Hundreds of teachers spent a bright summer day deepening their insight on Aug. 6 at the Department of Teaching and Learning’s annual summer conference.

Under the theme, “Future ready: Empowering Educators,” the conference at Kellam High School included more than 100 sessions — from learning the latest assessment tools to understanding students’ cultural differences. Teachers traded tips on artificial intelligence, interactive learning techniques, small group tactics and more.

Chief Academic Officer Danielle Colucci asked teachers to pause and remember a student whose life was impacted by their role as educators.

“Don’t forget your stories, because they’re absolutely valuable,” Colucci said.

She recalled meeting a retired teacher seated next to her at a baseball game.

“I had the best career,” the teacher said. “I’m at peace. I just loved teaching, and I know my life has had an impact.”

“Teaching is a powerful calling,” Colucci said.

“When our career is done, we’re going to have peace like that woman in the bleachers.”

The intention of the conference is to empower Virginia Beach City Public School educators to incorporate innovative and aligned learning experiences into their teaching practices with a focus on future ready learners.

At a session about student behavior, kindergarten teacher Tamara Miley of Birdneck Elementary School shared an observation from last school year: “Wiggling isn’t always a sign of disengagement. And stillness isn’t always a sign of engagement.”

She encourages students to recognize each other’s positive actions. Teachers in the session exchanged ideas, such as having a “compliment jar” in the classroom. When a student notices another student saying or doing something nice, he or she puts a cotton ball in the jar. When the jar fills up, the whole class celebrates with a party.

Another session was titled, “Flying High With UFLI.” Presenter Ashlee Williams reviewed techniques that reflect the science of reading. One of many exercises in the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) program has students building words at their desks using phonetic techniques while their teacher simultaneously builds the world on a screen or board in front of the classroom.

Williams voiced out and used hand signals for different parts of words, and the teachers in her session did the same.

Some of the conference sessions focused on an assessment tool Virginia Beach City Public Schools is adopting called the NWEA MAP — which stands for “Northwest Evaluation Association Assessment, Measures of Academic Progress.”

“It’s aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning,” said Monica Robinson, coordinator of K-12 academic programs. While reviewing different facets of NWEA, Robinson received nods of support from teachers when she explained that the platform will help streamline testing requirements. Creating a spreadsheet of test results, for example, will take only one step instead of several.

Courtney Hovis, a kindergarten teacher at Point O’View Elementary, said the conference is energizing and motivating.

“I had the opportunity to connect with fellow educators and city leaders, exchanging ideas and strategies that are sure to benefit our school, staff, students and their families,” she said. “The sessions were filled with innovative approaches and practical solutions that I’m eager to implement.”

Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr. encouraged teachers to model the values they hope to instill in their students.

“What I’m asking you to do this year is to embrace the role of leader,” said Robertson. “Everyone in this room is a leader.”

Click here for more information about DTAL Con 2024.