North Central hosts ACI’s Summer Institute for Educators

North Central College hosted the Associated Colleges of Illinois (ACI) Summer Institute for Educators held June 27. North Central’s Jan Fitzsimmons, executive director of Urban Education Laboratory, coordinated the event and several of the College’s faculty presented sessions on various topics.   

Mary McMahon, associate professor of mathematics and mathematics education coordinator, copresented a session titled “Lesson Study: A Mathematics Tool for Teacher Collaboration in the Midst of the Common Core Standards.”

Sheryl Finkle, professor of education, presented “Content Rigor, Academic Language and the edTPA.”

Mary Beth Ressler, assistant professor of education, and Alicia Wyche, visiting assistant professor of education, copresented “ELA [English Language Arts] Common Core Expectations: Informational Texts, Text Complexity and Vocabulary Demands”

Mary Jean Lynch, professor and chair of psychology, and John Zenchak, professor of biology, copresented “Inquiry as a Method for Addressing NGSS [Next Generation Science Standards] and the Framework for Science Education: Grades 5-8, ‘Meltaway.’”

Julie Carballo, director of First Generation Programs and Teach First, presented “Working Effectively With Paraprofessionals in the Classroom.”

Additional presenters were from North Park University, Dominican University, Lewis University, University of Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University and Aurora University. Also present was the executive director of Golden Apple, the head of schools for the Princeton International School of Mathematics and Sciences and the president of the Illinois State Teachers of the Year.

ACI’s Summer Institute for Educators is a professional development experience for teachers throughout Illinois, with a special emphasis on serving those teaching in high-need schools and college students interested in pursuing a teaching career in high-need schools. Some 125 educators attended the event, which was sponsored by the ACI Center for Success, a network of 22 independent colleges and universities directed by Fitzsimmons.