Adrian, MI – Adrian College’s TED 409 class recently led professional development sessions for educators from Springbrook Middle School and Adrian High School. Organized by Assistant Professor Kate Steele of Adrian College and Assistant Superintendent Derrick Richards of Adrian Public Schools (APS), the event brought together aspiring educators and seasoned teachers for an engaging training session focused on innovative classroom technologies.
The session, titled *”Bringing Excitement and Efficiency into the Classroom,”* showcased the creativity and expertise of Adrian College’s future educators. These aspiring teachers guided the APS teachers through an exploration of cutting-edge digital tools and strategies designed to increase student engagement. APS teachers learned about innovative applications for productivity and assessment, creative engagement techniques using Canva and Google, and insights into emerging AI technologies. The event provided educators with practical resources to energize their classrooms and enhance student experiences.
Reflecting on the experience, Adrian College Assistant Professor and former longtime APS teacher Kate Steele expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to connect future educators with APS teachers. “Adrian Public Schools’ willingness to welcome our future educators into the district and trust them with this opportunity really meant a lot. It was such a valuable way for them to grow, and I know they’ll look back on it as a key moment in their journey to becoming educators.”
Assistant Superintendent Derrick Richards added a personal perspective, emphasizing the significance of the session for the student teachers. “It was neat to see these college students step into the spotlight and share their teaching skills with our educators. Many of them will be student teaching this spring and before we know it, will be full-time teachers. This experience gave them a chance to showcase their abilities and build confidence, and I think made it a unique experience for all involved.”
The importance of creating meaningful experiences like this was further highlighted by Superintendent Nate Parker, who said, “Opportunities like this professional development session are essential and inspiring educators at all levels. They allow for fresh ideas to energize classrooms and ensure our students have access to the most innovative and effective teaching practices. We have an incredible teaching staff who do so many great things for kids, this cooperation between current and future educators will allow us to make sure we continue to have the best educators teaching our kids.”
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*media courtesy of Adrian Public Schools*