Teacher Professional Development

Green-Wood is now offering professional learning opportunities for teachers looking to add unconventional, awe-inspiring content to their curricula. Taught by expert Green-Wood staff and visiting scholars, artists, and other professionals, our programs give teachers insider access to Green-Wood while offering them practical tools and materials to take home. After our programs, teachers will be prepared to teach in new ways and share Green-Wood with their students like never before. 

The Green-Wood Historic Fund is a New York State Education Department (NYSED) sponsor of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credit. K-12th grade NYS educators may earn CTLE credit at our professional development events. See listings for CTLE details.

Death Education in the Classroom: Lessons from a Teaching Cemetery

Teacher Professional Development

January 27, 2025
Monday 8:30AM to 3:30PM
Free, catered lunch optional add-on: $12

Teachers who participate in this event will receive 6 hours of CTLE credit

You’ve heard of a teaching hospital—well, at Green-Wood we aim to be a teaching cemetery: a space where we draw back the veil and invite our audiences to learn about death, grief, and mourning. 

Grief is likely affecting your school, whether it’s openly addressed or not. One in twelve children will experience the death of someone significant in their lives before turning 18. In a typical New York City classroom, odds are, at least one or two students are grieving and their classmates are navigating how to support them. How can you, as a teacher, provide guidance? How can you help your students support each other? We’re here to help. 

This day-long event will bring middle and high school teachers together to explore ways to incorporate death education and grief sensitivity into their schools. 

Teachers will get to tour the Cemetery learning how Green-Wood’s educators address curiosity about death and normalize grief among the over 8,000 students we teach each year. Then teachers will get to participate in a “Death Cafe”—an informal opportunity to explore ideas and questions about death—led by Green-Wood’s resident death doula and death education coordinator, Gabrielle Gatto. Afterwards, teachers will consider how these conversations can be adapted to a school environment. Finally, we’ll hear a keynote address by R. Abby Spilka, Counselor, MA, LMHC, FT, on children’s bereavement and what teachers need to know to better support grieving students.

This professional development opportunity is free to attend, but registration is required as space is limited. 

Before Registering, Please Note:

  • Work Email Required: Please use your professional/work email when registering.
  • Tickets: There is no need to print tickets! Attendees will be checked in by name.
  • Checking in: Check-in takes place at Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel beginning at 8:30am. Please enter through the Cemetery’s Main Entrance at 25th Street and Fifth Avenue (500 25th St.) and Green-Wood security and staff will direct you. Pastries and coffee will be served until 9:15am. 
  • Lunch: Lunch will take place from 11:45am to 12:45pm. Participants may purchase a catered lunch (sandwiches or salad, chips, and water) upon registration. Lunch will take place from 11:45am to 12:45pm. Participants may purchase a catered lunch (sandwiches or salad, chips, and water) upon registration. All catered lunches contain gluten and dairy products. Alternatively, you may bring your own lunch, or leave the Cemetery to purchase lunch. Please note that if you bring your own lunch, you will have to keep it stored in a lunch bag, as Green-Wood does not have food storage available.
  • CTLE Information: The event will end by 3:30pm. Attendees will need to fill out a feedback survey and CTLE form in order to receive their certificates. Attendees will earn 6 CTLE hours for this event. 
  • Full Event Schedule: A full schedule for the day will be sent via email in advance of the event.
  • Parking: Free Parking is available throughout the Cemetery. 
  • Accessibility & Safety: Because indoor space options at Green-Wood are limited, the primary venue for this event is Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel, which does not have wheelchair accessibility and is not ADA compliant. Some outdoor sessions will involve walking over hilly, grassy, and uneven terrain, which may be difficult to navigate. We strongly encourage attendees to wear suitable footwear and weather-appropriate outerwear.
  • Inclement Weather Policy: This event will take place rain or shine, unless extreme conditions prompt the Cemetery to close for safety purposes.