WORKSHOPS

WORKSHOPS
All workshops will be offered during both
Workshop I and Workshop II sessions.
Community Learning
Schools — Where Do I Fit?
Karen Alford, UFT Vice President for
Elementary Schools and Christine
Schuch, Director of Policy, Community
Learning Schools Initiative.
In this workshop, we will discuss
the different roles in a community
learning school and how they
interact. We will encourage all
school staff to take ownership of
the community school model and
effectively share in its leadership.
This kind of broad investment in the
school’s success will pave the way
for deeper levels of engagement
from the entire school community,
including parents and community
leaders. Drawing on our experience
in the Community Learning Schools
Initiative, we will make the case that
schools whose staff are engaged
deliver better academic experiences
and outcomes for their students and
have great family and community
participation and higher staff morale.
For all staff to have a real stake in the
school’s success requires action at
all school levels and a commitment
to training and developing school
staff as leaders and owners of their
community learning school. Creating Caring Schools
Through Social Emotional
Learning (K–12)
Carmen Alvarez, UFT Vice President
for Special Education and Dana
Ashley, Director of the Positive
Learning Collaborative.
The Positive Learning Collaborative
team will provide an overview of
strategies being implemented and
expanded in our schools to promote
positive school climate. Schools are
using practices such as Therapeutic
Crisis Intervention, Positive Behavior
Support Systems and Restorative
Practices to develop more caring and
responsive environments. The team
will discuss the philosophies and
strategies underlying these practices
and how these practices can help
educators support their students in
the classroom and beyond.
Cultivating the Power of
Teacher Leaders
Amy Arundell, UFT Director of
Personnel and Special Projects and
Rita Danis, Co-Director of the UFT
Teacher Center.
Research shows that teachers
learn and develop most effectively
through collaboration with their
peers. The UFT and the Department
of Education created a career path
for teacher leaders in the contract
based on their shared belief in the
importance of retaining exemplary
teachers in classrooms. In this
session, teacher leaders will share
experiences and practices that have
begun to have an impact on their
school community.
It’s All About the Apps
(K–12)
Nancy Mazzella, UFT Teacher Center
Instructional Technology Coordinator.
With so many apps to choose from,
how do educators know which one to
use? In this session, educators will explore how UFT Teacher Center partner
schools have integrated various apps
into instruction. Learn how technology
can promote collaboration and student
engagement.
Barbara Johnsen @1educ8r
#AllKidsNeed to recognize their full
potential socially, emotionally and
intellectually. Future good citizens
are more than a test score!
PROSE: Fostering
Collaboration and
Innovation for Student
Success (K–12) PROSE Panel Members Jackie Bennett,
Christina Collins and Jose Vargas.
When teachers lead the change,
change works. This workshop
will help you assess the levels of
collaboration and innovation in
your own school and explore how
you can use the PROSE approach to
bring about the changes you want.
You will also learn why hundreds of
schools have applied to be PROSE
schools and whether you should
consider it for your own school
community.
Using Apple Technology
to Transform Classroom
Learning (K–12)
Sterling Roberson, UFT Vice President
for Career and Technical Education
High Schools.
(Please note: You must bring your
own Apple device.) In this interactive
session, you will learn how transformational technology has been used
to augment classroom instruction and
improve student learning outcomes.
Participants will receive an overview
of the best educational applications
available to wirelessly synchronize
content, create and share courses in
iTunes U and iTunes U Course Manager and create multi-touch interactive
textbooks for the iPad. Participants
are encouraged to bring their iPad,
MacBook and/or iPhone.
Kristian Lisowski @lisowski33
#AllKidsNeed a well-rounded
education!!! Students should reach
for the stars, not just high test
scores.@NYGovCuomo