If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten. -Anthony Robbins
Always Moving Forward
At Plainview-Elgin-Millville Schools, we believe in continuous improvement, making every day more effective than the one before. Professional Development is an ongoing, data-driven process inclusive of all teachers.
Currently P-E-M utilizes Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to increase student achievement. PLCs are grade- or subject-specific teams that meet regularly to discuss student data, suggest interventions, create common assessments and share best practices. PLCs are constantly asking the question "Are students learning what we're teaching them?" If the answer is no, then the team digs in to the data to make changes for the better (e.g., students not learning the material receive specific interventions to catch them up, teams revise the lesson to incorporate different instructional techniques to make the lesson more effective in its next iteration, etc.).
We have a Data Coach available in each building helping the PLC teams to dis-aggregate various forms of student data in order to make numbers more teacher-friendly and immediately useful for differentiating instruction. The Data Coach consults with teachers about data in an effort to identify trends and trouble spots.
Staff members receive additional training throughout the year in various forms. The P-E-M school calendar has specific days set aside for in-service staff development, most recently covering research-based reading interventions, differentiating instruction, using data effectively, organizing effective PLCs, and utilizing technology in the classroom. In addition, teachers attend workshops and conferences throughout the year covering subject- or grade-specific best practices. Upon their return, staff members are expected to share their newly-acquired knowledge with their colleagues. Lastly, staff development is a product of our curriculum cycle.