Professional Development Institutes

"PDI", the brainchild of two educators in the Central Valley of California, embarks on a journey designed to bring you the latest and most cutting edge information available in today's educational arena.

In addition to the weeklong "teacher seminars" offered each June throughout the California Central Valley, Southern Oregon and Montana, PDI has a year-round Independent Study line of course work. In each two-year cycle, an educator can earn 30 CEU’s working through downloadable lessons in a variety of areas, while having PDI staff available via Email and personal consultations to help guide the learning.

With our extensive speaker’s bureau, we have greatly expanded our ability to assist educators. We work closely with school districts, providing them with entertaining and informative sessions for school site or district wide presentations to administration, faculty, and clerical staff.

Paul and Dave bring over 25 years of educational experience to the forefront. Their combined wit, educational backgrounds and commitment to fellow educators make PDI one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences available for post graduate college credits or professional growth hours.

Directors

Dave Fry
Institute Director and Co-Owner

Hello - and welcome! I'm the "D" in PDI. Although not a lifelong educator, I knew over thirty years ago that I wanted to be a teacher! And now I'm living that dream, as a classroom educator in the Ceres Unified School District.

When not involved with teaching, I enjoy ANYTHING in the out of doors - hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and golfing to name a few. But my greatest pleasure comes from spending time with my wife, DyAnne. We have five children between us along with our trusty hunting partners, Wendy Girl and Sky, our English Pointer and Black Lab.

Please enjoy your PDI experience and trust in a quote that my Dad shared with me as a young man: Knowledge is madness if good sense does not direct it!

Paul Gose, Jr.
Institute Director and Co-owner

Hi Everyone! Where to begin? I have been teaching since 1989 in assignments ranging from 4th grade to high school Biology. In my current assignment, I am a throw back to the teacher in a “one room school house.” I teach 20 subjects to high school students at our continuation high school. Hughson Unified has been very good to me. I love my assignment and co-workers.

I earned my Bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University and my Master's in Education from Grand Canyon University. This hangs in my classroom.
Mr.Gose’s Mission Statement:
“Self-reliance, self-examination and self-directed learning are promoted here.  In this community, students realize the benefits and value of healthy relationships, while understanding the high returns gained from serving.”

As well as teaching, I am a bona fide "weekend warrior". I have spent the majority of my life in California’s Central Valley. It is exactly where I want to be. I enjoy small town living with my wife, Autumn, and our three children: Ashton, Hayden, and Kali. We are backyard horticulturists, growing and propagating Japanese maple trees and Olive trees and maintaining a spectacular vegetable garden, which is the envy of the neighborhood (LOL).

What else? I am an avid sports fan and am passionate about my family and friends.

I hope PDI can help you in your educational pursuits.

Presenters

DyAnne Fry

Hello! No, my last name is not a coincidence; I am married to Dave! However, my association with PDI is as Technology Coordinator as well as Site Coordinator for Klamath Falls, OR. My experience with technology in education is greatly the result of being part of a team that established a technology based K-12 Charter School in Tracy, where I am a Science Teacher and Learning Director in the high school. My philosophy of technology and education is ‘Teachers will never be replaced by technology; but teachers who don’t use technology will be replaced by teachers who do’. PDI allows me to empower and challenge teachers to use technology as a tool to increase student learning.

Whenever time allows, I can be found outdoors. My idea of a perfect day is standing in a stream with a fly rod in my hand and Dave by my side. Together we also enjoy time with our family – dogs and children included!

Rob Steves

Rob Steves, Counselor/Modesto City Schools. Rob’s resume reads like a road map, with stops throughout the Central Valley. A graduate of Manteca High, Rob furthered his education with stops at Modesto Junior College ( 2 year letterman in baseball) and Chico State (2 year letterman in baseball). Rob began his educational career in Oakdale (15 years), teaching science and coaching various sports for the Mustangs. Seeking new challenges, Rob entered the world of counseling, while moving to Modesto City Schools – Grace Davis High School (10 years) to be specific. His current counseling assignment includes student based work along with conflict mediation. He has also served as Adjunct Faculty at MJC, serving as a Health Counselor and Assistant Baseball Coach. Rob has been happily married to his, Lisa, for 21 years. They have three children; Kristen (19) studying @ Cornell University in New York; Mary Beth (17) a junior at Escalon High and Robert (15) a freshman also at Escalon High. In keeping with his vagabond image, Rob will assume the role of Department Chair for Counseling at the yet to be opened Joseph Gregori High School in Modesto, Fall 2010.

Rusty Fachner

My name is Rusty Fachner. I grew up in the Bay Area, and attended both Santa Clara University and UC-Davis, where I received my BA in English Literature. I worked at Yolo Continuation High School while I was at Davis, and then did my student teaching at Mt. Eden High School in Hayward. In 1977, I began working at Escalon High School and have been there ever since…a grand total of 33 years. While at Escalon I have taught English on all levels, as well as teaching a Humanities class (a class I designed consisting of art history, philosophy, drama and literature) and Drama.

In addition to my classroom duties, I have also been very active in the area of coaching. I coached volleyball and tennis for twenty years, basketball for fifteen years and football for six. I am currently in my fourth year of coaching both boy’s and girl’s golf. During these tenures, I have been very fortunate to have coached many league and section championship individuals and teams. At last count, approximately 70 of my former players, in the various sports, have gone on to play at the collegiate level.

I am also in charge of the Student Government at Escalon High and serve as the head of the English Department. I have served on numerous committees including WASC, Distinguished Schools and a committee designed to improve the CST’s at EHS.

I have been blessed to have received many teaching and coaching accolades in my career. I was the Escalon School District and San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year. I was also a nominee for California State Teacher of the Year honors. In addition, I have received the Educator of the Year Award from the California JayCees and the California Association of High Schools. I have been the Trans-Valley League Coach of the Year thirteen times (in various sports) and the Modesto Bee District Coach of the Year in both volleyball and golf.

I am married to Yvonne, who is a physical therapist and volleyball coach. I have two beautiful daughters, Sarah, 27, and Chelsea, 22, both of whom I had the pleasure of teaching and coaching during their four years at Escalon High.

I truly enjoy helping up and coming teachers, and find real satisfaction in sharing my experiences and lessons that I have learned during my career in education. But my real joy lies in teaching young people…give me a class of inquisitive English students, and I am in seventh heaven.

Ulices Chavez

Ulices Chavez comes to us from LaLoma Junior High School in Modesto. After a couple of years of attending our workshops, Uli felt he had something to give to teachers. It turns out LaLoma's band director is incredibly "tech. savvy." He will make your computer a more useful tool in today's classroom. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced computer user, Uli will guide you through several media applications with ease. Sit back and prepare to experience the building of great things to take back to your classroom.

Patrick Durr

Patrick Durr has been with PDI from the onset. You may remember his name from his successful folk rock career with the band, Home Grown. After his music career he began teaching. He wears many hats at Modesto High School in his current assignment. You will experience a dynamic presentation involving research based methodology mixed with Pat's compassion and true interest in the betterment of our youth.
Topics: SDAIE / Sheltered Instruction; Textual Reading Strategies; Instructional Strategies / Direct Instruction; and Study Skills / Note taking.

Wes VanVuren

We came upon Wes VanVuren from a newspaper article in the Modesto Bee and PDI is fortunate to have him. He teaches in Ripon Unified to a group of high performing middle schoolers. The unique thing is that he has them all day teaching all subjects. Words to describe him and his presentation: Passionate, high energy, great for all teachers no matter experience level or disciple. You will enjoy and, more importantly, you will bring from his presentation a wide variety of tools and methods to improve your classroom.

Jackie Ryle

To learn more about Jackie please visit her website by clicking here

John Fosenburg

John Fosenburg has been fighting to make technology an ally for as long as he can remember. As a result, he learned to incorporate the first four-letter word (save) into his daily vocabulary after losing a book report during the terrible computer crash of 1990. He began his teaching career at the University of the Pacific and foolishly decided to leave after a couple of years to “explore his career options.” It did not take long for him to realize he had already found (and left) his true calling, and decided to find his way back to helping students understand the numbers of life. During this transition back to reality at Argus High School, John relied on his extensive experience with technology in an attempt to streamline everyday efforts in the classroom, while exponentially increasing effectiveness in delivering subject matter standards as well as providing students universal access to course content. Eager to work with students of all ages, he joined team PDI. Help him, help you release your inner yeldarb (computer nerd).