Windsor Central School District staff returned to campus on Wednesday for the first of three days of professional development before the start of the school year.
The day began with the keynote presentation by Dr. Jennifer Wegmann, PhD. Dr. Wegmann, a 1990 Windsor Central High School graduate and 2025 WCSD Knight of Distinction, has been an educator in the Department of Health and Wellness Studies at Binghamton University for over 30 years. She spoke to staff about the stress mindset and how people can change their minds about stress.

“We see stress as purely negative. Can we think of it in a different way so we can engage it in a different way, not only to mitigate negative outcomes but encourage positive outcomes?” asked Dr. Wegmann. “That will reveal our resilience and foster our well-being.”

Dr. Wegmann teaches a wide range of courses, including Stress Management, Nutrition, Contemporary Health Issues, and Women’s Wellness.

“I want them to walk away with a better understanding of what stress is and a new mindset, so they can enter their school year with a tool or two that will help them navigate their stress in a different way,” said Dr. Wegmann.

Staff members spent the afternoon evaluating special education data and learning more about the district’s new communication tool, ParentSquare.

“These three days are critical in terms of planning for the upcoming school year and giving opportunities for professional learning and collaboration,” said Dr. Jason Andrews, superintendent of the Windsor CSD.

Elementary teachers will spend Thursday and Friday at Bell Elementary, with middle school and high school staff meeting at WCHS on those days. Educators will meet in teams to discuss curriculum, attendance, behavior, and state test protocol.

“We’re doing a deep dive into our student performance from the previous year and looking for ways to constantly improve, expand, and build programming. In addition, our collaborative teams of teachers are spending time revisiting their curriculum, assessments, and other materials to make sure they’re prepared for highly engaging and effective instruction in the coming year,” said Dr. Andrews.