Braden River Middle teachers spent one of their last days of summer collaborating ahead of a new school year.
Manatee Education Foundation sponsored a Resilience Retreat at DaySpring Conference Center in Parrish. The funds came from a grant by the Consortium of Education Foundations.
Proud Principal Kimberlain Zenon, along with Assistant Principals Brad Baietto and Tamara Cornwell, welcomed approximately 30 educators to the event.
Their first activity included sharing what they looked forward to most about the upcoming 2024-2025 school year.
Answers ranged from building relationships with students and colleagues to motivating students and earning an “A” school grade.
They also heard from keynote speaker, Stephen Boyd, a former educator who travels the country encouraging teachers to “put their GAME face on” and connect with students.
His interactive session included dance breaks for TV theme songs, like "Pink Panther" and "The Jeffersons".
One administrator had the room in stitches with his stealth moves.
The rest of the afternoon included presentations about understanding student behavior and performance, as well as resiliency in the workplace.
Finally, teachers participated in team building activities, such as climbing a ropes course, canoeing or nature walking.
It’s going to be a great year for the Panthers!
