NCLB Professional Development Plan

 

The purpose of professional development in the McLean County Unit 5 School District is to assist educators in their efforts to increase student learning.

 

GOALS

·   Increase student achievement in four content areas; English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Science, and Science as measured by Illinois Standards Achievement Tests and local assessments. 

·    Analyze instructional practices to determine and increase effectiveness.

·    Foster the duplication of effective practices.

 

Unit 5 offers several avenues for this process:

·    Administrator training sessions

·    District Institutes

·    School Improvement Activities

·    Professional Development Academy Classes

·    Out of district seminars and conferences

·    Professional Development Partnership with Illinois State university

·    Tuition waivers to attend graduate level classes at Illinois State University

 

Research supporting professional development as a means of increasing student achievement:

 

Brophy, J. (1992) Probing the Subtleties of subject matter teaching.

     Educational Leadership, 49 (7), 4 -7.

Calhoun, E. (1994) How to Use Action research to in the self-

     renewing school. Alexandria, VA: The Association for                       

     Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Harkreader, S. & Weathersby, J. (1998) Staff development and    

     student achievement: Making the Connection in Georgia  

     Schools. Atlanta: Georgia University, The Council for School

     Performance.

Huberman, A. (1992) Successful school improvement: Reflections

     and observations. University of Toronto. University Toronto

     Press.

Joyce, B. & Showers, B. (1995). Student achievement through staff

     development (rev. ed.). White Plains, NY: Longman, Inc.

Leithwood, K. (1992). The principal’s role in teacher development.

Joyce, B. (ed.). Changing School Culture through staff develop

     ment. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and         

     Curriculum Development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007-2008 DISTRICT GOALS SUPPORTED BY THIS PLAN

 

Student Achievement

Enhance student success by increasing academic rigor, differentiating curriculum and instruction, and providing opportunities to achieve personal  excellence.

 

·      Promote effective and consistent use of local and state assessments.

·      Align and evaluate School Improvement Plans with demonstrated student needs.

·      Articulate/align K-12 curriculum with demonstrated student need/assessment data.

·      Increase accountability for differentiated instruction.

·      Provide staff development opportunities that result in documented improvement in         

        differentiated instruction. 

·      Facilitate the maintenance and expansion of co-curriculum activities and programs.

 

Professional Quality

Enhance student performance by recruiting, retaining, and supporting a highly qualified and diverse staff that are prepared to educate our diverse student population.

 

·      Create an effective recruiting and hiring process that will increase the diversity of our employee base to be more reflective of our student body.

·      Utilize a proactive professional development structure that addresses:

o  An understanding of the diverse needs of our students.

o  A fundamental understanding of the district’s curricula and its relation to state standards.

o  The use of assessments to determine prior knowledge for the purpose of guiding instruction.

o  Creating effective educational and work environments.

·      Allocate resources to maximize professional development opportunities for all staff.

 

 

STEPS TO BE TAKEN:

 

1.     Administrator Professional Development

Monthly sessions based on district goals and student achievement

Monthly RtI collaboration sessions

Research based discussion and investigation

Organization of Institutes and School Improvement activities discussed

Responsibilities for Institutes and School Improvement Days discussed

Focus of Professional Development Academy classes shared

Federal and state mandates reviewed

 

2.     New Teacher Orientation and Induction

Introduction to policies and procedures

Partnered with trained mentors

Ongoing support through seminars

Ongoing support through Professional Development Academy offerings

Ongoing support through tuition waiver agreement with Illinois State University

 

4.     Institutes and School Improvement Days

Focus on student achievement

Review district goals and strategic plan

Teachers meet in grade level and department groupings to analyze and discuss student achievement, student assessments, report cards, teacher resources, teacher supports, and district expectations.

Training on research based intervention strategies

              Teachers meet with building principals to discuss building issues, building procedures, district

              expectations, local assessment timelines, student achievement, and legislative mandates.

              Consultants brought in to assist with key  issues and topics

 

       5.    Professional Development Academy

              August –   December -Fall Professional Development Academy classes posted on the Web.

              January – May           - Spring Professional Development Academy classes posted on the Web

              May – August            - Summer Professional Development classes posted on the Web.

                                 Classes based on local, state, and national assessments, teacher evaluations and surveys

 

    6.    Out of district Professional Development

                Based on analysis of student achievement needs

                Tied to school improvement planning and process

                Results in School Improvement and Institute discussions

 

    7.   Curriculum Chair Meetings

               Discussions regarding Pre-k –12 vertical articulation

               Discussions regarding roles and responsibilities

               Discussions regarding impact of positions, professional development responsibilities

               Recommendations for future professional development by department and grade level

               Recommendations for Institute discussions and activities          

 

    8.    Professional Development Partnership with Illinois State University

Student interns to be placed in schools for full year program

Cooperating Unit 5 teachers will receive professional development through Illinois State University

Liaison from Unit 5 to serve as coordinator for program

 

     9.    Tuition Waivers

Provided by Illinois State University for teachers and administrators working on advanced degrees

Waivers distributed three times a year