By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish Public School District employees are more prepared for the second half of the school year after taking part in a districtwide professional development day on Jan. 6.

School Super-intendent Kevin George said that development day was organized with the hope that it would encourage and revitalize staff members, as well as give district employees important information that they requested.

The morning session started at 8 a.m. with a keynote address by Chelonnda Seroyer, an award-winning teacher and educational consultant.

Following the main session, breakout sessions took place at New Wine Christian Fellowship and the East. St John High School Freshman Success Academy building.

Francis Touchet and Tessie White-Stein, both of the Louisiana Department of Education, led

one of the sessions tailored specifically to district principals and assistant principals. District personnel, classroom teachers, and other representatives from the Louisiana Department of Education Networks 3 and 4 led other breakout sessions. Topics of those sessions included assessment, the Common Core State Standards, Compass, technology and student writing.

Elizabeth Alexander, a first grade teacher at West St. John Elementary, thoroughly enjoyed the breakout session she attended.

“The activities were great and can definitely be utilized in my instruction,” Alexander said.

George said that the professional development day will become an annual practice for the parish school employees.