The Best PD is the Teacher Down the Hall--Or Across the District
February 10, 2020
FMS and WMS ELA teachers enjoy collaborating about the seventh grade Springboard curriculum
Under the coaching direction of Mrs. Lynne Martin, Walton Middle School and Freeport Middle School reading and ELA teachers have recently been provided opportunities to shadow each other to gain new creative ideas. Undoubtedly, teachers learn best when they learn together, and who better to learn from than cohorts who are creatively tackling the same challenges in the trenches each day?
Several weeks ago, Mrs. Martin coordinated and made it possible for WMS reading teachers Mrs. Emily Kent and Mrs. Jade Tucker to spend time watching Ms. Robin Walden in action at FMS. After classroom observations, the teachers had the opportunity to sit down together to brainstorm and debrief. Almost immediately upon returning to school, Mrs. Kent and Mrs. Tucker tried out new instructional strategies they gained from Ms. Walden.
Then on Wednesday, February 5th, FMS ELA teacher Mrs. Angela Jackson headed north to WMS. Alongside Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Jackson ventured into the classrooms of Mr. Brendon Murphy, Mrs. Michelle Seay, Mrs. Chastity McLaney, Miss Tara Manson, and Miss Regina Messer. After each visit, Mrs. Jackson and the teachers she observed debriefed and shared ideas. Everyone who participated benefited from the peer-to-peer collaboration.
Open doors open dialogue about instruction across the Walton County School District. Many thanks to Principal Jason Campbell and Principal John Olson for making this opportunity for professional growth possible.