As students and families begin preparing for the school year, so are educators across Knox County Schools!
The inaugural Region 5 Educator Summit brought together every teacher, teaching assistant, counselor, instructional coach, and principal from across the region for a full day of teacher-led professional learning – a new highlight to the back-to-school ritual.
With over 120 sessions to choose from, topics ranged from instructional leadership and family-community engagement to the KCS Instructional Framework and school improvement instructional models. This diversity allowed attendees to tailor their experience to their personal professional development pathways.
“The Region 5 Educator Summit will be a game-changer for us,” said Region 5 Director Dr. Dexter Murphy. “The feedback from our educators and principals over the past year has been invaluable in shaping our professional development initiatives. The Educator Summit builds on this foundation, providing a platform for our teachers to lead and share their expertise.”
This groundbreaking event was designed by educators for educators based on input from the Regional Teacher Council. Educators had the opportunity to participate in four sessions of their choice, building a culture of collaboration and shared expertise.
“It’s great receiving this PD from fellow educators,” said Christenberry Elementary teacher Katie Esco. “We are all in the same position, so it feels more connected and directly applicable to our classrooms.”
The Region 5 Educator Summit is a symbol of the district’s collective dedication to celebrating and developing its educators while setting the stage for continued growth and success.
“We are excited to see the impact of these choice sessions,” said Region 5 Supervisor Sallee Reynolds. “With such a wide range of topics, every educator can find sessions that resonate with their professional growth needs.”
The summit also included updates on the Region 5 Strategic Plan, an overview of the KCS and Region 5 Instructional Frameworks, and a spotlight on the “Year of the Principal.”
Knox County Schools is grateful to all who participated and contributed to the success of the Region 5 Educator Summit. Together, we are transforming futures the Region 5 way!
Great Educators in Every School
Great educators are core to the mission of KCS. By investing in meaningful professional development and growth opportunities, and pursuing innovative strategies to retain and recruit high-quality educators, KCS is positioning great educators in every classroom.