Half Days At PCA: The Significance For Our PCA Community
It is no secret that the educational field is in a dangerous position. Fewer college students are selecting education as an option, many teachers are feeling the stress and burnout of the profession they used to love, and therefore we are seeing a mass exodus of teachers across the nation.
PCA is making intentional efforts to value our teachers, their capacity, and their ability to maintain appropriate work-life balance. We strive to provide teachers with a professional educational career where they are not only loved and cared for but are equipped with the skills and tools to meet the needs of the ever changing classroom.
For the last few years, all PCA faculty have attended a school-wide professional development series that is designed to enhance their own learning and expertise. With PD, divisional, and department meetings, PCA teachers were required to stay after school every Wednesday. As you can imagine, staying late for the additional tasks was taxing on our teachers, especially those with families and small children. For this reason, PCA administration made a commitment to honor our teachers by allowing time during the school day to accomplish the necessary tasks needed to continue our learning and effectiveness in the classroom.
Starting this year, once a month, students will be dismissed at 11:30 am (Grades K-4) and 11:45 am (Grades 5-12) and teachers will attend an afternoon of educational training and support. This year’s theme is “Learning and the Brain.” Each session will include an hour long presentation from experts in the field on various topics. These topics include; anatomy and structure of the brain, gender differences in learning, emotional impacts on learning, trauma informed practices, and instructional strategies to meet the needs of all learners.
Last Thursday, Dr. Alex Vandergrift, MUSC professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, kicked off our series with an in depth presentation and discussion about the anatomical structure and function of the brain. Teachers were able to develop a deeper understanding of how the brain develops, organization of the brain, and how processing occurs. Through his presentation, Dr. Vandergrift reminded us of God’s intricate and intentional design of how we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
The second hour of the afternoon consisted of divisional breakout sessions. Mrs. Cox introduced a series on biblical integration with the lower school teachers that focused on worldview and the importance of helping the students make connections between the Bible and all areas of their lives. Mr. Keiper led the upper school division through a collaborative time focused on supporting students’ needs through our classroom culture of connection and support.
While we understand the half day schedule is new for PCA, we believe the benefits of these days will bring significant impact for our teachers, students, and overall instruction. Stay tuned to the Eagle Edition to see more about our future presenters!