Albany, NY - December 30th, 2014 - The William Floyd School District recently sent a team of educators to participate in the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Network Team Institute, which is New York State’s vehicle for implementing the reforms associated with “Race to the Top” and the Regents Reform Agenda. Teams from William Floyd and districts across the state gathered in Albany earlier this month for parts of four days to help inform New York educators around NYSED’s three school-based initiatives: data driven instruction, teacher/leader effectiveness and the Common Core State Standards.
The William Floyd team, presenting on the invitation of Senior Regent Fellow Kate Gerson, shared the district’s Universal Accelerated Mathematics Program which focuses on instructional strategies for all students including students with disabilities and students identified as “at-risk.” In addition to the strategies, they discussed providing support by making “real-time, in the moment decisions to differentiate lessons” and instructional “scaffolds” specifically designed to produce success in students struggling in mathematics. The team concluded with strategies to integrate the curriculum with science and technology to enhance the teaching of mathematics.
“The William Floyd team represented our district admirably,” said Dr. Paul Casciano, Superintendent of Schools, William Floyd School District. “We shared specific instructional strategies for our statewide colleagues to implement. More importantly, the overriding message was that we believe in all of our students and that this belief yields amazing results.”
Members of the team included Dr. Donna Watkins, Director, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), WFSD; Dr. Malasia Walker, Director, Special Education, WFSD; Ann Posiak, math teacher, William Paca Middle School; Gina Fumai, special education math teacher, William Floyd High School; Angela Cunha, special education math teacher, William Paca Middle School; and Jessica Weyer, math teacher, William Floyd Middle School.
Pictured at the NYS Cultural Education Center library in Albany are members of the William Floyd team that attended the Network Team Institute (from left to right) Ann Posiak, math teacher, William Paca Middle School; Gina Fumai, special education math teacher, William Floyd High School; Angela Cunha, special education math teacher, William Paca Middle School; Dr. Donna Watkins, Director, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), WFSD; Jessica Weyer, math teacher, William Floyd Middle School; and Dr. Malasia Walker, Director, Special Education, WFSD.
