Briarcliff Teachers Balance Learning, Collaboration And Wellness In Superintendent Conference Day

Press release from the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District:

Professional Development at the Briarcliff Manor School District is something teachers look forward to each year.

Before the break, teachers and teaching assistants participated in Superintendent Conference Day and learned new skills related to this year’s focus on critical thinking and digital and information literacy. They enjoyed wellness-related activities and a delicious lunch, sponsored by the BPTA.

The day began with opening remarks by Superintendent Dr. Jim Kaishian, followed by keynote speaker Brett Roer, CEO and founder of Amplify & Elevate Innovation, an organization that helps educators integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the curriculum in a transformative way.

“Mr. Roer based his presentation on interviews he conducted with our own students,” said Dr. Jasmine McQuay, Director of Curriculum and Instruction. “His keynote and follow-up sessions explored the impact of artificial intelligence on learning, the next steps for educators and the importance of critical thinking and digital information literacy.”

Next, teachers and teaching assistants attended various professional development sessions. Some of the sessions were presented by Briarcliff teachers, while others were presented by external partners. These included teacher-requested sessions such as LHRIC’s deep dive into data analysis to help educators use data in practical, instructional ways, as well as sessions from Northwell that focused on student health and emerging trends impacting learners. In-house offerings, provided by Briarcliff staff, supported curriculum work, including a session on creating essential questions, which is the focus this year for curriculum mapping. There was also a session by Day of AI USA to help teachers build a strong foundation for understanding and using AI thoughtfully in the classroom.

“We intentionally designed a day that balanced outside expertise with the strengths and knowledge of our own staff, with the goal of creating a meaningful learning experience that was grounded in our two key instructional priorities: critical thinking and digital and information literacy,” Dr. McQuay said.

“We aimed to provide teachers and staff with opportunities to explore new technological resources and innovative pedagogical strategies,” said Briarcliff High School Science teacher and K-12 Professional Development Coordinator Shaniece Mosley. “One of our goals was to create an environment where staff could both learn and share best practices with one another.”

Throughout the day the staff also met with their teams, discussing curriculum development and yearly goals.

Finally, everyone was invited to attend wellness workshops of their choosing in any of the three buildings, led by staff. The workshops included pickleball, cooking, crochet, painting, a mindful walk and many more.

“Wellness remains a priority and will continue to be an essential component of our professional learning experiences,” Dr. McQuay said. “These sessions provided opportunities for collaboration, creativity and self-care.”

“The wellness sessions brought our community together to learn from one another and share their unique talents in meaningful ways,” Ms. Mosley said.

The day was a success.

“The teacher feedback surveys indicated that the educators found the sessions engaging, valuable and well-structured,” Dr. McQuay said. “Teachers shared that they learned a great deal and appreciated the balance of learning, collaboration and wellness.”

“Many teachers noted that the sessions sparked new ideas for classroom engagement and reinforced the importance of peer-to-peer learning,” Ms. Mosley said. “The day was filled with genuine enthusiasm and meaningful learning from the staff and helped foster the strong sense of community we have here at Briarcliff. It reinforced the importance of both collaboration and well-being in the work we do.”

This press release was produced by the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.