ELT Facilitator Training program preps instructors for successful year

hen it comes to training teachers, no one does it better than teachers.

During the NYSUT ELT Facilitator Training program at NYSUT headquarters this summer, ELT instructors readied themselves for another school year by taking seminars on the latest in-demand topics in education.

“ELT is different than other types of professional learning programs because of our ‘For Educators, By Educators’ model. Practitioners are able to identify the needs and wants of their colleagues in the field and to design sessions and seminars, using adult learning theory principles,” said NYSUT Executive Vice President Jaime Ciffone.

NYSUT’s ELT program is a one-stop shop for teachers and SRPs navigating today’s ever-changing educational landscape, she continued. ELT offers over 200 different sessions in topics ranging from instructional best practices to emerging issues. “Educators having ownership and a voice in their professional practices and continued learning, specific and customized to their role, has always been a priority for me. I am so proud that the educators in our state can access this through their union.”

This train-the-trainer session was designed for new and experienced ELT facilitators and helped prep participants to engage in conversation around timely issues like mental health, school violence and equity, particularly for LGBTQ+ students. Facilitators also learned how to empower SRPs to serve students with disabilities and how to manage stress and change.

The conference offered ELT facilitators the chance to reflect on some of the progress they’ve seen as a result of ELT.

“The stress and anxiety kids have today, they didn’t have 40 years ago,” said Penny Hine, ELT instructor and member of the Hendrick Hudson Education Association.

Hine talked about coaching a student through testing anxiety using skills she’d learned through ELT. The student ended up scoring above her grade level. “I want to thank you all because you’ve given me the tools that I need today in my classroom,” Hine said.

Aside from improving student outcomes, professional development can also play a role in extinguishing educator burnout and improving employee retention.

“The RISE program is something that I’m really glad to be able to bring our members because there is strong research that shows that when educators feel valued, supported and healthy, they report a higher level of job satisfaction, and that’s a strong predictor of retention,” Ciffone said.

The new evidence-based RISE training combines mindfulness and positive psychology to help promote well-being and resilience specifically for educators.

Facilitators also talked about the lasting impact professional development has had on their own districts.

“I think the biggest thing that I’ve been able to see through some of the work that we’ve done with ELT is allowing that opportunity for engagement, discussion, and authentic dialogue. It’s not so much the traditional ‘sit and get’ mentality of traditional professional development where I’m just going to talk at you for six hours and then give you a sheet and send you home,” said Jimmy Smith, ELT instructor and member of the Syracuse TA.

“When I started with BOCES, there were 350 teaching assistants and aides and generally, we were baptized by fire. There was no professional development for SRPs. We kind of just jumped into the classroom and were expected to do whatever we were supposed to do,” said Colleen Condolora, an ELT instructor and retired member of the Capital Region BOCES Teaching Assistants and Aides.

“I learned very early on as a union leader that it was very important that we get professional development so we would have the tools we need,” said Condolora. “That’s why I love ELT so much.”

If you are interested in becoming an ELT facilitator, please visit nysut.cc/joinelt.