Teaching & Learning
September 2023
Staff Spotlight ~ Welcome Inductees!
Take Me Out to Perkiomen Valley
This year's induction program centered around a baseball theme. New inductees spent 2 days in August learning all about Perkiomen Valley, receiving devices, learning about curriculum and technology, as well as supports available to them. They competed for prizes and bragging rights, even being contestants in Perkiomen Valley's own Amazing Race! The District has certainly hit a homeroom with these new staff! Please join us in welcoming the following new staff to our community...
- Lauren Piccione - MS West Librarian
- Sylvia Fowler - MS West Nurse
- Tyler Wharton - PVHS Science Teacher
- Kendra Hauk - Board Certified Behavior Analyst
- Kimberly Good - MS East Counselor
- Susan Francis - PVHS Special Education Teacher
- Georgia Brasco - Evergreen Psychologist
- Maria Warriner - PVHS Math Teacher
- Timothy Corey - PVHS Art Teacher
- Tara Vigiolto - Evergreen Special Education Teacher
- Chloe Sullivan - Skippack Autistic Support Teacher
- Jennifer Leary - Skippack 2nd Grade Teacher
- Erin Dreisbach - Supervisor of Health & Wellness
- Danielle Cignarella - PVHS Special Education Teacher
- Cassandra Easter - South Counselor
- Michael LaBella - PVHS English Teacher
- Melissa Tornetta - PVHS Special Education Teacher
Shout Out to a Colleague! 📣
There are so many terrific things happening across the District. We'd like to share them in our newsletter. Consider sending a shoutout to a colleague. Fill out this brief form to share!
Newsletter Winners
* Elizabeth Mosteller (South Elementary)
* Chris DeMarco (Skippack Elementary)
* Tracey Sutton (PV High School)
Congratulations! Look for prizes coming your way! Keep looking for prize links throughout the newsletter this month!
Inside this Issue...🍎
* Staff Spotlight ~ New Teachers to Perkiomen Valley!
* The Changing Curriculum & Instruction Team
* Ways to Connect with a Coach
* PV Digital Toolbox Spotlight ~ What's New
* AI - for Education
* Worth a Listen - Check out these Podcasts
The Changing Curriculum & Instruction Team
Change is inevitable and the Curriculum and Instruction Team is no stranger to change. While change can be difficult, it can also be exciting. Read below to learn more about the members of the C&I Team.
- Dr. Laurie Smith, Assistant Superintendent, will be transitioning to become the Superintendent at Upper Dublin School District. Dr. Smith will remain at PV through November 17th. Ideas for her replacement are currently being considered.
- Humanities Supervisor - The District has posted and interviewed several candidates for this position. However, after much consideration, we have decided to repost this position. In the interim, Dr. Smith is working collaboratively with administrators from each level to ensure that progress continues in the Humanities areas. Mr. Berk (PVHS), Dr. Clune (Middle Schools), and Mrs. Nassoiy (Elementary Schools) will be partnering with Dr. Smith until the Supervisor position is filled.
- Supervisor of Health & Wellness - The team welcomes Ms. Erin Dreisbach to this role. Ms. Dreisbach will provide leadership to the areas of counseling and social work services.
- Supervisor of Equity & Student Services - This position has been redesigned from the previous Coordinator of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement position. In addition to leading diversity, equity, and inclusion work throughout the district, this position will provide leadership to the district's English Language Development, Title I, and Gifted Education programs. After careful consideration and a thorough interview process, we are recommending Keya Champagne-Lee to serve in this role. Ms. Champagne-Lee will be on the School Board agenda for October approval. She comes to PV with 12 years of administrative experience in the Phoenixville Area School District. We are excited to welcome Keya to the team.
- Instructional Coach (Literacy Focus) - Mrs. Leyla Nedin has transitioned to the role of Interim Assistant Principal at MS East. Her experience in leadership positions and strong instructional background will serve the MS East community well. Mrs. Nedin will return to her Instructional Coach role at the conclusion of the 23/24 school year. In the interim, the district is seeking a long term substitute for the literacy coach position and is currently reviewing applications.
- Continuing in their roles...
- STEM Supervisor - Mrs. Jaimie O'Sullivan
- Supervisor of Communications & Technology Systems - Dr. Tara Parr
- Data, Quality, & Assessment Program Administrator - Dr. Amy Sacks
- Instructional Coaches - Mrs. Kristi Lainhart, Mrs. Jessica Mattei, Dr. Sandie Shady
- Administrative Assistants - Mrs. Karen Zucker & Ms. Melanie Wolf
The Curriculum & Instruction Team is an AWESOME Team and will continue to support each other and all of our staff as we transition new members to the team!
Curriculum Updates📖
Coaching Connections 😃
Connect with our Coaches
We are excited to partner with you to support your classrooms in so many ways! Check out the choice board below for examples of ways in which coaches can connect with you. Please reach out to any one of us at any time!
What's New with PV Toolbox Apps?
There are always changes happening in the technology tools we know and love (most of the time) and use every day. Keeping up can be a challenge, so here are a few things that you might be interested to know about what’s new with our PV Toolbox resources.
Google Workspace New Features
Lock files more easily in Google Drive
Google is adding the option to lock Drive files by right-clicking the file, selecting “File information”, and clicking “Lock”. Locking a file makes sure reviewers can’t change a file. Edits, comments and suggestions can't be added to locked documents. See more information here.
Disable submissions after due date in Google Classroom
When creating a new assignment, teachers can decide whether or not to require a strict due date. By default, the assignments tool will still allow submissions after the due date.
This feature also allows teachers to choose to stop submissions for an assignment at any point, regardless of the strictness or presence of a due date. For example, a teacher could allow submissions for any assignment during the semester or year, but turn off submissions once the period is completed.
Adding rich text formatting to comments in Google Classroom
Rich text formatting is now available for class and private comments in Google Classroom, enabling teachers and students to customize and add emphasis to their content. This highly requested feature includes bolding, underlining, italicizing, and bulleted lists. Learn more about bold, italicize, and underline text. You’ll find more details on feedback options in Classroom here.
Other PV Toolbox Tools
In addition to the new features from Google, several of the tools we use as part of our PV Toolbox also have new features available. If you are interested in seeing what’s available in your favorite tools, see below!
Wevideo - Changes are coming in WeVideo to help streamline access to their tools and to make it easier to manage projects. Also, WeVideo added screen recording - check it out!
Kami - Kami has some improvements for using it with a touch screen as well as presentation tools. This may be of interest to those who use Kami with their Clear Touch. They are also adding more support for different languages and improved math tools. Check out the most recent feature additions, but also scroll to the bottom and look at what came out over the summer!
Edpuzzle - Edpuzzle is incorporating some AI tools to help teachers save time, including auto-grading short answers and question generation. They are also expanding closed caption support - this is rolling out and will be seen on more videos in Edpuzzle soon.
If you have any questions about these new features or would like to learn more about how these tools can support your work with students in the classroom, please reach out!
Click here to enter for a prize!
AI - for Education
AI has ushered in a new era in education, providing accessible tools for both educators and students. From Snapchat to Canva and Google, AI is becoming an integral part of various platforms. While AI isn't entirely new (think Siri, Alexa, Photomath) the latest tools have raised the bar. Recently, there has been a surge of generative AI tools that are not only available to the general public but also often free for now.
Where to begin? There's a plethora of AI tools designed for educators, and it's worth trying some of them out. A great starting point is ChatGPT, which can help with a wide range of prompts, from explaining complex concepts to planning lessons to personal prompts such as trip planning. Try these prompts:
Create a lesson plan and slide show to explain the fall solstice to 2nd graders.
Provide assessment ideas for a unit on healthy eating.
I am heading to Cape May, NJ for 4 days. What should I do?
I have eggs, spinach, feta cheese and flour. What can I make for dinner?
The possibilities are vast. Check out the Open AI Teacher Guide from ChatGPT as well as this AI prompt resource.
Explore even more AI Educator tools in this list: 30 AI Tools for the classroom .
These advancements, along with others, are rapidly becoming essential in preparing our students for the future. If you're interested in shaping the future of education at PV, consider joining the newly established Emerging Technologies Committee. More information is forthcoming!
Also, if you still need flex hours or are just looking for an opportunity to learn more and have discussions with colleagues about AI, consider joining the flex class “AI Collaborative Conversations”. There will be six sessions throughout the school year after school. You do not have to attend all six sessions to participate. Topics will be picked based on attendee interest and the first session is October 7th. Sign up in Frontline to join us!
Worth a Listen 🎧
How to Use Generative A.I. to Design Better Scaffolds and Supports
214: Nothing's Going to Change My Mind: How Unconditional Positive Regard Transforms Classrooms
Ep. 158: Science of Reading Beyond Phonics: The Ultimate Goal of Reading
Click here to enter for a prize!
Laurie Smith, Assistant Superintendent
Perkiomen Valley School District
3 Iron Bridge Drive, Collegeville, PA
(610) 489-8506