In response to the New York State Board of Regents mandate that all students graduate with a Regents' Diploma by 2004, the Greece Central School District will host a series of programs open to all New York educators. The Standards Institute - Pillars of Pedagogy - is scheduled for July 11-14 and August 6-10.

The first program session, titled Language for Cultural Leadership, is schedule for July 11-14 and designed for German, Spanish, French, and Italian language teachers. All programs and materials will be in the language other than English. Educators will learn about significant changes in the target cultures and learn new strategies to help all language students develop cross-cultural skills and understandings.

The second program session, scheduled for August 6-10, will focus on Supporting Standards, and is designed for teachers of career development and occupational studies (CDOS), English language arts, physical education health and wellness, music and visual arts, social studies, and mathematics and science literacy. Each day will focus on a different standard and teachers do not have to attend the entire session.

"The programs will provide teachers will strategies and techniques to help successfully educate all students in a standards-based environment," said Mrs. Ann Mitchell, Director of Greece Central's Office of Professional Development. "Teachers in our district and throughout the state will have an opportunity to balance formal standards and assessments with personalized learning and differentiated instruction."

The Pillars of Pedagogy Standards Institute will be held at the Rochester Marriott Airport Hotel and the Strathallan Hotel. Program information, presenters' biographies, and registration can be found at www.greece.k12.ny.us/pop. Information and registration is also available by calling the Greece Central School District Office of Professional Development at (716) 621-1000 extension 2412.