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School's out, but class still in for some Philly teachers

Teachers and staff are taking part in an unpaid weeklong training run by the teachers union.

School psychologist Tawanna Jones-Morrison (left, standing) goes through a presentation at PFT’s Center City office. (SOLOMON LEACH/DAILY NEWS STAFF)
School psychologist Tawanna Jones-Morrison (left, standing) goes through a presentation at PFT’s Center City office. (SOLOMON LEACH/DAILY NEWS STAFF)Read more

WITH SCHOOL officially out, you would expect Philadelphia teacher Valerie Adams to be somewhere with her feet up, a drink in her hand and her mind on anything but work.

Instead, the veteran educator spent yesterday sitting in a windowless room for an unpaid training session, trying to learn some lessons for next year.

"As a teacher, I know I have to keep moving myself toward the new [things] out there and what's going on because the children are always going to be growing, so I need to grow," said Adams, who teaches at Taggart Elementary in South Philadelphia's Whitman section.

Adams is among a few dozen teachers and staff - most of them employed by the Philadelphia School District - attending a weeklong summer institute, administered by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. The sessions are not mandatory and those who attend do not get paid, but they insist the sessions are priceless.

"I came to see what kind of strategies they would be able to provide to me that I would be able to use in the classroom," said Glynda Williams, a long-term substitute who has been in the district 11 years. "So many other strategies have to be in place before the instruction piece takes place, so very informative."

It's been an especially tumultuous year for teachers in the district. The School Reform Commission unilaterally changed their health care benefits - a move that has been put off pending a court ruling - and budget woes again robbed schools of basic resources such as counselors, nurses and classroom supplies.

Even with $70 million in new funding approved last week by City Council, the district needs additional dollars from Harrisburg to close a projected $85 million shortfall. The SRC must approve a budget Tuesday, although the state funding is not likely to be resolved.

Adams, whose school has a significant refugee population but a shortage of adequate translated materials, said the lack of resources made the year frustrating.

"By them taking away funding from us we don't have the resources that need to go with those kids," she said.

Williams, who also described the year as challenging, said focusing on students is what kept teachers going.

"Yes, it has been tough," she said. "Services and resources that are not there for the children, it's tough, but we do what we had to do for the children."