SUNY Potsdam Education Students Inspired by Best Practices in Teaching Seminar

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Clockwise, from top: Chelsey Smith, Angela Matthews, Nicole Osgood, Taylor Roberts, Robert Leabo, Geoffrey Van Duyne, Toni Epprecht, Allison Forth, Stephanie Vlad, Katherine Denny & Stephanie LaShomb.

POTSDAM, NY (06/13/2013)(readMedia)-- Twelve SUNY Potsdam students recently participated in the College's Best Practices in Teaching Seminar, "Looking at the New Teacher Evaluation," sponsored by the College's Teacher Opportunity Corps and The School of Education and Professional Studies.

New York State United Teachers Education and Learning Trust Instructor Carol Kissam, an adjunct instructor in performance and communication skills at St. Lawrence University, led the seminar.

Through handouts and group activities using the constructivist approach, Kissam guided participants in reviewing and discussing the seven New York State teaching standards, and elements on which a teacher's performance in the classroom is evaluated. The presenter also described the rubric used in teacher evaluation and its purpose in rating teaching practices and performance levels.

"Participants commented that the seminar helped them gain a variety of important information about the teacher evaluation process," said Diana Fisher, director of TOC and Student Support Services at SUNY Potsdam.

The TOC students gathered for a group photo following the seminar. They included, clockwise from top left: Chelsey Smith, Angela Matthews, Nicole Osgood, Taylor Roberts, Robert Leabo, Geoffrey Van Duyne, Toni Epprecht, Allison Forth, Stephanie Vlad, Katherine Denny and Stephanie LaShomb.

The Teacher Opportunity Corps grant is funded by the New York State Education Department Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs Teacher Development Programs Unit and SUNY Potsdam.

To learn more about the Teacher Opportunity Corps program at SUNY Potsdam's School of Education and Professional Studies, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/SOEPS/toc.

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,350 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts.

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