Attending a conference is a win-win. Teachers return to school full of tried-and-true strategies they can implement day one. Principals gain new teacher leaders, and students benefit.
Meet four JCPS teachers who use class pets to aid student learning
From bearded dragons to guinea pigs, JCPS teachers are using classroom pets to aid student learning by teaching them responsiblity.
- Teacher conferences offer valuable professional development and rejuvenate educators.
- Conference attendance has decreased, possibly due to funding shortages or lack of awareness.
- Teachers, administrators, and policymakers should prioritize and support conference attendance.
- Students benefit from the renewed enthusiasm and updated teaching strategies their teachers gain at conferences.
When I first started teaching, attending conferences was a thing. I was introduced to the KY Council of Teachers of English and KY Science Teachers Association as a student teacher (1996). It was exciting to attend a session and learn from teachers and leaders in the field. Throughout my career in education, I continued to love learning at conferences. I’d return full of new ideas and strategies to implement in my classroom. I was excited to be a teacher and one who was always learning. That excitement spread to my students and to other teachers in my building as I shared what I had learned.
Conferences help teachers and their students
Later, the Kentucky Reading Association and Louisville Writing Project conferences became favorites. Each of these conferences provided a chance for teacher leaders to hone their skills as presenters and to share innovative instruction from their very own classrooms. After my own professional learning through the Louisville Writing Project’s Summer Institute (the best professional learning of my career by the way), I became a presenter as much as a participant. Both impacted my teaching. Each time, I returned excited to implement and share something new I had learned.
Attending a conference is a win-win. Teachers return to school full of tried-and-true strategies that work and they can implement day one. Principals gain new teacher leaders as these teachers share what they’ve learned and grow into leaders beyond their building. And most importantly, students win because their teacher is excited to be teaching his or her subject and that energy to learn spreads to students.
Teachers, find a way to attend conferences in your field
But lately, overall attendance at professional conferences has waned. Possibly this is due to a lack of professional development funds, a sub shortage or simply not knowing about the opportunities. But the learning and rejuvenating that happens at these conferences is way too important. My mother always taught me, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” The opportunity cost of not having these conferences available to teachers is way too high.
Teachers, find a way to attend the conferences in your field. There are so many options beyond those I mention here. Principals and district staff, help teachers find the best conference for them and find a way to support their attendance. Kentucky Department of Education, keep doing your part to support this type of professional learning. Legislators, support these organizations and/or the teachers who attend them. They simply need funding to keep providing teachers this exceptional professional learning experience.
Let’s not let these valuable conferences become a forgotten gem!
Carol June Franks retired from teaching after 25 years. She taught middle school science and language arts, worked as a school literacy coach in Shelby County West and East Middle Schools. and state literacy consultant. Carol taught reading intervention during her last six years.
link