Faculty and staff are setting up for success with the First Professional Development Day of the year

Faculty and staff throughout the District engaged with their colleagues in various hands-on activities on Thursday, August 29, 2024, to train for the upcoming school year and engage in professional development during Superintendent's Conference Day.

Representatives from Education Discovery, i-Ready Classrooms, as well as directors from the Mount Vernon City School District delivered presentations to teachers. Teachers were placed in different classrooms throughout Mount Vernon Leadership Academy and Mount Vernon High School based on what subject and grade they teach. 

“The District focuses on writing, so this session is on looking at the literacy briefs from New York State, identifying high-impact practices, instructional practices in social studies, and then putting it all together with technology,” said Marybeth Rhodes, Director of Humanities. 

Topics that were discussed during the day included lesson planning and how to bring real world moments into classrooms. They also discussed their textbooks and other content they will be using during the year, as well as other topics. 

 “I want to learn today,” said Ebony Acheampong-Rogers, Resource Teacher at Hamilton School. “I want to be able to take away new strategies because you have to reach each student differently. I also enjoy working with my colleagues from other schools. I enjoy professional development days that are set up in this manner. We get to brainstorm, we get to discuss different strategies that we use in our buildings and we get to discuss our different students.”

Professional development serves as a crucial part of preparing teachers for the year ahead. The goal is to refine teaching strategies, integrate new technology and stay updated on curriculum changes. 

“Professional development serves as an opportunity for our faculty to engage in collaborative discussions with their peers, participate in workshops, and set goals for the upcoming year,” said Dr. Jamal Doggett, Assistant Superintendent of for Curriculum, Instruction & Administration.  “As we prepare for our scholars to arrive, it is important for us to come together to share ideas, learn new strategies, and get ready to provide the best possible education for our students.”