6 Apps for Teachers

Graphite by Common Sense Media has compiled a list of apps to help teachers make their classrooms interactive, creative and productive in the new school year.  Read the entire article here.

6 Must-Have Apps for Teachers' Back-to-School Toolkit
1. Nearpod - for interactive presentations and assessments
2. eduCanon - gives teachers the ability to enhance video lessons with interactive assessments
3. EdPuzzle -  allows teachers to customize, remix, crop and enhance existing online videos to math their teaching needs
4. Notability - equips students to take notes that they will want to review, revisit, and actively use
5. Knowmia Teach - tool for capturing teacher- or student-created video presentations on an iPad.
6. Collaborize Classroom - offers a secure online antidote to uninspired, disengaged classroom discussions

Paine Elementary Staff Meeting

The entire Paine Elementary Staff met together this morning in a meeting to kick off the merger of Paine Primary and Paine Intermediate.  All three principals shared information and their visions for a positive school year.  With over 200 staff members, it will be a busy, but productive school year!

Dr. Evans shared his thoughts about working together for the benefit of students.

Dr. Jeter provided information regarding the AdvancEd external review that will occur in November.

Mrs. Schmitt reminisced about the 12 years the Paine Campus has been in existence and introduced the assistant principals.  

From The Hechinger Report: The Value of Academic Coaches

Traditional professional development workshops alone translate to teachers changing how they teach only 10 percent of the time. But when teachers have a coach or another teacher come to their class and give them feedback, that rate surpasses 90 percent.   Read more about the role of teacher coaches as a solution to Common Core woes.

New Teacher Orientation

Approximately 40 new TCS teachers gathered at the BOE for New Teacher Orientation today.  The group attended sessions that included information about iNow, technology, the Alabama Code of Ethics, FERPA, Lee v. Macon, Educate Alabama, the TCS Strategic Plan, and the TCS New Teacher Orientation Plan.  This year, each school will have a New Teacher Orientation Coordinator and mentors for each new teacher.  New Teacher Orientation Coordinators are Melanie Glover, Kristi Stacks, Leigh Stovall, and Dawn Kilgore.  Today's orientation was the beginning of strategic support for all teachers who are new to the district.

Elementary Academic Coaches

Elementary academic coaches, Edra Perry, Kelly McGough, Donna Brumlow, and Lisa Lothspeich, had their first district curriculum meeting today in the new Curriculum and Instruction Department at central office.  Responsibilities of the coaches will include coaching and modeling for teachers, collaboratively planning and implementing professional development, assisting in developing the professional development budget, coordinating elementary formative assessments, and supporting struggling students.  The four are a welcome addition to the department, along with Dr. Jennifer Cardwell.

Developing Technology Plans

Lead Technology Teachers (LTTs) from each school met with April Chamberlain today to refine school technology plans and to develop technology professional development plans.

Quotable Quote

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”

—Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
Theoretical Physicist, Philosopher, Nobel Prize Winner