In preparation for the new school year, Educational Services and Student Support Services joined forces to host a highly successful Summer Institute. This year, the district offered a comprehensive catalog of trainings, instructional practices, and professional development opportunities. The diverse range of sessions included Supporting Student Behavior, Writer’s Workshop, Love and Logic, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD), Publisher Training for World Languages, Building Thinking Classrooms, Writing in Content Areas, VAPA Artsology & Artworks, Sonday, and more.
One of the standout sessions was the two-hour Supporting Student Behavior module, where educators gained valuable strategies for effectively managing and addressing student behaviors in the classroom. This training provided evidence-based practices, including de-escalation techniques, trauma-informed approaches, and interpreting behavior as various forms of communication. By participating in this session, educators are now better equipped to respond empathetically to students’ needs, fostering an educational environment where every student feels valued and understood.
Overall, PYLUSD offered an impressive 92 sessions, attracting 2,200 registrants. The district extends its heartfelt thanks to the school sites that hosted the Summer Institute and to the dedicated TOSAs (Teachers on Special Assignment) who presented and helped organize the event.
In addition to the Summer Institute, PYLUSD also hosted a New Hire Institute for all new hires and teachers. This week-long mini-conference played a crucial role in onboarding new colleagues and was widely attended, with 188 participants engaging in 30 sessions.
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. One participant shared, “Staff has been very encouraging, helpful, and supportive! It’s nice to know as a new teacher that we have such a great support structure!” Another attendee remarked, “I have worked for different districts but have never been offered these trainings. I really appreciate the support PYL has offered.”
Cameron Castaneda, Educational Services Administrator and Induction, emphasized the district’s commitment to supporting educators, stating, “We make it a priority to set teachers up for success in the year ahead.”
PYLUSD looks forward to continuing its tradition of excellence in professional development, ensuring that both new and experienced educators have the tools and support they need to thrive.
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