HUNTERDON CENTRAL REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

esearchers around literacy. The English Department also participated in NCTE’s second virtual conference
with sessions that covered everything from reading strategies to writing workshops. Additionally, numerous
department members participated in the Teachers as Scholars courses offered by The College of New Jersey,
taking courses on topics such as Shakespeare, Art in Literature, and The Witch in Literature. Teachers also
attended the Rutgers (mid-winter) Writing Conference, differentiated instruction workshops with Carol Ann
Tomlinson, 21 st Century skills/education, the new common core standards, The New Jersey Language Arts
Leadership conferences, and several “Technology in Education” conferences where department members Cathy
Stutzmanand Mary Woods presented. Finally, English Department members have played instrumental roles in
teaching ETTC courses and short skills sessions, as well as providing valuable leadership in our One-to-One
student tablet pilot program, and our District vision efforts and committees such as the Faculty Planning Group
and our District vision work.
Several English Department teachers have just completed or are continuing work on advanced degrees at
various universities. Scott BelskyandHeather Baldwin are working on Master’s Degrees in English Literature at
TCNJ; and Jen Miers has completed her Master’s program at Breadloaf.
Summer curriculum articulation days and study/curriculum groups remain the primary venue for the
development of curricular initiatives and an opportunity for reflection and articulation. Once again, this
summer, all of the department’s members have committed themselves to working on individual courses or in
departmental study/curriculum groups. Throughout the summer, English teachers collaborate for each of the
courses they teach, updating and revising curriculum, and reviewing and revising content, strategies, and
assessments. These meetings are absolutely essential for ensuring consistency, creativity, and the academic
excellence of teachers and our overall program. In August, the department will provide workshops for
freshman, sophomore, and Expository Writing teachers to revise curriculum using the new common core
standards and the New Jersey State curriculum unit template, as well as develop additional materials, refine
current practices, and target specific areas for improvement for the 2011-2012 school year.
The English Department continued meeting in Curriculum Committees within the department in order to revise
curriculum maps to the Understanding by Design format and to perform a gap analysis that compare our current
curriculum to the new common core standards for Language Arts literacy as well as the 21 st Century skills
initiative. Curriculum teams also revised individual units, working in authentic writing components and more
student-centered and project-based assessments.
Teachers have wholeheartedly taken to these opportunities to discuss, critique, and conceive a picture of the
curriculum for the 21 st century. The dialogue has been honest and critical as teachers have had an ongoing
opportunity to share ideas, materials, and strategies as we engage with the many challenges and changes facing
education.
English teachers have also continued to welcome informal 5-to-15 minute observations that gather quick
information on a class and results in critical feedback, ongoing dialogue, and coaching on their improvement
efforts. These visits are followed by either brief conversations with the teacher or a shared script of the
observation. This year, teachers have also begun to informally observe each other’s classes in an effort to
provide more articulation and coaching support, as they attempt new practices and pursue their individual
professional development plans.
Staff - Special Recognition
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