The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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September 4, 2009

Area teachers take advantage of day of workshops

By Bridget Nash Staff Writer

A lot has changed since Cathy Benge last was in the classroom.

The sixth-grade math teacher at Chisholm Middle School has returned to teaching after taking some time off.

“I’ve been home for seven years now, so this is my first year back,” she said. “It was nice to be back in a group of my teaching peers.”

Benge was one of more than 400 Garfield County teachers and administrators gathered Friday at Autry Technology Center for a day of staff development workshops.

One thing that has changed while Benge was at home is the use of SMART Boards and other interactive white boards, so Benge took advantage of a workshop to learn about the technology.

“We had computers to work on so it was an interactive workshop,” she said.

After the day of workshops was completed, Benge said she went back to her classroom, eager to apply what she learned at the workshop to her classroom’s Mimio interactive whiteboard, which is similar to a SMART Board.

“It’s just a great way for the area schools to get to come in and do their professional development together,” said Molly Helm, Autry marketing director. “It’s fun to watch the different teachers and administrators network.”

Autry has been hosting the staff development workshop for more than five years and teachers are able to choose from a wide variety of workshops.

“It really covers the whole gamut, from welding to retirement,” Helm said. “It used to be done on-site at schools but by moving it to Autry it is ... a bigger venue and more schools can be included.”

Schools represented at the event were Garber, Chisholm, Pond-Creek Hunter, Waukomis, Pioneer, Cimarron, Kremlin-Hillsdale and Covington-Douglas.

Each participant was able to choose three workshops and then attend a “jam session” where they were able to network with teachers who teach the same subjects or grade levels.

“It looked like everyone was having a good time and it was good fellowship,” said Dale Gates, Autry director of curriculum. “It’s the only time during the school year when all the teachers in the county can be in meetings together.”

Other workshop topics included athletic injuries and rehabilitation, bloodborne pathogens, autism, Autry Technology Center and the services offered, drug awareness and gangs, and recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect.

“I think everyone took something home with them ... that they will be able to take back into their classroom,” Helm said.

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