On Tuesday, November 7th, the students looked a little different than usual as they filed into Wantagh High School for Superintendent's Conference Day while traditional students enjoyed the day off for Election Day. The continued theme for the year, originally kicked off in September, was “Unleash Your Expertise” where teachers, monitors, and aids participated in professional development courses for the day after a light continental breakfast and brief chatter throughout the cafeteria.

The three sessions included various topics ranging from Quick Tech Fixes, Empowering Education: The Potential of AI in the Classroom, Math Station Games, Social Emotional Learning and Literacy, The ABC’s of Classroom Management, Beyond the Worksheet, The Language- Literacy-Dyslexia Connection, and Mindfulness Through Art. In addition, special workshops including First Aid/CPR training, See It, Do It, Beautiful Me, and DESMOS! demonstrations were presented throughout the day.

One of the workshop highlights was led by Wantagh High School Principal Dr. Paul Guzzone who moderated Engagement from the Student Perspective where students shared best practices for them individually in the classroom including group assignments, seating in rows versus groups and how students learn and contribute differently based on seating and group assignments.

As the day wrapped up, Carol-Ann Winans, Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction K-12, ended the day with an exercise on reflection about the day and asked the audience to submit a word that best describes their experience that day. Highlighted in the middle was “engaging” which confirmed the day was a success.