Retreat Gets Educators Ready For The New Year

Leaders of the Daviess County Public Schools district will gather for a two-day retreat on July 26-27 in the Community Room at Owensboro Christian Church to review and discuss expectations for the upcoming school year. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.

 District administrators, principals, assistant principals, staff developers and guidance counselors will join the conversation establishing goals and standards for administrators’ and teachers’ professional practice for the 2012-13 academic year. Thursday’s agenda will focus on instructional coaching and professional growth for teachers; and Friday will emphasize effective school improvement planning and monitoring.

 The book “Closing the Teaching Gap” will be utilized as a resource. The book, by author and former teacher/school administrator Donald B. Bartalo, analyzes the process for bridging the gap between traditional teaching methods and teaching that is needed for the 21^st century.

 The DCPS retreat is part of the district’s continued mission to prepare students to succeed for life.

 “We hear a lot about ‘teaching for the 21^st century,’ ” said DCPS Superintendent Owens Saylor. “The 21^st century is here and now, and our students can’t wait for classroom instruction to catch up to the rapidly changing world in which they are already living. We owe it to our students – every child, every day – to provide the best education experience possible. We take that responsibility seriously, and let me tell you, every member of the DCPS team is committed to doing whatever it takes to bring learning to life for our kids.”