Professional Learning Day: The Power of Believing!

Today the staff of Lakeside Union School District engaged in professional learning. The day kicked off with a State of the District address by Superintendent Dr. Lorden. He shared the steps Lakeside District has been taking, and still needs to take, to address the major reforms in educational policy in California. Dr. Lorden reminded staff that change can be stressful, but that our focus is always on doing what's best for all our students because they succeed when we believe in them. Our passion for educating students is clear, Dr. Lorden stated, and it's that passion that has resulted in phenomenal opportunities in areas like visual and performing arts, immersion, and science. 

Following his presentation, Dr. Joe Johnson, Dean of the School of Education at San Diego State University and Founder of the National Council for Urban School Transformation (NCUST) motivated teachers to continue seeking growth by telling the story of his madea, and how she always pushed him to excel. He provided three main focus areas for teachers as they continue to grow in their profession. The first is to be mindful of our lessons so that every student learns and connects with the content. The second focus is to make sure students know we care about them. And the final area is to be sure that we support and encourage each other during our professional growth. 

Teachers keep a science
notebook for lab activities.

After the speakers ended, our teachers and other certificated staff attended sessions focused on a variety of curricular areas. K-5 teachers spent the day in hands-on sessions to learn ways to best teach the new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) to their students. Middle school teachers focused on their curriculum content, discussing strategies to teach to mastery. Overall, it was a successful day of learning for our teaching staff. Principal Staci Arnold, Lakeview, sums it up nicely: "All the feedback was so positive.  Great to see our incredible teacher leaders sharing their expertise.  There's a whole lotta awesomeness in our district!"

Maintenance Dept was putting
out fires today!

Customer Service was the topic for many of our clerical staff. They discussed ways to build rapport with people needing assistance, how to streamline work flows, and improve communication amongst staff. 

Maintenance Department spent their day receiving training from the Lakeside Fire Department on fire hydrant safety, and the best way to put out a fire. Everyone really appreciated the knowledge that they got and the experience. The Lakeside Fire department did an awesome job also! 

Food Service personnel learn about
agriculture at Olivewood Gardens.

The Food Services department spent Professional Development Day at Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center in National City. They rotated through three different activities -a presentation on San Diego agriculture; a tour of the house and organic gardens; and a cooking class. Everyone had a wonderful time and came home with fresh citrus from their Center's trees and a souvenir rosemary plant.

Overall, it was a successful day for all participants. We appreciate our families supporting our professional learning and growth. To watch our opening videos, please check out our YouTube Channel.