Wood County educators complete Teaching and Learning Academy sessions
Chris Biffle, left, speaks to a group of teachers Friday at Williamstown Middle/High School during the 2023 Teaching and Learning Academy. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Instructor Andrea Shindler speaks to Pre-K teachers about ways to engage their students and get them to learn and follow rules. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Instructor Andre Deshotel talks to secondary teachers about how to use hand movements and motion to keep students interested and focused. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Chris Biffle, left, speaks to a group of teachers Friday at Williamstown Middle/High School during the 2023 Teaching and Learning Academy. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Instructor Andrea Shindler speaks to Pre-K teachers about ways to engage their students and get them to learn and follow rules. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Instructor Andre Deshotel talks to secondary teachers about how to use hand movements and motion to keep students interested and focused. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
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PARKERSBURG -- It may be summer but learning doesn't stop there for teachers and administrators in Wood County as they completed their week-long Teaching and Learning Academy on Friday at Williamstown Middle/High School.
"We had just over 2,000 individual registrations for sessions," Ashlee Beatty, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Wood County Schools, said. "We had just over 60 sessions offered throughout the week, and each day started with a keynote speaker."
Guest speakers included Aida Allen Rotell, Dr. Karen Karp, Dr. Merrill Winston, Chris Biffle co-founder of Whole Brain Teaching and Dr. Timothy Rasinski, a professor of literacy education at Kent State University.
"He is what you would say is a rock star in the reading world," Beatty said. "He is one of the most well known ELA researchers in the world. So, it was just a treat and an honor to have him here."
Beatty said this was a one of a kind opportunity for educators in Wood County and that after meeting and hearing from someone with that much knowledge, and with almost every teacher having read his books, research papers, or heard his quotes, it helps to reinvigorate their love for learning and teaching.
"Well prepared and enthusiastic teachers make well prepared and enthusiastic students," Beatty said.
Beatty said not only did they bring in experts from outside the district but local teachers and administrators were also brought in to help.
"We had teachers that are experts in their crafts present sessions to their peers," Beatty said. "We're lucky to be able to use them as well."
Beatty said teachers from Pre-K all the way through grade 12 attended, and they even had new hires and student aides attend sessions.
"We've been able to invite all of our new hires," Beatty said. "And we also invited (West Virginia University at Parkersburg) education students. Those are the people that we want to recruit and get into our classrooms. We've had several WVU-P students come and participate."
Beatty said all of the sessions were based on feedback from teachers on what they needed and wanted and that she is happy with the number of educators who attended.
"I've been really pleased in all of our staffs dedication to teaching our students," Beatty said. "To give up a whole week of your summer really proves your dedication, interest and enthusiasm … We're just so lucky to have the people that we have here in Wood County."
Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com