ERTC Director’s Blog

It is with great pleasure and pride that I bring you this exciting NEWS!

ERTC Website
First of all, if you haven’t already noticed . . . our Website has been redesigned to be more user-friendly and attractive. Our Web Master, Sarah Chauncey who is the Library Media Specialist at Grandview School, has done an excellent job.

NEW to the Website this fall are:
• the Center’s Professional Resource Library database – allows you to conduct a search and request items from the Center’s library, online. Find it under Resources.
• the Reflective Practice video – this 20-minute video is a segment of an actual Reflective Practice Group session with our own teachers! It also provides information about this process. Check it out under Professional Development.
• Calendar – need to check the date of a workshop being held? Go to What’s Up where you will find our newly activated and up-to-date calendar of ERTC events.
• the Director’s Blog – will be published at least quarterly and will keep you abreast of “happenings” at the Center. It also can be found in What’s Up.

New Programs
• Professional Development Plan Grant, our NEWEST, new program, is a competitive grant of up to $1,500 to support professional development at the building level, either during or after school. Money may be used for projects such as . . . SmartBoard or other technology training; literacy workshops; a consultant; or a professional development need in your building. Application, rubric and program information can be found on our website.

• SMARTBoard Training – In response to the large number of teachers interested in learning how to integrate the SmartBoard with their curriculum, the Teachers’ Center has trained one teacher per building to serve as SmartBoard Resource Person. While they are still in the midst of becoming adept in the use of the SmartBoard, I thought I would let you know who the SmartBoard Resource Person is in your building. Here is the listing:

o Fleetwood – Crystal Smalls
o Grandview – Traci Gales
o Hempstead – Brian Mullan
o Margetts – Terry Bakke
o Summit Park – Amy bloom
o Colton – Andy Chalfin
o Eldorado – Brian Patterson
o Elmwood – Wendy Zweig
o Hillcrest – Paul Mindich
o Lime Kiln – Boni Rose
o Chestnut Ridge – Marie Horowitz
o Pomona – Liz Gottesman-Weiner
o Ramapo Freshman Center – Magali Dupuy
o Ramapo HS – Donna Avino
o Spring Valley HS – Duane Stilwell
o ER non-publics – Mark Berkowitz

Watch for our NEXT round of training! Applications and information will be sent out shortly.

• Reflective Practice Training – the Center has also trained several teachers in the process of Reflective Practice, which is a collaborative process of sharing, refining, problem solving and looking at teacher and student work. For more information about this process and how you can be trained to facilitate and/or participate in a group . . . .please call the Center at 6375. Participants can receive either inservice credit or funding for their experience.

• National Board Certification Candidate Support – during the Winter/Spring 2008 semester, the Teachers’ Center will offer an inservice course for those interested in learning more about the “Path to National Board Certification.” Facilitated by National Board Certified teachers, Therese Calvano and Jeanne Lively, participants in the course will be lead through a reflective journey that models the National Board process. Watch for announcement of dates.

New Teacher Mentor Program
For your information . . . the New Teacher Mentor Program is now in its tenth year. This year we have welcomed and provided mentors for approximately 45 new teachers. Once again the Center held a new teacher orientation at the Holiday Inn in Suffern, including a luncheon at which the new teachers met their mentor.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

11/07