Professional Development

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT UPDATES

ANMC // Troy Fischer, Instrumental Music Director

Sam Hake and I were delighted to attend the AllNational Music Conference in Orlando in late November. Organized by our National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the conference was developed around AMAZING performances by the nation’s top high school musicians performing in the All-National Orchestra, Band, Choir, Jazz Band, and Guitar Ensemble. Junior Alex Qian represented Wichita Collegiate in the All-National Orchestra! While students rehearsed for these performances, Sam and I participated in two days of workshops with fellow educators from around the country. Famed Texas band director Paula Crider led our band director workshops. Stimulating ideas were shared and both Sam and I walked away from the conference reinvigorated to share our knowledge with the fine music makers at Wichita Collegiate School. Our time in Orlando culminated in listening to the All-National Ensemble concerts -- we were blown away! A big thank you to all those who make these professional development opportunities a reality at Wichita Collegiate School.

International Dyslexia Association Annual Conference // Cassandra Timko, 4th Grade Teacher

My experience at the International Dyslexia Conference has been life changing in so many ways. This week-long conference was more than just sitting and listening to presenters about the latest research in literacy. Networking with other schools and educators and having professional conversations during lunches and dinners were opportunities to meet people from Canada, the Bahamas, and many east coast private schools, with whom I plan to stay in contact and even hope to visit in the future. It was amazing to hear about the latest research in cognitive neuropsychology, assessments, and remediating language weaknesses directly from professionals conducting research studies. One evening, I had the pleasure to attend a performance by Lida Winfield, which literally brought me to tears and ended with a standing ovation from the audience. “In Search of Air: Growing Up Dyslexic,” was a 60-minute dance/ theater performance based on her life experience growing up with a learning disability. Through narrative movement, Ms. Winfield shared her gifts and heartache learning to read, which didn’t occur until her early twenties. It is pivotal for us as teachers to look beyond a student’s struggles to see his/her gifts. Often students may feel as though they are invisible or “drowning” in school and are alone. As educators, we have a responsibility to infuse optimism and hope into these kids to build self-confidence.

Attending a half-day symposium with private school leaders to network and discuss common areas of interest was definitely a highlight. During this time, we met in small groups and shared our views on standardized testing, admission requirements, learning differences, extracurricular activities, and neuroscience in the classroom. I gained so much from listening to other schools similar to Wichita Collegiate. Thank you so much for allowing me to attend this extraordinary conference.

NAIS People of Color Conference // Shanna Ahmad, Upper School Counselor

In November, I attended the 31st Annual National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference (POCC) in Nashville, TN. This was my second year attending this conference and, once again, I returned with a sense of rejuvenation and rededication to the WCS mission, “to educate today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders through a diverse and caring community with passionate teachers and inspiring curriculum.” NAIS’s purpose for the conference is to provide a safe space for leadership, professional development, and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools. The conference is not just for faculty and staff, as it includes a diversity leadership track for all students. This year’s conference was a record year with 6,100 registrants and a sold-out student track! The two highlights of this conference for me were the opening and closing plenary session speakers: Lisa Ling, award-winning journalist for CNN and OWN, and Marian Wright Eldeman, founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund. Both women encouraged attendees to think deeper, broader, and with more compassion regarding diversity and inclusion at our schools than we’ve ever thought before. We were also reminded through other workshops that change will continue to take place on our campuses, just at a faster rate. We can either drive the change and reap the benefits, or react to it while putting things back together because of the change happening to us. We have a choice. Each year, a local NAIS school hosts a portion of conference attendees on campus to walk through how they are practically applying the cornerstone principles of POCC. We toured the University School of Nashville (www.usn.org) and were blown away by their campus-wide commitment to excellence through diversity. The Office of Diversity and Community Life is one of the school’s 14 nonacademic departments. Faculty and staff proudly serve on committees focused on staff recruitment, curriculum, parent and student interest groups, and more.

Collaboration and partnership were key themes among attendees during networking sessions. I met a number of NAIS leaders throughout the country who are willing to collaborate with WCS and be a resource in any partnership opportunities. I was beyond grateful that our head of Upper School, Mr. Ashbrook, found value in and supported my desire to attend the conference. I also cannot thank the Taylor Family Foundation enough for their financial commitment to WCS Upper School faculty and staff development. I walked away from the 2018 POCC with professional growth and energy and knowledge to build, sustain, and support diversity and inclusion within our WCS family.