This fall, SPUSD teachers participated in two separate professional development days to gain new skills and knowledge about teaching and learning. In October, elementary school teachers took part in a science-focused day with Twig Science training and a CAST data review. Twig Science is the interactive, hands-on science curriculum taught at the elementary level. CAST is the California Science Test administered in fifth, eighth, and eleventh grade.

 

Chinatown Service Center presented a two-part session (one in October and one in November) about Mental Health First Aid for secondary teachers. Mental Health First Aid helps school staff assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In these courses, employees learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, including strategies for how to help someone in crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.

 

During the November professional development day, SPUSD’s Speech-Language Pathologist Anna Clark trained instructional aides on how to help students with disabilities access the curriculum using augmentative and alternative communication devices. Attendance clerks took part in attendance training provided by FCMAT, and secretaries, clerks, and technicians reviewed activities related to conference requests, timesheets, and Smartetools business software among other topics.

 

SPUSD values its employees and offers opportunities for continuous learning to help improve skills that in turn benefit students and their experiences.