WCPS to host annual summer institute Aug. 4-6
By Staff Reports
Published in News on July 19, 2009 2:00 AM
Teachers and parents will have their own version of summer school next month, featuring opportunities to promote student success.
Wayne County Public Schools will host its fourth annual Summer Institute in the Raper Building at Mount Olive College Aug. 4-6. The theme is "Turn Up the Heat on Student Learning."
Sessions will benefit new and veteran teachers, support staff and parents. In addition to covering such content areas as reading and writing, topics covered include exceptional children, legal issues, English as a second language, family engagement, classroom management, technology and academically intellectually gifted students.
Workshop titles include "ABC's of Parent Conferenc-ing, "Cell Phones, Wikis, and Tweets, Oh My!" "Importing Flip Video into a Smart Notebook Lesson," "Sup-porting School Success for Parents" and "Teacher Websites Made Easy."
Kathy Sullivan, director of the North Carolina Depart-ment of Public Instruction Human Resource Manage-ment Division, will kick off the three-day event with a keynote address during the first general session on Aug. 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Each year, the instructional staffs of the district's curriculum and instruction department, technology department and exceptional children's department team up to host the Summer Institute, said Dr. Ruby Bell, director of middle grades education and professional development.
"Current teachers, administrators, and education experts will present more than 50 professional development workshops during the course of the three-day event," she said. Agencies and vendors will also be on hand with resources, she added.
Schools superintendent Dr. Steven Taylor said, "The Summer Institute is not only a valuable professional development and support opportunity, but it also helps educators and parents stay abreast of the latest educational strategies. (It) offers local opportunities for our employees and parents to learn new and innovative concepts, collaborate with peers, and learn how to better prepare students for the global challenges of the 21st Century."
The workshop is free. Pre-register online at www.waynecountyschools.org or at the event each morning from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. A complete list of sessions is also available on the district's Web site, www.waynecountyschools.org.