While district students had November 7 off from school, due to Election Day, the district's educators attended professional development programs throughout the day.More information about Ms Zmuda is available on her website, .allisonzmuda.com

Assistant Superintendent Jean Evans Davilla organized the programs, and Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue introduced all of the district's educators to the first event in the morning at Newtown High School.

Dr Rodrigue said it was a pleasure to introduce Allison Zmuda, who she said was a former Newtown High School coworker.

Ms Zmuda said that it was a pleasure to "come home" to NHS, where she began her career as an educator and where she learned from the leadership of former Superintendent of Schools Dr John Reed, former Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr Robert Kuklis, and former NHS Principal Bill Manfredonia. Ms Zmuda is now a published author and educational consultant.

When speaking before the gathered district educators, Ms Zmuda said the morning would include two keynote presentations and breakout sessions.

The first presentation shared for the morning was called "Growing a Culture of Personalization."

Dr Rodrigue said whenever the district's educators can gather together to look at shifts in strategies and applications in the classroom it promotes "better teaching and learning."

Later in the afternoon, while programs continued at NHS, the kindergarten to fourth grade teachers in the district gathered at Middle Gate Elementary School to discuss the district's transition to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which were adopted by the district after being adopted in the state. K-8 Science Coordinator Kris Feda coordinated the afternoon's professional development with the math/science specialist team, lead teachers John Sullivan and Jenna Connors, and Sandy Hook Elementary School Assistant Principal Tim Napolitano.

Ms Feda said the afternoon was spent learning about structure of the NGSS, and curriculum units for all grade levels were reviewed. NGSS, Ms Feda said, provides more opportunities for students to discover and learn through inquiry and "tap in on their natural curiosity with noticings and wonderings."

For the remainder of the 2017-18 school year, Ms Feda said professional development for educators in the group will include continued learning of instructional strategies that will impact student learning and strategies that will result in deeper understanding of the content being taught.

"The energy level and excitement is high among the teachers… and [we] are grateful for the opportunity to work together across the district to share best practices," Ms Feda said after the event.