August 2011 update
	August 2011 Dear Faculty, Staff, Parents and Friends of Gordon School, This past May, the inaugural class of the Teacher Residency Program graduated. These graduates have received job offers from a variety of schools including as Portsmouth Abbey School, Blackstone Valley Prep, St. Michael's Country Day School and International Charter School. While the first alumni completed their job searches, the next cohort of residents began their journey. The eight residents of the 2012 cohort began their studies this summer with three intense courses led by Gordon faculty: Foundations of Education, taught by Minna Ham, Lower School Literacy Specialist and former first grade teacher; Psychology of Learning and Development, taught by Kim Ridley, Director of Diversity and Multicultural Practice; and Multicultural Children’s Literature taught by librarian Suzanne Fox and third grade teacher Noelle Walters. Residents also had an opportunity to see theory turned into practice as they observed master teachers in Gordon classrooms in late May and early June. In July, with three courses under their belts, the residents taught alongside with master educators in a summer enrichment program at Highlander Charter School. Residents created and used lesson plans in reading, writing, and math for elementary age children. Sean Hamer, seventh grade math and science teacher, also taught a math methods course, and Tricia Kelly, modern language teacher, taught a seminar course, Fieldwork in the Urban Classroom. This talented and energetic group of eight residents will be working in Gordon classrooms in the fall, and they are eager to apply their recent learning and experience to the educational setting at Gordon. Gordon faculty in first to sixth grade are looking forward to another year of learning and growing professionally as they guide the residents in their development. Residents will work alongside Gordon teachers learning from these master practitioners and also contributing their diverse experiences, backgrounds and passion for teaching to the classroom community. When your child is in a classroom with a resident, you will see the benefits of having another passionate educator in the classroom, focused on your child's social, academic, and emotional needs. Please see the  “Meet the Residents” page for more information about the 2012 Teacher Residency cohort. Best regards, Lynn Bowman Director, Teacher Residency Program