While students enjoyed a three-day weekend, IUSD staff attended the District’s Professional Learning (PL) Summit on Teaching and Learning on March 9. Organized by the Education Services Department, more than 2,200 teachers, staff and administrators were able to choose between more than 240 breakout sessions developed and presented by more than 150 IUSD educators across four IUSD high school venues.
This year’s PL Summit had the focus and theme of "The Human Side of Teaching in a Changing World: Fostering Belonging and Expanding Access for Diverse Learners." Participants engaged in a keynote experience and multiple breakout sessions focused on practical, research-informed strategies. From leveraging artificial intelligence for personalized learning to fostering classroom belonging, these sessions helped provide the tools to positively impact teaching and learning. Sessions included diverse teaching methodologies and social-emotional learning, AI in instruction, college and career readiness, Special Education, STEM, literacy, fine arts, student engagement, ensuring comprehensive professional development.
“No other district in the nation does or is able to offer this level of professional learning conference to all of their teaching staff, using their own personnel,” said Christopher Krebs, IUSD Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction. “We believe it is a testament to our IUSD culture of empowering leadership, continuous improvement and our commitment to modeling intellectual risk-taking that we are able to secure so many of our own teacher leaders to lead this day.”
Staff were able to hear from four education experts during the keynote at each respective high school. The various keynotes included:
- Dr. Brian Dinkins from the Center for Empowering Education presented to elementary teachers on the transformative power of leading instructional environments through serving and emotional intelligence.
- Dr. Catlin Tucker with Blend Education presented to elementary teachers on flexible approaches to teaching that expand access, remove common barriers and create multiple pathways toward standards-aligned learning goals.
- Dr. Michelle Pledger with Living for Liberation presented to secondary educators and specialists supporting special education and mental health on practical and culturally responsive, and liberatory instructional strategies that support positive student behavior, deepen belonging, and meet the diverse needs of today’s learners.
- Chase Mielke with Top Youth Speakers presented to secondary STEM, physical education, arts and CTE teachers on how harnessing positive emotions can improve teaching, drive attention and motivate students.
Thank you to all of our dedicated teachers and staff who are lifelong learners and embrace continuous improvement so that they can empower students and prepare them for challenging college, careers and post-secondary goals. It was an enriching and successful learning opportunity.