As our first full month of school finished off in September the students were given a welcomed reprieve from all of their hard work thus far. Our Trinity teachers on the other hand, not so much. They spent half a week at the annual FL/GA District Teachers Conference here in Orlando!
Each year LCMS teachers and administrators from all over Florida and Georgia come together to learn from each other about how they can be more effective in the classroom. They attend seminars and workshops, spend time speaking with other teachers and spend time growing together as a Trinity team.
This year’s conference theme came from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 which says:
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. (ESV)
The Trinity teaching staff got opportunities to listen to several speakers over the weekend on topics ranging from how to deal with crises to different ways of teaching math. Alongside the seminars and team building, the FL/GA District made special acknowledgments to those teachers and staff that have devoted themselves to serving in schools. Mrs. Susan Brockberg, Trinity’s middle school teacher was honored by everyone for her 20yrs of devoted service to teaching. New teachers were welcomed into the district as well. Trinity’s Ms. Jones (2nd), Mrs. Tesch (3rd-4th) and Ms. DeForge (Spanish) were among those welcomed into the teaching family. Needless to say, we’re happy they’re a part of our Trinity family as well.
So, although the long weekend was a nice break for our students, Trinity’s teaching staff was hard at work learning from each other and growing together. Whether it was through staff outings and team building or through seminars that introduced new ways to apply their craft, bringing students one step closer to Christ.
“This three day conference experience was a highly valued gift to Trinity’s K-8 teaching staff. We were inspired by interesting speakers, challenged through subject area breakout sessions, and nurtured through time with our colleagues.” -Julia Malenke
“I thought the Number Sense workshop, by our very own Susan Brockberg, was so applicable. She had us up and moving doing math activities that we could take back and do in the classroom. It also reminded me of math games I already known but had forgotten.”- Kathleen Tesch