Wayne schools to hold Summer Institute at University of Mount Olive
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 7, 2016 1:45 AM
pmoore@newsargus.com
The 11th annual Summer Institute will be held at the University of Mount Olive this week, Tuesday through Thursday.
Sponsored by the Wayne County Public Schools curriculum and instruction department, it is a good kickoff to the school year, as the district looks at new and creative strategies to enhance curriculum and improve student achievement, organizers say.
"What's really so wonderful about this is it is an opportunity for anyone in the county that chooses to participate and come out for networking, professional development sessions that will meet their needs in the classroom and to equip their classroom toolkits," said Kim Copeland, director specialist. "We are constantly updating and revising the offerings."
Among topics covered in the breakout sessions are specific content areas, reading, writing, Exceptional Children, legal issues, English as a Second Language, family engagement, classroom management, technology and the Academically Intellectually Gifted program.
Additional emphasis this year will also be placed on technology -- digital classrooms, digital literacy, social media and how it affects the classroom and the school system at large, Ms. Copeland said.
In addition to the staff development component, the free conference is for parents and community stakeholders.
When the event was first introduced, it was held on the Wayne Community College campus. After two years, it was moved to UMO, where it has been held since. All sessions will be in Raper Hall, with lunch available for purchase in the dining hall each day.
Karen Small Rogers, principal at Rosewood High School, was part of the committee that laid the groundwork for the endeavor and continues to serve as an organizers, Ms. Copeland said. Beverly Kee, Title I lead teacher, is in charge of vendors.
The theme for the three-day event is "Learning Knows No Bounds: Everyone is Special."
"It's a little different this year," Ms. Copeland said. "What we want to do is highlight some of our experts here in Wayne County.
"We're going to have a presentation on autism for the keynote and the presenters will be Amy Clark, an EC (exceptional children) teacher at Dillard Middle, (Dillard principal) Sonja Emerson and Jamel Jones (assistant principal)."
The history between Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Emerson is unique, she pointed out.
"Amy started out as an (EC) parent and Sonja (taught) her two children," Ms. Copeland said. "Mrs. Clark worked her way through school to become a special ed teacher."
The three presenters will participate in a panel discussion for the opening session on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 9 a.m.
"Parents and stakeholders are invited to attend every day, but Wednesday will be parents day, where we make sure we have things specifically for parents," Ms. Copeland said.
Wednesday will also feature a community agency fair, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Non-profit organizations will provide information and educational resources for attendees.
An educational vendor fair will be held on Thursday, an abbreviated day where the sessions run from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
"A lot of our educational vendors will provide presentations with topics of interest but mostly our presenters are local teachers, local educators from WCPS that desire to step out of the realm of t heir classroom," she explained.
"We're happy to have this opportunity annually and we appreciate the support of our board, our administrative leadership team and the support of the community, because it's been a success every year."
Registration can be done in advance online, at waynecountyschools.org, or each morning beginning at 8:30 a.m.