During the 2021-22 school year, approximately 120 elementary staff members participated in LETRS Volume 1 training. During the 2022-23 school year, our staff is participating in LETRS Volume 2 training. About 60 teachers took the training this summer and another 60 are taking it during the school year. LETRS is a comprehensive professional development course that provides educators with the background, depth of knowledge, and tools to teach language and literacy skills to every student. The course addresses four critical outcomes for effective literacy instruction: understanding the science of reading, converting research to practice, enhancing teacher effectiveness, and transforming instruction. Teachers focus on sounds, decoding, encoding, recalling irregular words, phonological awareness and tying it all together! 

The reading program, Being a Reader, is our new core ELA resource at Ginther school in Grades K-1. Being a Reader is the first resource of its kind to integrate foundational skills instruction, practice in reading comprehension strategies and rich key literacy experiences with explicit social skills instruction and activities that foster students’ growth as responsible, caring, and collaborative people. Ginther teachers have received ongoing virtual training with our CCC trainers throughout the summer and fall to continue to learn more about this wonderful new ELA resource.

The HMH Into Reading curriculum is based on research in the essential elements of literacy. Robust assessment data give teachers the information they need to differentiate reading instruction and monitor student progress toward literacy goals. Students have online practice to reinforce foundational reading skills and vocabulary learned during whole-group lessons. HMH visited classrooms at Brockport in October 2022 to observe student participation and provide feedback for teachers, so our students are able to get the most out of the learning tool.

Brockport has been working with Partners in Restorative Initiatives (PIRI) for a number of years to provide training to our staff on restorative practices and community circles. During the training, staff have learned the philosophy and values of restorative practices including community building circles and academic circles. Community-building circles offer a safe space where people can communicate openly and honestly, listen deeply and build a sense of community. During our training sessions, participants have learned how to develop and use circle values and guidelines, the importance of storytelling, ways to build trust among circle participants, practical applications for using circles, how to plan and facilitate a circle, and ways to create a positive culture within a classroom, building or community.  Academic circles are a highly effective teaching method that can be incorporated into every subject area at any point in the regular instructional day. Participants have gained experiential practice for using academic circles in the classroom, engaging students in active learning and introducing students to restorative practices through the circle process. 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion aptitude is highly valued by our school district. The professional development we are providing is designed to prepare our staff to work more effectively in a diverse environment and foster a climate of inclusivity within our schools. Training is designed to increase DEI knowledge and skills, accurately define and conceptualize DEI terms, and share best practices when modeling inclusive practices for our students.

To learn more about DEI initiatives at Brockport Central Schools, visit our DEI webpage.