Kanawha teachers return from Ron Clark Academy with active-learning practices, ask board for wider rollout

The Kanawha County Board of Education on Nov. 3 heard teachers describe how training at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta has changed classroom routines and student engagement. Mrs. Bridal, who introduced the presentation, said a combination of business sponsors and scholarships enabled the district to send 96 teachers to the academy in July.

Amy Veil, a math teacher at Dunbar Middle School, said the academy shifted instruction from ‘‘passive learning to active’’ by prioritizing discussion, ‘‘cognitive discourse’’ and student defense of reasoning. ‘‘Students now engage in small group instruction where they…