Professional Development
On our staff, we have worked through many avenues to educate ourselves about being kinder to our earth. We have taken graduate classes, written curriculum, gave presentations, attended local workshops. Ultimately, we work to make ourselves and our school better through learning ourselves.
Full STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL CURRICULUM INTEGRATION Two of the leaders from the Howard County Science department came to our school to host professional development to all of our grades. They discussed integration of the environmental science curriculum into other areas of the curriculum, particularly in relation to the Next Generation Science Standards. On December 13, 2013, Amy Reese met with all of our teachers in sessions throughout the day. On January 14, 2014, Sandy Keaton met with all of our teachers in sessions throughout the day. |
HOW CAN WE DO BETTER? On February 24, 2014, a second grade teacher and our principal organized a "Be Green" educational session for our staff. Each staff member chose two of six sessions to experience. Two of the sessions were run by our very own experts (inspired, knowledgeable and motivated members of our staff not on the Green School Leadership Team), and the other four were run by community experts, one parent from the Environmental Protection Agency, and three Master Gardeners. The topics ranged from recycling in your worlds to preservation of animal habitats to introduction to composting. It was an inspiring and motivating day for all of us! |
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STAFF UPDATES At both Staff Meetings and Team Leaders meetings, the staff has had regular discussions concerning our progress as a school in relation to the environment, our progress on our Green School process, and reflection on projects. One particular staff meeting (see video) was completely hosted by a group of 4th and 5th graders who implored the staff to do a better job reducing, reusing and recycling in their classrooms. |
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STAFF INTERVIEWS
A group of 3rd grade students wanted to find out how the staff was feeling about recycling, what they were already doing, and what the staff wanted to know more about- on order to improve our habits. They interviewed each staff member to refine our Green Team goals. |
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Individual Staff Professional Development
Our Bollman Bridge staff continues to improve our knowledge and our understanding of our place in the environment. We have teachers who are working on STEM graduate degrees, teachers who have or are taking college courses with environmental focuses, and teachers who have worked with a large variety of local organizations in workshops to further their own expertise. |
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This document gives specific details about the professional development of our staff.