PREP to host virtual development workshop for educators March 18
The Penobscot River Educational Partnership (PREP) is hosting a professional development day Friday, March 18, for approximately 1,400 area educators.
PREP is a collaborative partnership organization focused on improving student learning by providing high-quality professional development for educators. It has 27 members, including 23 school districts in the Greater Bangor/Eastern Maine area and four higher education partners: The University of Maine, University of Maine Augusta at Bangor, Husson University and Eastern Maine Community College. Betsy Webb, Libra Professor of Educational Leadership at UMaine, is PREP’s executive director.
The event will provide regional professional development on a variety of topics, including technology, student engagement, wellness, STEM, literacy, math, outdoor learning spaces, teacher clarity, home-school relationships, adaptive leadership and social-emotional and equity learning. There will be 180 different presentation sessions throughout the day from organizations such as Bangor Public Health and Community Services; Bangor Region YMCA; Acadia Hospital; Northern Light Primary Care; the Maine Multicultural Center; Maine Department of Education; Maine and County Teachers of the Year; Maine School Safety Center; EMCC; Husson University; UMaine Augusta at Bangor; UMaine; and several school district leaders.
This year’s keynote speaker is Greta Peay, founder and CEO of Diversity Matters, LLC. Peay joined Nevada’s Clark County School District in 1987, following eight years at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System, in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has dedicated more than 40 years of service to the education profession. Her career is best described as a change agent and advocate for social justice and equitable opportunities.
A bilingual speaker, Peay is nationally known for her professional development skills in the areas of literacy, language acquisition, cultural responsiveness, equity, diversity and inclusion. She retired from the Clark County School District as the chief instructional services officer.
For PREP, she has designed a presentation for all educators, titled “The Journey of Equity: Creating Healthy Schools — Social and Emotional Learning.” Social and emotional learning (SEL) provides a foundation for healthy development. It is the process children, youth and adults go through to develop the skills to engage with others, manage their emotions, show empathy, handle stress, resolve stress, set goals and make responsible decisions to succeed in work and life.
For more information, contact Betsy Webb: betsy.webb@maine.edu.