While students enjoyed a day away from the classroom on Monday, October 12, Lansing USD469 teachers and staff spent the day learning, collaborating, and strengthening practices that support student success.
Professional Development Days provide dedicated time for educators to explore instructional strategies, examine student achievement data, and collaborate with colleagues. Across Lansing USD469, staff participated in training designed to strengthen classroom instruction and support student learning.
Lansing Elementary School
At Lansing Elementary School, staff spent the morning with Dr. Laurie Curtis from the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), learning about Structured Literacy and Dyslexia Initiatives from the state.
During the afternoon, Diane Kimsey led professional development focused on Mathematical Practices in the classroom, helping teachers explore ways to strengthen students' mathematical understanding and problem-solving skills.
Lansing Intermediate School
At Lansing Intermediate School, teachers had the opportunity to learn from Greenbush's Amy Huizenga about the power of sentence-level writing and its impact on student comprehension.
During the training, teachers explored how writing helps students express their learning and the importance of incorporating grammar and writing instruction across all subject areas. The session also provided practical strategies educators can immediately implement in their classrooms.
Staff also participated in Raptor Badge Alert training led by the district's Technology Department. The training included information about connecting emergency alert badges to the Raptor Alert system and using the technology to request assistance quickly during emergencies, reinforcing the district's ongoing commitment to student and staff safety.
Lansing Middle School
At Lansing Middle School, teachers participated in professional development led by Lansing Middle School Interventionist Dee Wiley, focusing on Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs).
PLDs help educators understand the knowledge and skills students must demonstrate at different levels of achievement on state assessments. The training focused on how these descriptors can be used to strengthen classroom instruction and assessments, helping teachers better align their expectations with student learning goals.
During the afternoon, staff participated in HMH pilot training, providing an opportunity for teachers to learn more about the instructional program as part of the district's curriculum review process.
Lansing High School
At Lansing High School, professional development centered on student achievement data, ACT preparation, and strengthening academic rigor across content areas.
Staff reviewed FastBridge, Kansas State Assessment, and ACT data to identify student needs and opportunities for growth. Teachers also explored changes to the ACT and discussed how reading comprehension, critical thinking, and analytical skills can be reinforced across subject areas.
One activity gave educators the opportunity to work through an ACT reading passage themselves, examining strategies students can use to navigate complex texts and questions.
The training emphasized the importance of challenging students to interpret information, evaluate evidence, explain their reasoning, and engage with rigorous reading materials.
Lansing Middle School Interventionist Dee Wiley also led professional development at the high school focused on Performance Level Descriptors, helping teachers examine achievement expectations and identify instructional strategies to support students in reaching higher levels of proficiency.
Investing in Our Staff and Students
Although the focus of professional development varied by building, the districtwide goal was to providing educators with the knowledge, tools, and collaboration time needed to support student success.
A special thank you to KSDE's Dr. Laurie Curtis and Diane Kimsey for leading professional development at Lansing Elementary School, as well as Greenbush's Amy Huizenga for sharing practical strategies to strengthen writing instruction at Lansing Intermediate School. We also appreciate Lansing Middle School Interventionist Dee Wiley for sharing her expertise and leading PLD training at both Lansing Middle School and Lansing High School, along with our Technology Department for providing important school safety training.
As a reminder, Tuesday, October 13, will be a Teacher Work Day, with no school for students. We look forward to welcoming our students back to classrooms on Wednesday, October 14!
