In summer, Dist. 87 teachers build toward next school year

While one might think school districts spend summer months cleaning, renovating and catching up on buildings, budgets and bus repairs, the reality is summer also is a time for our staff to continue to refine and advance their craft. For any school district, strong teachers deploying the best teaching practices are the school board's main investment. Summertime is the optimal time to continue professional development and growth.

Keep the main thing the main thing

Even in the summer, we keep the main thing the main thing - strong teaching. Let's take a look at a few of the many instruction-focused activities Glenbard High School District 87 teachers and administrators are engaged in this summer:

• Content-specific writing teams articulating scope and sequence, as well as drafting common assessments;

• Attending Danielson evaluation workshops, working to effectively refine and integrate our instructional review and evaluation processes;

• Grading the free-response sections of Advanced Placement exams;

• Preparing for integration of iPads for incoming freshmen;

• Working toward their advanced degrees;

• Helping students advance through our summer school programming;

• Improving students' math skills by assisting with Edgenuity, an online tool that offers targeted instruction to help students catch up or get ahead;

• Networking with colleagues across the country through Twitter chats and Google Hangouts to become more effective practitioners;

• Helping band and choir students develop music and leadership skills through camp experiences; and

• Attending professional development workshops.

Year-round focus

Through these and many other activities, our teachers and administrators are working to ensure there is a great school year ahead. They're also modeling the lifelong learning and continuous growth we want to see in our students. Throughout the year, educators' focus is on:

• Helping students acquire and master skills;

• Supporting students who struggle;

• Fostering a sense of love of learning; and

• Inspiring students to explore and discover their interests and passion.

Before we know it, another school year will get under way and, thanks to educators' hard work over the summer, it will be a year of innovation, deep learning, growth and success.

• David F. Larson is superintendent of Glenbard High School District 87. His column runs monthly in Neighbor.