Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaching — A Partnership Between the Annenberg Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Education
PIIC Participants Continue Learning in October PD PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 04 November 2010 09:30

Over 140 coaches, mentors, teachers, school, and district administrators attended PIIC’s recent statewide professional development conference at the Penn Stater Conference Center in State College, PA from October 27-29th.

Sessions on a range of topics were offered to participants beginning with PIIC’s Before, During, and After cycle of consultation. General sessions also included discussions on Difficult Coaching Conversations, facilitated by PIIC Mentors Diane Hubona and Nancy Neusbaum; and the follow-up feedback conversations Reflection – Stop, Think, Reflect facilitated by PIIC Associate Director, Bruce Eisenberg, PIIC Mentor, Lynne Fedorcha, and Instructional Coach, Mary Anne Rood.

Continuing her success from July’s Professional Learning Opportunity, Elizabeth Powers facilitated breakout sessions on Elementary Coaching on each day of the event, totaling almost four hours over the course of three days. Other multi-day breakout sessions included Literature Circles facilitated by PIIC Mentor, Lynne Fedorcha and Instructional Coach, Deb Zosky; Effective Professional Development and Facilitation, facilitated by PIIC Mentor, Nancy Neusbaum; and developing an “I Search” paper facilitated by PIIC Mentor, Kathy Yorks.

Part-time Secondary Coaching facilitated by IU PIIC Mentor, Karen McCartney and PIIC Field Support Mentor, Kathy Gori, and 21st Century Skills facilitated by PIIC mentors, Jess Jacobs and Gen Battisto, were also session topics.

On Day 3, AED’s Ivan Charner moderated a panel discussion entitled, Working with Reluctant Teachers. Coaches Mike Baker (Altoona School District), Susan Reutter (SE Delco School District), Sharon Spada (McKeesport Area School District), and Tara Young (Penn Delco School District) answered questions, shared stories, and gave advice relating to their experiences about working with difficult teachers.

In addition to the PIIC PD event, administrators from participating PIIC IUs networked with their statewide colleagues in the last 2 sessions of the Act 45 PLN for School Leaders course on October 27 and 28. School administrators earned Act 45 credit and graduate credit for successfully completing this course.

Participant feedback regarding the PIIC PD event was positive: “I always enjoy PIIC sessions. They are always energizing and filled with cutting edge information for instruction which will help our staffs provide better instructional services. Our district is moving in the right direction through the direction of our superintendent and the mission of the PIIC teachings. PIIC needs to be spread to ALL districts in PA.”
-District Administrator

 “I learned so much in the I-Search session.  I also enjoy the panel discussion and just hearing the responses and the questions generated.  I learned that coaches have to meet teachers where they are, and be patient.”
-School/District/Regional Instructional Coach

“This conference was so wonderful! I am a new coach so it was so good for me to collaborate with other coaches and not feel so alone. I understand that this is a slow process and right now I need to be building relationships and providing for teachers.”
-Elementary Coach

Our next PIIC Professional Development will be January 26-28, 2011 at the Penn Stater Conference Center in State College, PA. For more information, visit our Events Page or contact your PIIC mentor.

 

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