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Why the AI Summit Feels Like Recess for Educators
What if professional development felt less like a meeting and more like recess? The Kent ISD AI Summit 2026 is where educators come together to explore artificial intelligence in education, share ideas, and build momentum. Discover why educators across Michigan are calling this the PD experience they didn’t know they needed.
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Teacher Leadership Development: Essential Skills for K-12 Educators
Discover essential teacher leadership skills that transform schools and empower educators. From instructional coaching to mentoring, learn how teacher leaders drive positive change through collaboration, communication, and expertise. Explore professional development opportunities with Kent ISD’s Deep Dive PD series to develop your leadership potential and expand your impact.
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Navigating Your First Year: Mentorship for New Teacher Success
Stepping into the classroom for the first time can be exciting and overwhelming. One powerful tool that helps new teachers navigate these early years is mentorship. This professional relationship fosters growth and resilience. But what does a successful mentoring partnership really look like? Transforming Mentorship Unlike the traditional “buddy system,” where new teachers shadow a…
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5 Game-Changing Tips for Tech Integration in Classrooms
Hello! My name is Katherine Fredrickson, and I am excited to join Kent ISD as your new Educational Technology Consultant! After over 22 years in education, including roles as a first and third-grade teacher and a technology specialist, I have gained valuable experience integrating technology in the classroom. Today, I’d like to share some practical…
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From Grades to Growth: How to Use Assessment Data to Drive Learning
Imagine this: you’ve just finished grading a set of quizzes, the scores are logged, and your students eagerly check their results. Some celebrate, others sigh, and the moment passes as you move on to the next topic. But what if those scores could do more than just reflect what your students know? What if they…
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Leading Beyond Walls: The Role of Teacher Leaders in Education
In the book Teacher Leadership That Strengthens Professional Practice, Charlotte Danielson defines teacher leadership as a “set of skills demonstrated by teachers who continue to teach students but also have an influence that extends beyond their own classrooms to others within their own school and elsewhere.” The Role of Teacher Leaders Teacher leaders inform, inspire, and impact…
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Engage All Learners: 5 Must-Know Tricks for Accessible Presentations
As I was catching up on the latest episode of the For the Purpose of… podcast on Accessible Design, it struck me—how can I, as a graphic designer, ensure my slide decks cater to all learners? Crafting inclusive and captivating presentations is essential for anyone who shares information. After all, if your audience can’t grasp…
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Unveiling the Power of Belonging: Essential Strategies for Student Success
What is belonging? According to Cornell University’s Department of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, belonging is ‘the feeling of security and support when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identity for a member of a certain group.’ In school communities, belonging occurs when individuals can bring their authentic selves into the learning environment. When…
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Guiding Sustainable Learning: Empowering Educators for Powerful Impact
“Powerful learning for children requires powerful learning for educators.” -GELN Organizational Practices Values Stop and consider what it means to learn something new. When was the last time something you learned changed your behaviors? What makes learning so hard? This year, we are tackling these questions at our Michigan Math Educators (MichME) network. Using the text Intentional Interruption, we…
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How Can Mentorship Transform Your Teaching Career? Explore the Art of Guiding Growth and Success!
Have you ever considered the people and experiences that influenced your journey and shaped your life? You could write their names on the feathers of your gratitude turkey. Recently, one of my children brought home a construction paper turkey with feathers holding the names of different things he was thankful for. I wasn’t surprised that…