Island Pacific Academy teachers are having their first Faculty Professional Development Day of the 2015-2016 school year today. School is closed and there are no classes for our students on a PD day.
What do teachers do during a Professional Development (PD) day and why do they need a day? “A thoughtfully planned PD day that brings our faculty together once the school year has started can be invigorating,” says Gerald Teramae, Head of School. “Our teachers will have time to form or renew partnerships across divisions, grades, and specialties; share the excitement of what is happening in their classrooms; and learn from one another and from experts that often are scheduled to present a seminar or session during a PD day.”
Elementary teachers Danica Baylor (Grade 4), Darci Asato-Garcia (Grade 3), Kelly Tokuhama (Grade 3), and Vice Principal Linda Hang talk with each other about their classrooms and share ideas during the professional development day.
All faculty gathered for a quick breakfast and some camaraderie in the multi-purpose room (MPR). A welcome and overview of the day from Teramae and IPA’s two division Principals, Steve Ross (Elementary) and Kip Cummings (Secondary) began the formal PD portion of the day.
During his math presentation, consultant Wesley Yuu challenged teachers to think of different strategies to solve math problems. Yuu is a consultant for SchoolRise, a firm that specializes in Professional Development, and has his consulting business YUUreka Mathematics.
Elementary faculty are spending the morning with Wesley Yuu, a math expert. Yuu’s session will focus on inquiry-based instruction and assessments. Yuu is well-known for his years of work as a math specialist with the Department of Education. He was recognized for his teaching methods by receiving the highest honor possible for math and science teachers: Yuu was one of four teachers from Hawaii selected by the White House in 2002 for its award program, administered by the National Science Foundation. He joined an elite group of teachers chosen from around the country, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and Department of Defense schools from around the world in Washington D.C. for a week of activities and celebration of their outstanding work with students.
Yuu works with Terry Fuller (SEED), Ashley Leon (grade 1), and teachers Patricia DelaCruz and Sandy Romo (both grade 2) during his math session. Teachers Cassandra Rooney and Amy Berkel (at left, grade 5)) discuss their activity.
“Working together, teachers had a chance to explore topics of questioning and assessment to help them enhance instruction and learning,” says Steve Ross, Elementary Principal. “They worked through problems, such as figuring out how many boxes of cookies were in a Trade Joe’s display to discuss that there are many strategies to solve a problem, to honor strategies that students use or even come up with, while at the same time understand that some strategies are more efficient than others. “
Secondary faculty Greg Terhune, Warren Andrade, and Aakash Shah discuss student examination data in the third floor library.
Secondary Principal, Kip Cummings, says this PD day is all about curriculum development for the middle and high school departments. “Our faculty will be engaged in analyzing examination data that we have for the school year at this point. They will use that data to improve both their teaching methods and students’ learning.”
Secondary Dean of College Counseling Kori Shlachter with faculty Tai Ando, Aiddy Weisbecker, Steve Cleveland, Sabine Yamamura, Nydia Santiago-Cordero, Akiko Taira, and Laura Guzman during a professional development work session.
Cummings explained that the secondary division chose to devote the day to reflection as departments and divisions. “This is much needed time to be able to work and share with colleagues the ways we can enhance teaching practices in our classrooms.”
Secondary faculty compare and discuss student work in their divisions and curriculum. Seen here are Patrick Tangonan, Jorge Ochoa, Brandi Dul, Micah Hirokawa, Chrissy Chow, Stan Vincent, Stephanie Han, and Brent Takenouchi.
“When our teachers are enthusiastic they can’t help but pass down this love of learning to their students,” says Teramae. “Think of it this way: we want our students to be lifelong learners. Our faculty, from time to time, need a day when they can be lifelong learners too, which helps to make them even stronger colleagues for one another and better teachers for the students of IPA.”
Secondary music teacher Micah Hirokawa reads a handout during professional development day.
Read an article from LearningForward.org about Why Professional Development Matters here.
