AISNE’s New Teacher Workshop Series
Empowering Teachers to Thrive in Independent Schools
Supporting new teachers during their crucial transition period is essential. Investing in their development not only cultivates essential skills and attitudes, but it also impacts student success.
We warmly invite teachers entering their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year of teaching to this workshop series. Designed for learning and support alike, this yearlong program will home in on best practices, create a community of peers, and provide you with essential strategies that last your entire career. These workshops offer a platform to establish a strong foundation for thriving in the school environment, particularly independent school. Each session will emphasize best practices and help you develop vital skills and insights relevant to teaching and learning.
You will engage with presenters and peers in both large and small group settings, with discussion time dedicated to helping you build connections with teachers of similar subjects and student ages.
The workshop series is designed for teachers in their first 3 years of teaching.
Register
This is a 4-part workshop. Your registration is for all parts.
- Thursday, August 8, 2024 | 3:30 – 5:00 PM
- Thursday, September 5, 2024 | 3:30 – 5:00 PM
- Thursday, January 16, 2024 | 3:30 – 5:00 PM
- Thursday, February 13, 2024 | 3:30 – 5:00 PM
All sessions are held virtually, via Zoom.
| Attendees | Member Pricing | Non-Member Pricing |
| 1 – 3 | $395/pp | $495/pp |
| 4 – 9 | $360/pp | $460/pp |
| 10 – 19 | $320/pp | $420/pp |
| 20+ | $300/pp | $400/pp |
Program Details
Session 1: The Power of a Strong Start (Part 1)
In this engaging session we’ll delve into essential aspects of starting strong in the teaching journey. You’ll come away with practical strategies and insights to foster positive rapport, an essential skill for educators of all experience levels. We will discuss student and family communications, explore the power trust plays in your role, review active listening skills, and develop a culturally responsive lens.
You will also dedicate time to effective policies and procedures, including the benefits of building a strong routine. We will review key elements needed before the school year begins, and talk about how to create policies for academic goals, behavioral expectations, and student engagement. You’ll meet in breakout groups to meet your peers and build professional connections.
Session 2: The Power of a Strong Start (Part 2)
Now we will build on part 1 and lay a foundation of best practices that you can rely on throughout your career in the classroom. One area of focus will be be early-year parent conference preparation, including an overview of typical interactions, and how you can collaborate with colleagues and administrators. You will gain strategies and resources for addressing conflicts and fostering a supportive classroom community.
This session also offers strategies for effective classroom management, how to effectively transition lessons, and vital time management techniques. You will also discuss how to address challenges and unexpected behaviors from students and parents.
Session 3: The Deeper Look (Part 1)
In this session, you will start the second half of the school year with a focus on improving your 1-on-1 communication skills. Learn how to listen effectively, observe keenly, and negotiate skillfully. Discover how these skills can help build relationships and navigate challenging conversations with empathy and clarity, leading to resolution and growth.
We’ll devote time to the feedback framework—giving and receiving feedback—and how to set goals for conversations. We will also focus on the role of empathy in our interactions and how to demonstrate understanding. We will also work on projecting a positive nature in conflict resolution and problem-solving. In breakouts you will work with peers and review key takeaways.
Session 4: The Deeper Look (Part 2)
Strong student engagement in the learning process relies on strong planning. This session will focus on creating alignment between a school’s curriculum, best practices in course/unit design, and relevant assessments so as to foster high levels of student engagement and learning outcomes.
Ken and Flavia will walk you through the concept of an independent school’s unique mission, vision, and value, and why understanding your school’s mission is essential to success. We will talk about curriculum standards and the Portrait of a Graduate concept as north stars for learning outcomes. We will talk about course design with this in mind, and share techniques for backward design framework (UbD) and applications of learning.
We will conclude our learning series with an examination of assessments, including homework, quizzes, peer feedback, rubrics, reflection, and more.
About the Presenters
Ken Rogers | The Park School (Brookline, MA)
Ken Rogers is the incoming Assistant Head of School for Curriculum and Instruction at The Park School after serving as the school’s upper school (grades 5-8) division head for four years. Rogers is on the faculty of the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) New Teacher Institute. With independent school experience as a teacher, department chair, dean, and head of middle school, he is a frequent ISACS and Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) presenter and consultant to independent schools. Ken has previously led workshops with AISNE, including “Sustaining Your Practice: Creating Teaching Habits to Last Your Whole Career” and “New Leaders in Today’s Changing Landscape.”
Dr. Flavia Vidal | The Overlake School (Redmond, WA)
Dr. Flavia Vidal (she/her) is the Director of Teaching and Learning at The Overlake School (WA). Before her time at Overlake, she spent 20 years at Phillips Academy (MA). She is an experienced educational leader skilled in steering program transformation and fostering cultural change. Specializing in equitable and inclusive curriculum development and progressive pedagogies, she brings a multilingual, multicultural, and scholarly perspective to her work. Vidal is on the faculty of the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS). She is dedicated to collaborative and inclusive educational practices, and her scholarly interests span comparative literature, interdisciplinary studies, intersectional gender studies, and global education.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations and transfer requests must be sent via email to info@aisne.org. Cancellations received up to 10 days before the start of the event will receive a 100% refund, less a $100 administrative fee. Transfers of registrations from one person to another are permitted up to 3 business days before the start of the event, or the first event of a series of events.
Not an AISNE Member?
Become part of a network of more than 270 schools across New England. Enjoy opportunities for your entire school staff and faculty to connect with and learn from peers, and engage in high-quality professional development. AISNE is here to support your school’s excellence and continuous improvement.
Join today or renew your membership.