On October 9, 2023, the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District administration hosted a joint professional development day for certificated staff from the high school as well as from all eleven sending elementary districts. Over 800 teachers, counselors, child study team members, nurses, and media specialists came together to focus on how they can better serve our students.
“With split school districts, it is important that we continue to meet and discuss ways in which we can work together as if we were a K-12 district. I want to thank all the districts for aligning their school calendars to make this day possible. Staff members expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to network with their grade-level counterparts and high school teachers,” said Jeffrey Bender, Superintendent of Schools, North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District.
The day’s program included a training for all attendees on bias awareness by Harrison Dillard of Synergy Consulting and Training Group. The training provided attendees with insight into how our lived experiences and perceptions impact the hidden or subconscious preferences we have, but may not be aware of. Attendees were given ideas on how to provide a bias-free educational environment in which every student feels safe, welcomed, supported and valued.
In addition to the training, teachers and other staff members split into groups by grade level or subject area for articulation meetings. During the meetings, staff shared best practices and favorite lessons, discussed effective resources and technologies, and where they wanted students to be by the end of the school year.
“It was exciting to have so many educators working together during this joint staff in-service day. The day took a lot of coordination, and I’m thankful to everyone who helped make it happen. Our students will benefit from these discussions,” said Richard Broan, Director of Curriculum, Student Achievement and Articulation, North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District and coordinator of the day’s program.
While this is the first joint professional development day that included all eleven sending districts, subject-area meetings with teachers from the high school and sending districts are held regularly each school year, as well as joint meetings with all superintendents in the North Hunterdon-Voorhees district.
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