Teachers organize 520 curriculum workshops for province-wide PD day
HALIFAX, Oct. 20 /CNW/ - School is out for students on Friday but their teachers will be attending classes throughout Nova Scotia.
October 22 is provincial professional development day in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia teachers will be attending 23 different conferences in locations in the Valley, South Shore and HRM. To date some 7,000 Nova Scotia members have registered on-line.
"The majority of PD sessions around the province are offered by the 23 professional associations of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, which concentrate on curriculum areas and school levels," says NSTU president Alexis Allen. The 23 associations also include one for faculty members of the Community College and one for NSTU professional support members.
"The NSTU provincial professional development day represents the incredible dedication of teachers to the improvement of public education in the province. It provides an opportunity for thousands of teachers to enhance their practice and knowledge," continues Allen.
The NSTU president notes that some 520 workshops, keynote sessions and hands-on learning opportunities will be offered to teachers beginning on Thursday night and continuing until Friday afternoon.
Keynote speakers among the 23 conferences include: percussionist-composer Jerry Granelli, who will speak to art and drama teachers; Olympian Karen Furneaux, who will address physical and health education teachers, and Sun Life Chair in Adolescent Mental Health Dr. Stan Kutcher, who will provide insights to guidance counsellors. Symphony Nova Scotia's resident composer Dinuk Wijeratne will address music educators while Texas Instruments curriculum manager Dr. Kevin Spry will be at the Math Teachers Association conference. Dr. Leonard Sax, author of Boys Adrift and Girls on the Edge, will provide his insights on the gender crisis to primary-elementary teachers.
"Committed NSTU volunteers plan and deliver an astounding array of workshops and sessions for each professional association," says Allen. "Collectively, these conferences provide some 6,000 hours of professional development per year."
"The October conferences represent just a small part of professional development activities undertaken by teachers—two-thirds of which is accomplished on their own time," continues Allen. "This commitment is on top of hours spent on university courses and other programs of study."
"The teachers who organize and conduct workshops during this conference day are to be commended," says Allen. "In sharing their expertise and resources with their colleagues from across the province, they are making an invaluable investment in public education in Nova Scotia and our students will reap the rewards of their efforts."
For further information: Angela Murray at 902-479-4708 cell: 497-0194
Detailed information on the October Professional Development Day is available on the NSTU website at www.nstu.ca under the media resources portal.
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