GCS Summer Academy 2023

In this session, participants can expect to learn how the state crafts actual TDA prompts which are linked to standard indicators and how that same thought process can transform content delivery and questioning in daily ELA instruction. Scoring feedback from recent testing events, many high-quality resources, and the I do-we do-you do learning model will be utilized.

Literacy skills are necessary for success in all content areas, but connecting literature in other areas can sometimes feel forced. Shared reading experiences build positive social and academic associations that can bridge gaps in learning and cross social barriers benefiting the entire school. Come learn ways to create a community of readers within your school where relationships are strengthened, SEL is consistently addressed, and disciplinary reading skills are easily reinforced.

For her book series, Deliberate Teaching Practices, Brooke Cushwa uses several research-based strategies to deepen professional development, including incremental, granular improvements; self-reflection; increasing personal power and ownership; and celebrating successes. This workshop will help teachers and leaders to utilize more reflective practices and two-way dialogue to encourage leadership, morale, momentum, and methodology both for themselves and other educators.

In this session, participants will learn how to develop a plan for school-wide professional development to support the Theory of Action. We will share ideas for full staff PD, PLC work, and one-on-one coaching cycles that can take place over a five week cycle.

Numeracy is the foundation to mathematical competency as children move through their academic career. Come find out developmentally appropriate ways to facilitate a strong base of numeracy in our earliest learners.

Literacy skills are necessary for success in all content areas, but connecting literature in other areas can sometimes feel forced. Shared reading experiences build positive social and academic associations that can bridge gaps in learning and cross social barriers benefiting the entire school. Come learn ways to create a community of readers within your school where relationships are strengthened, SEL is consistently addressed, and disciplinary reading skills are easily reinforced.

You know best practices and you know your vision, but how do you lead a whole school to see it and be it? Especially when new forks keep interrupting your plans and make you wonder if you are even on the right route. Forks like culture problems, lack of teacher trust, discipline issues, and the day-to-day operations you have to do, while also trying to accomplish school and district goals. If you are eager to feel closer to your leadership mission and leave with an action plan for how you are going to engage, educate, and empower your staff to achieve it, then this workshop is for you. You will leave with your own road map to get your school to its next destination, through the practices that flipped League Academy upside down and to 100% teacher/principal trust.

In this session, we will discuss the importance of creating a culture in the ILT for coaching through PLC Support, Coplanning, & Coaching Cycles. We will also discuss how collaboration and communication is valued in instructional leadership in the building.

Resilience in leadership is more important than ever. As school leaders, we have to be prepared to handle all types of needs and crises: the rise the in the need for SEL, supporting our staff so that they can support our students, creating safe spaces for students to learn. Building this type of school culture takes time and patience; however, there are a few important aspects that we all need to adopt in order to create leaders in each other, teachers, school staff, students and parents. This session will address all of these aspects focusing on personal reflection, connection with others, and empowerment of others, which leads to a thriving school culture where all voices are heard and everyone is supported.

Struggling with ways to make grade level teams unpack, understand, plan, and implement district resources on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis? Come learn from a team that was feeling that way but found processes that not only solved their problems but helped students along the way!

Looking for a way to improve student achievement in your school? Are your teachers frustrated with their current observation feedback? Are you looking to develop a more positive coaching culture in your building? Traditionally, efforts within public schools to improve student outcomes have not materialized with the desired results. Oftentimes, these efforts are implemented as "one more thing." This session focuses on the best strategy to improve the academic outcomes–good Tier 1 instruction with student-centered feedback for teachers. It is highly important that school leaders take up the mantle to be instructional leaders rather than managerial ones. By attending this session, you will discover one school’s answer to these questions, as well as learn how the administrative team earned their license to coach. Through the collaborative efforts of the Instructional Coach and the Wade Hampton High School administrative team, a two year professional learning plan was developed that incorporates instructional coaching cycles and a school wide focus on rigor. The plan prioritizes developing the administrative team into instructional leaders who can confidently engage in coaching conversations with teachers. Participants in this session will discover how to create a vision for professional learning and coaching cycles that includes: a timeline of implementation, an observation schedule, an observation template, and training for administrators!