Date of this session: Mon. July 26, 2021
Our 4-hour synchronous sessions will be held from 8:00AM-12:00PM (New York time). Not sure what time it is in your region? Check the time zone converter.
This session is designed specifically related to teaching PK-12 Social Studies curriculum divided into five modules:
- Curriculum & Instruction: Examine student-centered pedagogical approaches and instructional practices for synchronous and asynchronous activities.
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice: Delve into teacher competencies that promote culturally responsive teaching.
- Assessment & Feedback: Share formative and summative assessment practices for F2F, online, and hybrid environments.
- Social Emotional Learning: Explore ways to mitigate and address the social and emotional needs of all learners.
- Virtual Learning: Harvest the collective knowledge of the group around best practices and resources for virtual teaching.
* This session will use both Canvas and Zoom.
Meet the presenters:
Melissa Veloz
As an accomplished educator, Melissa Veloz has passionately taught Social Studies through a social justice lens for over 20 years in private and public schools in New York City and Charlotte, NC where she currently resides. She believes that all children are revolutionaries and with the proper guidance and nurturing they will truly “be the change we want to see in the world”. With over a decade of demonstrated (data proven) ability to teach, motivate, and direct students while maintaining high interest and achievement she has been able to close the achievement gap for scholars in her learning community. An articulate communicator able to effectively interact with diverse populations of community stakeholders. She has a proven ability to design and implement lessons and Professional Development opportunities that are rigorous, engaging and differentiated (R.E.D). Melissa is a dedicated, motivated teaching professional who is committed to shaping reflective, self-directed learners who think critically and consciously. Creator of social emotional curriculums that supports school communities by connecting them with mentors, resources, and training for mindfulness-based social, culturally relevant, and cognitive learning. In addition to being an accomplished educator Melissa is a “triple threat” she sings, dances and acts and states that her experience on the stage has prepared her for her most difficult audience, her students. “Children either receive you or they don’t, teachers should view every day in the classroom as if it were the performance of a lifetime.”
Chad McGartlin
As an undergrad at Kennesaw State University, Chad was given the opportunity to pilot a student teaching abroad program in conjunction with Nanjing Normal University in China and has remained an international educator ever since. He has served at International Schools in Mexico, Ecuador, Cyprus, China and The Cayman Islands. His experience in these schools includes stints as a Learning Coach, IBDP Coordinator, CAS Coordinator and Extended Essay Coordinator as well as a teacher of History, Psychology, and his personal favorite, Theory of Knowledge. Currently he is the High School Assistant Principal at Cayman International School. Chad holds a postgraduate certificate in Curriculum Administration (Innovation and Entrepreneurship) from Plymouth State University and is passionate about collaborating with faculty and students to ensure that the language of learning and education can be understood and accessed by all. In his free time, Chad enjoys pondering his lack of free time while practicing authentic servant leadership in a real-world context with his two sons, ages 6 & 4.
Mareena Kohtala
Mareena has worked in education for 14 years, including schools in the US, Qatar, and South Korea. Her experience includes school leadership, educational technology and curriculum innovation, as well as classroom teaching in elementary and middle grades. She’s particularly interested in utilizing innovation and technology to transform teaching and learning, as well as balancing the academic experience with social-emotional learning and a variety of extracurricular programs and experiences.