Educators’ conference tackles teaching
An Archdiocesan Educators Conference, sponsored annually by the Department of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, was held at San Mateo’s Junipero Serra High School Feb. 5, with national speakers addressing the theme for the day: “Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century.”
“It is a kindergarten through twelfth grade day and all Catholic schools – that is Archdiocese of San Francisco schools and private Catholic schools – are invited to participate,” Maureen Huntington, Superintendent of Schools, told Catholic San Francisco. “More than 1,000 teachers registered,” she said.
“It is a great event for the teachers – the opportunity to see colleagues from other schools and share experiences, best practices, and challenges meeting the educational needs of the students we serve,” Huntington said. “Teachers look forward to this day each year. They hear nationally renowned speakers on various topics in education and about Catholic identity. The intent is to continually improve the quality and knowledge of our teachers which in turn improves the quality of Catholic School education our students receive.”
The conference is organized by a Staff Development Committee, a board composed of teachers and administrators from Catholic schools in the Archdiocese, under the direction of Holy Names Sister Marianne Viani, associate superintendent of schools for curriculum and school development
Development committee member, Janet Shapiro, has been a member of the math faculty at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory for 32 years. In more recent times she has served primarily as Director of Professional Development at the San Francisco school overseeing a two-year program for new teachers.
“It consists of much formal and informal support,” Shapiro said. “Those first few years can be very difficult.” The work includes some supervision, and observation, she said, as well as helping teachers attain necessary teaching credentials.
“Get a lot of sleep,” is Shapiro’s first advisory for new teachers. “Take good care of yourself and take advantage of all the support that is available. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We all know how hard those first few years are.”
Cheryl Paynter has served for more than two decades at Larkspur’s St. Patrick Elementary School in roles including substitute teacher, school librarian and today eighth grade teacher.
Certain classroom elements have remained the same during that time but change has also had its impact, Paynter said. “Children themselves and their needs of safety and security, and the instruction itself really haven’t changed,” she said. Change has come, she said, with technology and teaching methods.
“There’s more interactive learning and children’s attention span is different because of the many things they are exposed to in terms of technology and more ‘instant answers,’” Paynter said. She looked to the day and its workshops for updates on “innovative teaching” as well as the chance to “exchange ideas and see how people are approaching the classroom and teaching at this point in time.”
Holy Names Sister Peggy Kinzie has taught at San Francisco’s St. Cecilia Elementary School for 32 years and has been a teacher for 49 years. “I love it,” Sister Peggy said. “I’m going to keep on going until it becomes a job. I don’t really ever consider it a job.”
The classroom and students have changed much through the years, Sister Peggy said. “I think because of the visual stimulus students are exposed to day by day they are more hyper,” she said. “Family values have gone by the wayside in some ways because both mom and dad have to work in order to afford their children a good Catholic education.”
Sister Peggy said children today have no time to slow down. “I try to do that in the classroom,” she said. “When the students come in I have soft music playing and we do some movement and centering exercises. I take time after lunch to read to them and then they are ready for the afternoon.” For new teachers, Sister Peggy says, “Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the children.”
Will Richardson was among the day’s presenters. Richardson is a former teacher from New Jersey who speaks around the nation on the “web and how it affects a lot of the stuff we do in the classroom and opportunities kids have to really learn some good things on their own.”
Richardson said his talks focus on “learning interactions” that can take place for students. “My whole presentation is filled with examples including first grade school kids in Omaha who are using podcasts and creating their own radio shows to share information, and kids in high school in Georgia who are working with kids in Bangladesh to really understand how technology is changing the world.” He summarized the presentation as “kids getting outside of their classrooms to work with other kids and adults from around the world.”
Additional speakers offered thoughts on “Nurturing Positive Relationships,” “The Challenges of Being Faithful to the Call of Educating in a Catholic School,” and “Using 21st Century Technology to Teach, Collaborate, and Inspire Catholic School Teachers and Administrators.”
Sister Ann Bernard O’Shea, a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet, is principal of St. Raymond Elementary School in Menlo Park. “I have been teaching for 53 years,” Sister Ann Bernard, said. “Education has changed and probably a lot for the good. Children are becoming more independent thinking for themselves.”
The educator said students’ “cooperation and patience has dwindled a bit” however due to technology - “a wonderful tool that has to used in moderation. We all have to keep a very close eye on what they are doing.”
“We are all responsible for the children,” Sister Ann Bernard said noting youth have more challenges today. She named the obstacles as “more materialism” and using it wisely. “Those of us who grew up with very little were satisfied with very little.”
Sister Ann Bernard said she returns to school “energized” by events like the development conference. “You always learn at least one good new thing.”
Jennifer Sabo is a graduate of St. Matthew Elementary School in San Mateo and today serves as vice principal there. “I think this is a great opportunity for teachers and administrators to get together as one teaching body,” the Santa Clara University graduate said.
Students’ “learning differences” make special attention an imperative, Sabo said. St. Matthew, which has an enrollment of 610 students, has enhanced its program in that regard with full-time aides as well as a resource department. The school has incorporated “push-in” and “pull-out” teaching modes into its schedule. The techniques, which have teachers tending to smaller groups of children in the classroom or taking them to another space, allow learning resource staff to better focus on children’s special needs.
For new teachers, Sabo says, “Stick with it.”
Almost 1,300 full and part-time teachers and administrators serve in the 65 elementary Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of San Francisco with almost 800 serving in the 14 Catholic high schools here.
Mercy Sister Pauline Borghello has been principal of San Francisco’s St. Gabriel School for 28 years and an educator for 45 years.
“Every year is new, every year is different, it never gets boring,” Sister Pauline said.
“I come to this day every year,” Sister Pauline said. “They’ve always been a good idea to get us together and when we get the same input it brings more unity in the teaching and the understanding. It’s an excellent idea.”
For new teachers, Sister Pauline says, “Prepare, prepare, prepare. Branch out and get to know your school community, get to know your parents. It will all make sense.”
By Tom Burke
From February 12, 2010 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
