The function was led by Tony Davis and Charles Igel. The purpose of the professional development was to get elementary teachers familiar with the teacher and principal evaluation system created by McREL, or Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning. Davis is principal consultant at McREL and Igel is a researcher specializing in learning and cognition.
Two other workshops of smaller size were held in the hotel’s Azucena I and II. Visiting presenter Mathew Bellhouse-King, research specialist of the Pacific Resources for Education and Training or PREL, led the “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender” workshop for school counselors. Bellhouse-King told Variety that the sole purpose of the workshop is to give the counselors an understanding of the term LGBT and the proper way to address those who identify with such sexualities. He also gave an insight of how to ask someone his or her sexuality and to understand that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender is not a label to use on people. “We are all people!” Bellhouse-King said.
PSS physical therapist Laurie Allen held the second workshop called “Job Satisfaction” for elementary teacher-aides under the special education department.
Allen said the workshop’s purpose was to bring self-reflection among the participants. “Today is all about them,” Allen told Variety in an interview.
“Everyone is here to get to know themselves and their capabilities. Because when one knows the specifics about themselves, they tend to work better in the workplace,” Allen added. She also conducted simple exercises for the participants, demonstrating stretching positions to calm the body.
Participant Reyda Calibo, a teacher aide for early childhood, said the workshop was fun and productive. She hopes PSS will conduct more workshops with Allen as their speaker.
