Full-day (or 2 half-days) Workshop

LEES Program provides an extended professional development program for public school districts in New Jersey. It consists of an in-district workshop followed up with professional learning communities (PLC) throughout the school year. 

Activities: Full-day (or 2 half-days) Workshop

The workshop focuses on early literacy instruction that supports dual language and literacy development in preschool.

• Foundations on first and second language and literacy development in early childhood
• Pathways to support equity and develop a sense of belonging in the early childhood classroom
• Enhanced teaching practices that ensure equitable access to content learning for young children speaking Spanish and English
• Collaborative models of instruction for preschool teachers and paraprofessionals

Professional Learning Communities

To support the implementation of the strategies presented in the PD sessions, Professional Learning Communities (PLC) of preschool teachers and paraprofessionals are formed at each school.

Facilitated by a Professor-in-Residence (PIR) who has extensive experience in early childhood education, PLCs meet once a month for six months to review key topics, share experiences, and discuss implementation challenges.