District completes winter professional development on science of reading; staff trained across grade bands

Twinsburg City School District officials reported on Feb. 19 that teachers and certified staff completed districtwide professional development in January on the science of reading, part of the district’s 20-first-century teaching and learning goal.

Missus Farthing (district staff leading the initiative) told the board the district assigned pathway modules that ranged from about 7 to 22 hours depending on staff role, with the stated aim that “every teacher is a reading teacher” so all staff use common terminology and strategies. The administration said the modules provided a foundation for follow-up work focused on writing and vocabulary that content-area teachers could incorporate the next day.

District leaders said the dyslexia-related modules had already been rolled out at Wilcox and Bissell and that benchmark training was completed at those buildings. Instructional assistants also received an overview so they could better support students during push-in sessions. The presentation noted that art, music and physical-education teachers participated in the K–12 pathway modules.

The board praised staff leadership and data work that supported the January professional development. The district indicated planning is already underway for continuing professional development in the coming school year and that modules will be required for new staff members joining the district.

Separately, the district’s treasurer, Julia Rosnayo, presented financial highlights, including recent grants and external awards the district received. The meeting packet listed approximately $14,057 in foundation grants awarded to several teachers for classroom projects, $4,056 tied to a teacher-of-the-year initiative, $7,500 received from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, and a $10,000 award supporting a vocational cafe at the high school that pairs students with disabilities with vocational training opportunities. Rosnayo said the district also pursues larger grants and consortium savings, and that it has realized interest income through short-term investments during the fiscal year.