By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Educators and paraprofessionals have been working on a variety of professional development (PD) initiatives since the start of this academic year, Assistant Superintendent Adam Federico said during a recent School Committee meeting.
Federico said he has been helping plan professional development initiatives in all four schools. He recalled that schools were closed for a daylong professional development day on Sept. 22.
“We recognize that when we ask our families to keep the kids at home, we are asking for a change in routine and potentially putting a burden on folks to have something set up for their kids,” said Federico. “I just want to thank our community for supporting us with those type of days and the early release days as well.”
Federico said elementary school teachers along with Lynnfield Middle School grade 5 and 6 math teachers, special education teachers and paraprofessionals worked with a McGraw Hill representative in order to begin the process of implementing the Reveal Math curriculum. After the Math Curriculum Review Team selected Reveal Math as a new curriculum last year, Elementary Math/Science Curriculum Director Christina Perry said during a recent School Committee meeting that the curriculum is being introduced as part of a “soft launch” this year.
“We are really excited to be moving this forward, not only in our elementary schools but pushing upward toward grades 5 and 6 as well,” said Federico. “Having a day where an expert can come in and work with our staff not only on ‘Reveal’ specifically, but really thinking about how to teach math and how to engage our kids was really valuable.”
Federico said there were teachers, psychologists, counselors and paraprofessionals who participated in a Safety-Care training program that the district’s Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) taught.
“We use de-escalation training for students who need various types of interventions to kind of regain control and stability,” said Federico.
Federico said Lynnfield Preschool teachers and paraprofessionals participated in a literacy and phonological awareness training program.
“We were looking at how we teach kids the beginning stages of reading for our youngest learners,” said Federico.
Federico said Lynnfield High School teachers spent the morning of the Sept. 22 professional development day participating in “Effective Inclusion” workshops.
“That is not only legal mandates around IEPs (individualized education plans) and 504 plans, but also our multilingual learner population,” said Federico. “We are really looking at making education accessible for all learners. We had all of the content teachers and all of the elective teachers come together. We had our attorneys come in and give the legal overview, but we also had internal special education staff present to the faculty. I think that was great and really well-received.”
Federico said LMS general education and special education teachers worked on designing differentiated lesson plans.
“We were thinking about differentiation and how we design instruction for the variety of learners in front of us,” said Federico.
Federico said LMS grade 6 and 7 social studies teachers worked with representatives from the organization Primary Source after the district received the Genocide Education Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
“We look at how we teach about genocides, but it is bigger than that,” said Federico. “It’s about how we teach hard and hopeful topics in history. The frameworks present some challenging units and lessons. It’s great to have an outside group come in and help guide us in how we can create environments where kids can really learn, have discussions and engage in the material.”
Federico said Primary Source is also supporting LMS fifth and sixth grade teachers with looking at the Investigating History curriculum.
“This is a free curriculum from DESE on social studies,” said Federico. “It’s a great resource. We see that as something that can pair nicely with our current fifth grade work. Primary Source also helped our grade 5 teachers explore that curriculum and look at where it can start to be brought in.”
Federico said middle school paraprofessionals received professional development training on “how to function as a member of an IEP team and the basics of behavior improvement.”
Additionally, Federico said media specialists used the Sept. 22 professional development day to begin planning initiatives for Digital Citizenship Month that was held in October. He also said the Music Department began planning initiatives for Music In Our Schools Month that will take place in March.
“Other departments met as well,” said Federico. “It was a really productive day. I am really pleased with how that PD day went. I want to thank the community for supporting us.”
School Committee member Kate DePrizio thanked Federico for thanking the community for supporting the daylong professional development day as well as the early release days.
“This day was really meaningful and we really maximized it,” said DePrizio. “I think it is really appreciated and lets parents and the community have a different view of what goes on during those days for everybody.”
School Committee member Jamie Hayman commended Federico’s work on the different professional development initiatives happening in the schools.
“I love this,” said Hayman.
Hayman said he would like to learn more about the professional development world language teachers at the secondary schools have been receiving.
“I know we have had a lot of turnover in that department,” said Hayman. “At some point in the future, I would just like to hear about what we are doing.”
Federico said he has met with LHS World Language Department Head Jodie Leibowitz and LMS World Language Coordinator/Spanish teacher Kristina Provost to “talk about some goals and where those departments want to go.” He informed the Villager that LMS and LHS Spanish and French teachers will be meeting and working together during an early release day in January.
“That work would include alignment of the French and Spanish courses from LMS to LHS,” stated Federico. “They would also share information about effective teaching practices within their discipline.”
Federico told Hayman during the School Committee meeting that he would give him an update on the professional development world language educators are receiving.
As part of an effort to increase communication, Federico said he is writing a monthly newsletter for staff members.
“They get that at the start of the month from me,” said Federico.
In addition to Federico providing information about local professional development initiatives, he said the newsletters also outline professional development opportunities for staff that are “beyond the early release days or a PD day.”
“There are so many resources out there that staff can engage in,” said Federico.
Federico also said the staff newsletters include a section pertaining to supporting the district’s multi-language learners.
“That is a growing population that we have in our district,” said Federico. “There is a small segment that provides information to our teachers, opportunities for PD, instructional tips and information on how to do translations or help our families access information. We are just trying to make sure we are providing all of our staff with what they need.”
Federico noted that DESE is currently completing an audit of the district’s English language learners program.
“That will be finishing up in December,” said Federico.
Federico said the newsletter also includes a section on “safe and inclusive schools.”
“I wanted to make sure our staff had access to resources in order to be thinking about all of the different families and all of the different learners in the district,” said Federico. “I am trying to make sure there is something for everybody because this is a preK-12 system. I am trying to connect folks with a range of resources and keeping them up-to-date on things that are coming up that some of our families maybe observing a holiday or a tradition that is important for our staff to know what those are so they can make sure all learners feel welcome and accepted.”
Federico said the newsletters also include a section called “Inspiring Pioneers,” which he said highlights something that is “innovative or exciting” in a school or a classroom.
“I try to highlight something so the rest of the staff knows what is going on in our schools,” said Federico. “I think that is a nice way to build the environment and build morale amongst everyone in our district.”
Federico said he will be holding Curricular Conservations for families once again this year. The first event will take place on Friday, Nov. 21, beginning at 9 a.m. at Central Office, 525 Salem St. He said Curricular Conversations will feature “different topics” throughout the academic year.
“These are just opportunities for people to come in and talk with me,” said Federico.