The Department of Teaching and Learning's annual district-wide professional learning day, Pave Your Path II, a day devoted to growth and innovation, was a success! Pave Your Path II brought together inspiring presenters to offer practical insights and perspectives. With over 75 interactive workshops and hands-on learning opportunities, educators and administrators explored new ideas, techniques, and practices to deepen understanding and instruction aligned with our district's strategic plan.
Our Pave Your Path model of professional learning provided NRSD educators with a choice in content and learning format along seven learning paths: Pave Your Own Path, Curriculum Design and Alignment, Universal Design for Learning, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion/Belonging, Social Emotional Learning, Digital Tools to Support Learning, Multi-Tiered System of Support, and Portrait of a Nashoba Graduate
Nashoba's elementary classroom teachers, special educators, literacy specialists, and inclusion instructional assistants participated in one dedicated expanded session on the science of reading, presented by Dr. Melissa Orkin, Crafting Minds. This session featured the theories, research, and practices that support foundational reading development and will support a common framework and understanding for our K-5 literacy work and our new literacy curriculum adoption planned for next year.
As our work continues in support of our vision for learning and our Portrait of a Nashoba Graduate, this year's Opening Session presented an interactive panel of guests from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and sectors across education and the workforce who shared their journeys and perspectives on the practical application of the competencies outlined in our Portrait of a Nashoba Graduate. Attendees were thrilled to offer a warm welcome back to panelist and recent Nashoba graduate, Ailin Oberlies!
Important feedback from the day indicated that the panelists' real-world stories and personal connections highlighted the relevance of our portrait competencies beyond our district and set the stage for the whole day of learning ahead.