More than 700 educators from districts participating in EdLeaders Pittsburgh are convening in October at Woodland Hills High School for a professional development opportunity themed around “Rigor, Relevance, Relationships and Resilience.”
Modeled on a region-wide, multi-district professional development day called Journey to Learn (JTL) that the Consortium organized for nearly two decades, the event features workshops hosted both by educators and community organizations.
The Grable Foundation’s Executive Director, Gregg Behr, will offer the keynote.
“Just as it was for JTL, the rationale for the day is giving educators an opportunity to learn best practices from peers in other districts and find out what different community partners are doing to support education,” said the Consortium’s Executive Director, Jackie Foor. “Administrators participating in EdLeaders Pittsburgh come together regularly around issues their districts have in common, so getting their educators together is a natural extension of that work.”
Before lunch, educators will have wide ranging opportunities to learn about innovations and best practices their peers and outside organizations are bringing to students. Nearly 35 workshops will be offered on topics spanning multiple STEM teaching options; building a music program on a shoestring budget; teaching phonetics; implementing effective disciplinary practices; fostering empathy and soft skills through service learning; helping students develop decision-making skills; using Google apps in the classroom; and much more.
The workshops will be hosted both by educators from participating districts and community organizations such as NuPaths, which will offer a presentation on pre-apprenticeships and industry credentials; and the McKeesport Community Newsroom, which is hosting a presentation on media literacy and storytelling by Pulitzer Prize winning photographer, Martha Rial.
Rounding out the day are a panel discussion among school district superintendents; a networking and debriefing session; and entertainment from standup comic Eddie B, whose yearlong comedy tour “Teachers Only” has won rave reviews among educators.