At Brown, a day of collaboration and growth for Providence-area teachers
A new professional development initiative led by Brown’s MAT program brought together two dozen local teachers to enhance their mentoring skills, collaborate with colleagues and strengthen their teaching.
Vivian Vargas, a math teacher at E-Cubed Academy in Providence, connected with local math educators through a new series of professional development days led by leaders from Brown’s MAT program. Photos by Lynda Curtis.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — A high school teacher’s day is often packed with demands, from preparing lessons and grading assignments to managing classrooms and supporting students’ diverse needs.
For Central Falls High School science teacher Charlie Fisher, such responsibilities often push professional development to the sidelines. Keeping up with best practices, adopting new technologies or refining teaching strategies can at times take a back seat, he said.
“What’s challenging about teaching today is that it feels like you can never do enough,” Fisher said. “I have a huge list of things I want to improve on as a teacher, along with new ideas I’d love to bring into the classroom. But finding the time to build something new is always a challenge — most days, you’re just trying to keep your head above water.”
That’s why he’s excited to participate in a new professional development program for Providence-area teachers, hosted by Brown University and led by leaders from its master of arts in teaching (MAT) program.
Fisher is one of 23 local teachers who mentor Brown’s MAT students during their year-long teaching placements. In his first year as a mentor, he guides one student teacher, starting with classroom observations and gradually increasing their responsibilities until they’re independently leading two of his classes.
To support the teachers who serve as mentors, Brown’s MAT program has launched a new series of professional development days. Held twice a year on the University’s campus, the full-day events provide nearly two dozen local educators with opportunities to enhance their mentoring skills, collaborate with peers and strengthen their teaching practices.
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On Friday, Jan. 17, teachers from six Providence-area schools came together to participate in a new professional development program hosted by Brown and led by leaders from its MAT program.
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The new series of professional development days are designed to serve teachers who mentor Brown’s MAT students during their year-long teaching placements.
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Held twice a year, the full-day events provide teachers with opportunities to enhance their mentoring skills, collaborate with peers and strengthen their teaching practices.
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Hope High School teachers John Morrow (left center) and Katie Cahn (right center) are among the nearly two dozen local educators who attended the professional development day.
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Part of the day gives teachers time to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange resources and share best practices. Here Paul Pasaba, a math teacher at Blackstone Academy Charter School in Pawtucket, R.I., shared insights with his fellow math educators.
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Katie Rieser, director of the MAT program, spearheaded the new professional development program to strengthen the reciprocal relationship between the University’s teacher education program and its six partner schools.
Katie Rieser, director of the MAT program, spearheaded the new program to strengthen the reciprocal relationship between the University’s teacher education program and its six partner schools, a feat she believes has the potential to further Brown’s positive impact in local schools.
“We rely on our mentor teachers to invest time in our MAT students,” Rieser said. “In return, we want to provide those mentors with additional support, professional development opportunities and funding for what matters most to them. Our hope is that Brown’s model of reciprocity leads to stronger classrooms, improved teaching practices and better outcomes for students as a result of that partnership.”
Laura Snyder, a senior lecturer in education at Brown, led a small group discussion during the morning session.
On Friday, Jan. 17, mentor teachers from six Providence-area schools — Nathan Bishop Middle School, Hope High School, E-Cubed Academy, East Providence High School, Blackstone Academy Charter School and Central Falls High School — came together on campus for their second professional development day this school year, following their first workshop in October.
The Central Falls School District and other local districts set aside professional development days during the school year. However, Fisher noted that Brown's professional development days provide teachers with a valuable opportunity to reflect on their practice, recharge and gain new perspectives by collaborating with peers from across districts.
“What makes the Brown professional development experience unique is the chance to collaborate with educators from across Rhode Island’s urban core,” Fisher said. “I had in-depth conversations with teachers from Hope High School, East Providence High School and other local schools. These opportunities to collaborate with teachers from different schools are incredibly impactful. It’s easy to get stuck in one mindset when you're focused on your own school, but seeing how others approach challenges and find solutions is invaluable — it’s a unique opportunity for professional development that doesn’t exist very often.”
Concrete, actionable solutions
Mentor teachers started the day with breakfast and a session guided by faculty from the Department of Education, including experts in history, English, science and math education, as well as specialist in multilingual learning. Divided by subject, teachers analyzed a recorded lesson, refining their observation and feedback skills while exchanging insights within their content areas. In a later workshop on classroom management, mentors explored coaching techniques for guiding MAT students on creating organized, effective classrooms.
Expanding beyond the structured workshops, the days also prioritize peer-to-peer learning. During lunch and afternoon sessions, teachers gather in groups to discuss specific classroom challenges, collaboratively defining problems, analyzing root causes and exploring potential solutions. Topics range from working effectively with multilingual learners to navigating school cultures.
This part of the program gives teachers time to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange resources and share best practices, Rieser said.
“What's meaningful about the day is that most professional development for teachers is top down and doesn't always tap into teachers' expertise,” Rieser said. “Our approach is the opposite. It's discussion-based, with some structure and information, but we focus on giving teachers time to learn from each other. Often, there's more expertise in the room than any of our faculty can provide.”
While mentor teachers collaborated on campus, MAT students served as substitute teachers for the day. Nearly all Brown MAT graduates earn teaching certification in Rhode Island, with many starting their careers in Providence-area schools after graduation. Fisher, a 2021 graduate of the program, for example, is now in his fourth year teaching biology, chemistry and forensic science at Central Falls High School.
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Central Falls High School science teacher Charlie Fisher (right) said he values the opportunity to collaborate with educators from across Rhode Island’s urban core.
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Teachers from Nathan Bishop Middle School, Hope High School, E-Cubed Academy, East Providence High School, Blackstone Academy Charter School and Central Falls High School all came together for the professional development day at Brown.
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The day is designed to provide teachers an opportunity to reflect on their practice, recharge and gain new perspectives by collaborating with peers from across districts.
Having established a successful professional development program for mentor teachers, Rieser is now working to broaden its impact by creating additional learning opportunities for the University’s partner schools. Investing in opportunities for Providence-area teachers, she said, strengthens connections between the University and local schools while supporting educators in meaningful ways.
“Having a teacher education program within a university’s education department is a powerful way to connect the university with the local community — we collaborate frequently with local schools, which gives us unique access to their needs,” Rieser said. “Providing new learning opportunities for teachers contributes to teacher retention and offers a clear path for growth in the profession. It helps teachers feel they are continuously growing and learning, while also showing that they are appreciated and valued, especially in their affiliation with Brown. These factors cannot be overstated for teachers in Providence.”
By the end of the day, the enthusiasm among participants was unmistakable. Teachers departed with new strategies, valuable insights and a renewed drive to support their MAT students while enriching the learning experience in their classrooms.
Fisher said he left feeling equipped with concrete, actionable solutions.
“The best professional development days give you something you can implement the very next day, and Brown’s professional development days do just that,” Fisher said. “I always walk away with clear steps that I can take back to my classroom.”
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