Since the school year began in September, teachers at the Center for Teaching and Learning in Edgecomb have engaged multiple forms of professional development.

CTL was honored to host two longtime friends of the school and titans of English teaching, Linda Rief and Penny Kittle. Rief is an author or co-editor of nine books about writing and reading, international presenter on issues of adolescent literacy, and recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the National Council of Teachers of English. Kittle is an author of nine books, a teacher of writing at Plymouth State University, and the founder of the Book Love Foundation, which grants classroom libraries to teachers throughout North America. 

On the day of their visit, Rief and Kittle guest-taught classes of CTL students, shared their personal experiences and writing notebooks, and spoke about writing as a way of reflecting and deepening their own thinking. The faculty was able to work closely with them throughout the day and meet as a group to think together about writing instruction. 

CTL also hosted Tom Newkirk this fall. Newkirk is the bestselling author of five books about education and Professor Emeritus of English at University of New Hampshire, who founded the New Hampshire Literacy Institutes, a summer program for teachers. A longtime friend of CTL and its founder, Nancie Atwell, Newkirk spent the day in Edgecomb observing in classrooms and then conducted an afterschool session for the faculty about research involving reading, the topic of his upcoming book.

In addition to hosting these illustrious visitors, CTL 5th and 6th grade teacher Angela Lathem-Ballard traveled to Colorado in November to attend the National Council of Teachers of English annual conference. She returned with new ideas, renewed connections with colleagues from across the country, and new books for students of all ages.

This type of continuing professional development is integral to CTL’s faculty and the idea that everyone at the Pre-K–8 school is both a teacher and a learner. In addition to regularly hosting teachers from across the United States and abroad, CTL’s experienced teachers continue to further their own education and growth as professionals through welcoming guests, visiting other schools, and attending professional conferences. 

To learn more about CTL, please visit our website at www.c-t-l.org, or contact CTL’s Head of School, Katy Inman, at katy@c-t-l.org.