 Teachers
leading teachers
Regional Superintendents Conference Day brings more than
1,700 educators together for training sessions
The Oct. 5 Regional Superintendents Conference Day was no small
feat to accomplish.
Working together in small groups, area teachers
came together to plan, organize and deliver nearly 100 different
workshops and keynote presentations custom-tailored to meet the
needs of more than 1,700 teachers representing all subject
levels and all grade levels.
 The
result was a first-of-its-kind regional training opportunity
that was developed by school staff members, in consultation with
building principals, to meet teachers’ day-to-day needs in the
classroom. Training sessions were offered throughout the day at
ten different school buildings within eight school districts.
Participants included teachers from HFM BOCES and its 15
component school districts, as well as student teachers looking
to boost their skills as they prepare to enter the teaching
profession.
 Elementary
teachers were grouped together by grade level for morning
workshops and then selected from 31 separate workshops in the
afternoon. Training sessions for secondary teachers were
developed based on content area. “We knew going
in that this was a huge undertaking,” said HFM BOCES Assistant
Superintendent Dr. Lorraine Hohenforst. “Overall, the day was
quite successful based on the feedback we received from
participants.” Many of the reviews were glowing,
including one from a language arts teacher who shared some
initial concerns about the value of workshops led by colleagues
who also wanted to learn more about the designated content area.
 “We
all were concerned that having successive seminars led by people
who wanted to learn might be a waste of time. How wrong we were!
Each session that I attended began with introductions and
questions that we wanted to discuss. I believe that everyone
left with new knowledge, new contacts and a better understanding
of their tasks as teacher.” Her sentiments were
shared by others, including one art teacher who found the day
invaluable.
 “This
was probably the most productive superintendents conferences I
have ever attended,” she wrote. “I enjoyed meeting other art
teachers and getting to know them as a community. I was happy to
receive other lesson ideas and I loved working with them in the
workshops. Everyone was happy, productive and open to new
information… I believe the 'fine arts' conference day was so
successful because we created something that was interesting to
all. Lectures would have been deadly.” For some,
the conference day was not as effective, Dr. Hohenforst said,
and their feedback will be taken into consideration when
developing future regional conference days.
“Although it was a productive day overall, we realize the day
wasn’t as effective for everyone as we had hoped,” she said.
“We anticipate the next regional conference day will be in two
to three years, and we hope more teachers will volunteer to help
plan and shape future workshops so they are better tailored to
meet everyone’s needs.”
Click here to view more
photos from the Oct. 5 Regional Superintendents Conference Day.
|
HFM
BOCES News
