Professional Development

Episcopal strongly believes in investing in its most important asset -- its faculty and staff. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend professional development opportunities across the country throughout the year. In addition to continuing to pursue certifications and higher degrees, Episcopal’s faculty engages in ongoing professional development opportunities offered through the University of North Florida, the Florida Council of Independent Schools and conferences on pedagogy. Teachers have attended field-specific training as well, including the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention; AP workshops; Econ in the Real World; and Hamilton, History and the Federal Reserve.

Professional Development Activities 2021-2022

Upcoming

  • Josephine Sanchez will attend Chairing Your Department: The First Five Years at the end of July.
  • Justin Weise will attend the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Leadership Conference in late June
  • Christine Slack will attend the Computer Science Principles Workshop, hosted by UNF and STEM2 Hub, June 20 – 24

AP Reading/Workshops/Seminars attended during the year

  • Several faculty members participated in “Thanks for The Feedback” book study.
  • Michelle Baxter and Leslie Dawson attended the TEACH Conference 2021
  • Jefferson Brant, Natalie Herford, Paige McGee, and Amy Perkins attended the FCIS Convention in November 4, 2021.
  • Emily Edmonson, Caitlin Fitzpatrick, Nitza Plaski, and David Wandel were presenters at the FCIS Conference on November 4-5, 2021.
  • Amy Gallo attended the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Virtual Conference, November 17-20, 2021.
  • David Wandel participated in the Teachers on the Estuary Training at the National Estuarine Research Reserve System on November 17 – December 28, 2021
  • Nitza Plaski attended MUN - Model United Nations Fundamentals Virtual Workshop.
  • Greg Hersey and Carolyn Tuttle attended the FMEA (Florida Music Education Association) Conference 2022, January 12 – 15, 20222
  • Debbie Deppe, Amy Gallo, Scott Givonetti, Tracy Jester, Giancarlo Mascaro, Annetta McCoy, Jake Nash, Patti Phillips, Christine Slack, Margie Stevens, Dawn Vaughan attended the FETC (Future of Education Technology) Conference, January 25 – 28, 2022 in Orlando, Florida.
  • David Wandel attended the NSTA 2022 Houston National Conference, March 31 – April 2, 2022.
  • Susanne Daily, music instructor, participated in sessions relating to poetry in the music classrooms, making connections through movement, and using books to enhance musical skills and reading development during the Florida Music Educators Association Conference in Tampa.
  • Bridgett Stroud, Learning Specialist, took part in the SAIS Academic Support Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. She attended sessions relating to strategies to reduce student anxiety, how to apply executive function skills across curriculum, and dyscalculia and math learning disorder.
  • Andy Farmer – Online Theology/Spiritual Life Course from Baylor University Continuing Education program
  • Sarah Chitwood, Innovation Instructor,  Marianne Haferkamp, kindergarten Instructor, and Megan Trumpler, fifth grade instructor, all attended the Future of Education Technology Conference together with Munnerlyn and Beaches Campus faculty. They uncovered trends and themes in the future of tech ed, including immersive learning through AR/VR, STEAM+, and adaptive learning tools.
  • Cary Benefield, Director of Pre-Primary, traveled to Orlando, Florida for the FCIS Early Childhood Institute Conference. The moving keynote speaker talked about how educators can be a part of the solution to mental health, substance abuse, and even violence in schools by teaching social and emotional intelligence.
  • Nancy Prendergast took a teaching AP Latin course  
  • Josephine Sanchez took Train the Trainer: Maximizing Comprehensive Input with the Target Language; Thanks for the Feedback Book Study
  • Seventeen teachers participated in the RPDS Diversity event led by Rosetta Lee. Lower School teachers took part in the Early Childhood and Elementary school sessions while the teachers from the Munnerlyn Campus participated in the sessions that apply to Middle and Upper Schools. 
  • Seven math teachers participated in a Bureau of Education and Research online session on helping students who fall behind in math skills. There is something available and applicable for every grade level.
  • Jackie Jenkins participated in an online Workshop:  Tulsa Race Riots presented by the Education Department at the U of Missouri through the Carter Center at the University of Missouri 
  • Boys lacrosse coaches received “Box Lacrosse Training Certification”

AP Reading/Workshops/Seminars attended during the summer:

  • Cathy Kanaday attended an AP Literary & Composition workshop offered by College Board 
  • Amy Burrows Perkins ’92, Director of Student Services,  attended the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) Summer Conference Session.
  • Wrestling Coaches invited a coach to campus to do a clinic called “Beebe Trained Wrestling Academy" 
  • Taylor Lee Horne '00, Performing Arts Department Chair and Upper School Theatre Director, and Dawn Morrow, Director of Dance, participated in professional development classes this summer with The Juilliard School. Taylor Horne attended "Coaching Monologues: An Immersive Lab for Theatre Educators," and Dawn Morrow attended "Infusing Dance Technique Classes with Student-Centered Learning." 
  • Mark Zimmerman was a reader for AP Photography & Digital Media exams
  • Alexander Hernandez attended the 2021 SAIS Institute for New Teachers at Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC 
  • Emily Edmonson was a reader of AP Government exams
  • Lara Duguid was a reader for AP European History exams
  • Lara Duguid attended a workshop for AP World History 
  • David Wandel was a reader for AP Environmental Science exams
  • Farah Barake attended a workshop for AP French
  • Cathy Kanaday and Emily Edmonson (English and History Chairs, respectively) organized a workshop for new faculty members in their departments to support their learning of how teach in the Harkness Method. 
  • Diane Bates attended the Adobe for Education Summit in July
  • Caitlin Fitzpatrick attended the "Teaching Shakespeare is Teaching Race" workshop in July through the Folger Shakespeare Library: https://www.folger.edu/teaching-shakespeare-is-teaching-race 
  • Dr. Derrick King enrolled in a course through the Harvard Graduate School of Education in May and June called "Deeper than Edutainment: Taking Books and Their Film Adaptations Seriously": https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ppe/program/deeper-edutainment-taking-books-and-their-film-adaptations-seriously 
  • Alex Hernandez and Teesha Renninger both attended the SAIS New Faculty Institute in Atlanta in July
  • Julie Carter attended the ACCIS Summer Institute: https://www.accisnet.org/programs
  • Debbie Deppe is engaged with ISTE Live throughout the year to continue with PD in respect to technology in the classroom: https://conference.iste.org/2022/
  • Justin Weise, Alex Nichols, and Jefferson Brant completed professional development in US History through the Gilder Lehrman Institute 
  • The History Department engaged in an entire day of professional development in the Harkness Method in August, facilitated by Dr. William Jordan, who is on the faculty at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire (the original institution that pioneered the Harkness Method).
  • The English Department also engaged in their own day of Harkness Method training In August with Becky Moore, a faculty member at Philips Exeter.