and Framework Specialist mentors.
CPS Framework Specialists
August 2018 - June 2019
The New Teachers Cohort featured monthly meetings during which participants engaged in professional learning, goal-setting, and time to work and collaborate with each other and Framework Specialist mentors.
Freshman Success Community Meetings
Network for College Success
2018 - 2019
The NCS's Freshman Success Community Meetings feature monthly professional learning and collaboration surrounding the specific developmental and academic needs of high school freshmen. Participation in this community supports freshman teachers and administrators in setting their students up for favorable outcomes in high school and beyond.
Network for College Success
2018 - 2019
The NCS's Freshman Success Community Meetings feature monthly professional learning and collaboration surrounding the specific developmental and academic needs of high school freshmen. Participation in this community supports freshman teachers and administrators in setting their students up for favorable outcomes in high school and beyond.
Science, Engineering, and Art As Well: Why is it so hard to teach science well?
Dr. Helen Quinn, University of Chicago Physics Colloquium
November 2018
In this lecture, particle theorist and educator Dr. Helen Quinn reflected on what we know about teaching science to K-12 students and for undergraduates, how we know it, and what it tells us about good teaching. The lecture was followed by a panel discussion on how universities can support K-12 science education.
Dr. Helen Quinn, University of Chicago Physics Colloquium
November 2018
In this lecture, particle theorist and educator Dr. Helen Quinn reflected on what we know about teaching science to K-12 students and for undergraduates, how we know it, and what it tells us about good teaching. The lecture was followed by a panel discussion on how universities can support K-12 science education.
Dates with Desmos
Chicago Public Schools
2018 - 2019
Sessions Attended
Chicago Public Schools
2018 - 2019
Sessions Attended
- Introduction to Desmos
- Desmos Teacher Activities I & II
Face and Embrace: Waking Up to Racial Equity in Education
CPS Office of Social Science and Civic Engagement
August 2018
Sessions Attended
CPS Office of Social Science and Civic Engagement
August 2018
Sessions Attended
- Teacher Talk: Owning Your Language
- Adultism: Developing Intergenerational Relationships
- Mathematics and Teacher Identity
- Developing Questions and Planning Inquiries Through a Lens of Racial Equity
- Unpacking Structural Racism in Schools
Googlepalooza 2018
Chicago Public Schools
August 2018
The CPS Googlepalooza conference is designed to support all principals, teachers, clerks and staff utilize Google tools to teach, learn, work and collaborate.
Sessions Attended:
Chicago Public Schools
August 2018
The CPS Googlepalooza conference is designed to support all principals, teachers, clerks and staff utilize Google tools to teach, learn, work and collaborate.
Sessions Attended:
- Every Student Is Unique: Use Digital Tools To Meet Their Needs
- Time-Saving Student Trackers
- Online Rubric, or, How To Give Meaningful Feedback That Students Can't Lose
- Using Google Sheets and Google Drawing to Plan Phenomenon-Based Science Instruction
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Summer Institute
CPS Office of Social Emotional Learning
August 2018
Sessions Attended:
CPS Office of Social Emotional Learning
August 2018
Sessions Attended:
- Strengthening SEL Through Instruction
- Trauma-Informed and Restorative Practices
- Responding to Seriously Disruptive Behavior
- Being an "Askable Adult" and Referring Youth to Sexual Health Services
- Using Data Collection to Address Challenging Behavior
- Race, Equity, and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy
- Creating Safe and Supportive Schools for LGBT and All Youth
Google Certified Educator Level 2 Bootcamp
EdTechTeam
August 2018
Google’s Certified Educator Level 2 focuses on meaningful and creative ways to integrate the 4Cs in the classroom. Level 2 teaches the advanced features of G Suite including HyperDocs using Google Docs, Maps and MyMaps for for geo-instruction and virtual field trips; digital portfolios with Google Sites; and using screencasting techniques for developing learning libraries in YouTube and more. Level 2 is the perfect place for teachers who are ready to try something new and engaging in their classrooms all while preparing them for Google’s Certified Educator Level 2 exam.
EdTechTeam
August 2018
Google’s Certified Educator Level 2 focuses on meaningful and creative ways to integrate the 4Cs in the classroom. Level 2 teaches the advanced features of G Suite including HyperDocs using Google Docs, Maps and MyMaps for for geo-instruction and virtual field trips; digital portfolios with Google Sites; and using screencasting techniques for developing learning libraries in YouTube and more. Level 2 is the perfect place for teachers who are ready to try something new and engaging in their classrooms all while preparing them for Google’s Certified Educator Level 2 exam.
All Sorts of Fun with Desmos Card Sorts
Adam Poetzel; Webinar
May 2018
Card sorting activities are one type of learning tool available through the free Desmos Activity Builder. These activities can be very effective to engage students in meaningful mathematical reasoning and justification. In this webinar, participants will learn tips for using existing card sort activities with their students, and also learn how to create their own activities.
Adam Poetzel; Webinar
May 2018
Card sorting activities are one type of learning tool available through the free Desmos Activity Builder. These activities can be very effective to engage students in meaningful mathematical reasoning and justification. In this webinar, participants will learn tips for using existing card sort activities with their students, and also learn how to create their own activities.
Restorative Justice Practices
Gabriel Cortez, PhD; Chicago Public Schools Young Men of Color Summit
March 2018
Short lecture introducing educators and administrators to the use of restorative justice practices in a public school setting. The presentation covers the basic philosophy of restorative justice, some pointers on how to implement it in a single classroom and in a whole school environment, and a review of research supporting the effectiveness of the approach.
Gabriel Cortez, PhD; Chicago Public Schools Young Men of Color Summit
March 2018
Short lecture introducing educators and administrators to the use of restorative justice practices in a public school setting. The presentation covers the basic philosophy of restorative justice, some pointers on how to implement it in a single classroom and in a whole school environment, and a review of research supporting the effectiveness of the approach.
Peer Mentoring Programs: Lessons from the Kenwood Brotherhood
Shelby T. Wyatt, PhD; Chicago Public Schools Young Men of Color Summit
March 2018
This presentation outlined the founding and evolution of the Kenwood Brotherhood, a young men's peer mentoring program that started at Kenwood Academy High School in 2004 and is now used as a model of successful peer mentoring programs for young men of color in Chicago and around the country.
Shelby T. Wyatt, PhD; Chicago Public Schools Young Men of Color Summit
March 2018
This presentation outlined the founding and evolution of the Kenwood Brotherhood, a young men's peer mentoring program that started at Kenwood Academy High School in 2004 and is now used as a model of successful peer mentoring programs for young men of color in Chicago and around the country.
Student Ownership in a CPS Classroom
Framework Specialist Mary Rizzo; CPS Student Teaching Workshops
February 2018
120-minute professional development session focused on student ownership
Framework Specialist Mary Rizzo; CPS Student Teaching Workshops
February 2018
120-minute professional development session focused on student ownership
Assessment in a CPS Classroom
Framework Specialist Sharonda Thomas; CPS Student Teaching Workshops
February 2018
120-minute professional development session focused on assessment in a CPS classroom
Framework Specialist Sharonda Thomas; CPS Student Teaching Workshops
February 2018
120-minute professional development session focused on assessment in a CPS classroom
Getting It Together: Management in the CPS Classroom
Framework Specialist Laura Ferdinandt; CPS Student Teaching Workshops
January 2018
90-minute professional development session focused on management in a CPS classroom
Framework Specialist Laura Ferdinandt; CPS Student Teaching Workshops
January 2018
90-minute professional development session focused on management in a CPS classroom
Leadership
Leadership In 3-D
Kirk Randazzo, PhD; Kappa Kappa Psi North Central District Leadership Workshop
January 2018
This presentation focuses on building fundamental leadership development skills. It begins with a discussion of how leadership is a continuum upon which all individuals can improve and positively change or affect their corner of the world. We then discuss the 3-D's of leadership - Different, Dependable, and Dynamic - and how to develop these skills within ourselves. Finally, we focus on some additional aspects of leading others that will help us become more effective leaders in our sphere of influence.
Kirk Randazzo, PhD; Kappa Kappa Psi North Central District Leadership Workshop
January 2018
This presentation focuses on building fundamental leadership development skills. It begins with a discussion of how leadership is a continuum upon which all individuals can improve and positively change or affect their corner of the world. We then discuss the 3-D's of leadership - Different, Dependable, and Dynamic - and how to develop these skills within ourselves. Finally, we focus on some additional aspects of leading others that will help us become more effective leaders in our sphere of influence.
Don't Waste My Time: How to Keep People Motivated
Kirk Randazzo, PhD; Kappa Kappa Psi North Central District Leadership Workshop
January 2018
Organizations often encounter situations where some individuals participate less than others. This can often cause problems because the leaders of those organizations need all individuals to remain engaged in order to accomplish specific goals. This presentation explores some of the primary reasons why people do not participate more and offers strategies for keeping individuals motivated and moving the organization forward in a more positive direction.
Kirk Randazzo, PhD; Kappa Kappa Psi North Central District Leadership Workshop
January 2018
Organizations often encounter situations where some individuals participate less than others. This can often cause problems because the leaders of those organizations need all individuals to remain engaged in order to accomplish specific goals. This presentation explores some of the primary reasons why people do not participate more and offers strategies for keeping individuals motivated and moving the organization forward in a more positive direction.
Miscellaneous
Mindfulness in the Madness
Tammi Ramsey; Kappa Kappa Psi North Central District Convention
April 2018
In times of stress and chaos, prioritizing self-care is usually the first thing we cut out of our daily lives. Finding small ways to maintain mindfulness and create peace can equate to more productive days. This workshop will explore options for creating space, well-being, and awareness of the present moment in our lives.
Tammi Ramsey; Kappa Kappa Psi North Central District Convention
April 2018
In times of stress and chaos, prioritizing self-care is usually the first thing we cut out of our daily lives. Finding small ways to maintain mindfulness and create peace can equate to more productive days. This workshop will explore options for creating space, well-being, and awareness of the present moment in our lives.
