
W+H faculty and staff members participated in a series of professional development exercises and workshops during the In-Service Day on February 17. After enjoying breakfast in the AP Room, faculty attended morning breakout sessions titled Teaching Craft in Practice and Efficiency & Sustainability. Individual sessions in the first breakout included I Can Make Videos with Canva, Neurodiversity and Executive Functions in the W+H Classroom, Orton-Gillingham in Practice, Working with English Language Learners, Think Like a Marketer: Because You’re Already a Great Teacher, and Practical Differentiation Strategies. The second session offered options designed to help faculty reclaim time and streamline their day: Becoming a When-er: Turning To-Do Lists into Time-Based Plans, and Time Saving Tips and Tricks in Canvas.
Afternoon sessions focused on AI and Future Learning, beginning with a presentation by Dean of Faculty Nicole Hamilton in the Berry Performing Arts Center. Faculty and staff then attended one of five breakout options: Collaborating with AI: Designing Lessons and Teaching Materials, AI: Lessons in Critical Thinking, Authentic Assessment: Designing Assessments in the AI Era, Exploring the AI Landscape Through the Student Lens, and Student Safety in the Age of AI. The day concluded with optional health and wellness activities including movement, self-care, and an informal pottery painting session.