Chris Hadfield and Kudos for Teachers

This year our PGDTA PD Committee decided to sponsor a table at the Bob Ewert Memorial Dinner.  Our plan was to use the dinner (with keynote speaker Cmdr. Chris Hadfield!) as a recognition of service to teachers who volunteered to put on top-quality professional development for others this year, and also as a prize for early-bird registration at the Spring Fling Conference.

We asked for nominations from teachers -- descriptions of great Pro-D experiences this year in and outside of Pro-D days, and the people that made it happen.  We recognized the following exceptional teachers for putting together worthwhile Pro-D: Shirley Madsen (math workshops), Kathy Rice (technology, genius hour, inquiry), Jerry Bleecker (technology, assessment), and Caitlin Marquis (organized two mini-conferences for TTOCs). Our early-bird registration winner was Elyse Schebesch, a new teacher in Mackenzie, who was thrilled to be a part of this event.

Hearing Cmdr. Hadfield speak is its own form of Pro-D, and we hoped that these teachers would take joy from a chance to be on the receiving end for a change.  I wish we could have sent dozens of teachers to the Bob Ewert dinner, for we have many that volunteer their time to organize events, host a professional learning session of some kind in their class or school, and share widely their time, talent, insight, and ability to listen and reflect.

In short, thanks again to the many teachers who make themselves available to be professional development leaders in our school district.

Ta'Kaiya Blaney

Spring Fling Conference

Conference Website -- http://springflingconference.weebly.com -- information on workshops, keynote speaker, vendor displays, and registration.

The Educational Spring Fling is a conference for educators in SD57 (Prince George), SD27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin), and SD28 (Quesnel), plus other educational professionals, advocates, specialists, and community members from Prince George and beyond. This conference takes place at Prince George Secondary School on the traditional territory of the Lheidl T'enneh First Nation. With the involvement of PITA (Provincial Intermediate Teachers’ Association), local and guest workshop presenters, special speakers and trainers, vendors, publishers, and partners in the educational community, we have put together one of the largest and most varied K-12 conferences in BC.

This conference is the result of the cooperative efforts from the following PD Chairs and their committees from these BCTF locals:
Shirley Giroux, PD Chair, Cariboo-Chilcotin BCTF local 27
Carlie Borrett, PD Chair, Quesnel BCTF local 28
Glen Thielmann, PD Chair, Prince George BCTF local 57

The Spring Fling is made possible through professional development funds from each local, and is also supported by contributions from CUPE local 3742, the PGPVPA (local Administrators Association), and the SD57 Aboriginal Education Department. The success and quality of this conference can be attributed to the ongoing support of the PD Committee Chairs, the numerous volunteers who contribute their time and energy, presenters and facilitators who willingly give of their time to share their knowledge, publishers who present their materials and provide door prizes, and District PD Committees that enable each of the locals to share this common Professional Development Day.

A reminder: parking is limited. Parking is limited at PGSS. Please consider carpooling, walking, or alternate transportation. We are discouraged from using Pine Centre Mall as overflow parking. Do not park against the PGSS building (e.g. under the overhang) or you may be towed. Your efforts to minimize parking problems are appreciated.

On behalf of all involved, I trust you’ll have a great day and come away challenged and refreshed. It has been great to work with everyone involved in creating a conference of this magnitude. Enjoy the conference!