School of the Future language arts teachers (left to right) Eva Rediker, Jessica Candlin and Tom Sokol discuss how to help students meet Common Core standards as Mulgrew listens. National Board-certified ELA teacher Adam Kinory, who secured the grant to fund the sessions, is at far right.

Reviewing student lab reports on photosynthesis are (from left) math teacher Anna Casteen and science teachers Patrick Whelton and Michael Zitolo.

Mulgrew talks about professional development time in the new contract with teachers Eva Rediker and Jessica Candlin.

Chapter Leader Jeremy Copeland catches a moment with Manhattan High Schools Representative Zina Burton-Myrick.

Social studies teachers Stephanie Van Duinen (back to camera) and Catherine Thompson talk about how to ground student arguments in evidence.

ELA teacher Adam Kinory explains how the after-school sessions got started.

Social studies teacher Amela Hodzic tells the group that the professional development sessions mean “we get better faster.”