Professional Development 

Announcements:

• Reminder: Please complete your Annual Professional Learning Plan Form. A copy will automatically be sent to your Principal. Sending the confirmation to your Pro-D Rep is optional (we just look at the suggestions made and file a copy in case you have questions about it later).

• Not sure how much you have for PD funds available?  You can email the Pro-D Secretary, Michelle Prior, at teacher.prod@sd71.bc.ca 

• Pro-D funds CAN be used to pay for your membership in one of the Provincial Specialist Associations (PSAs). 

There are many conferences and workshops taking place around the province, both in-person and virtual. You may choose to sign-up for one of these, or you may pursue an alternate opportunity individually or in collaboration with teaching peers. The PD Handbook includes some more information about self-directed Pro-D (p.5) and uses for Pro-D funds (p.6)

 Some available offerings that may be of interest to NIDES teachers include:

• Math Talks: Possibilities for Math Education - October 24, 9am to 3pm Zoom. The session will be hosted by Laura Mann, curriculum support and online primary teacher at NIDES. Open to all teachers K-12. Email Laura for more information at Laura.Mann@sd71.bc.ca. To register, please complete this form. You will receive the Zoom link when you submit this form. Click here to register

• The CUEBC PSA Day conference theme is Technology with a Purpose. It will combine both in-person and virtual sessions and feature the Keynote: Exploring generative AI through an indigenous lens by Dr. Greg Sutherland. 

• The BCEDL (BC Educators for Digital Learning) PSA is hosting an EdCamp Digital Learning Exchange day to collaborate, ask questions, and share ideas. This online event is FREE for BCEDL members. To learn more, click here. 

• Consider starting a Local Specialist Association (LSA) to collaborate with on this day. Ask other educators to join your LSA group, then email teacherprod@sd71.bc.ca. Provide your LSA name and members list to set up your LSA annual funding of $250/year to cover costs for meetings, activities and other needs. Find more information on LSAs, including some LSA examples in the PD Handbook on page 14.

If you will be participating in Pro-D opportunities on this day that are not located at your regular school location, please be sure to follow the appropriate AMS protocols shared in this handout. 

The 4 PD Days in the 2025-2026 calendar for NIDES teachers:

• October 10th and January 23rd – Flex PD days with no attendance required (optional to fulfill spring break 10 hours). Teachers in full time contracts must complete 10 hours of PD between July 1, 2025 and Feb 28, 2026 (*Note that these are different than the Flex PD Days for the rest of the district - those take place on Aug. 27 and 28.)

• October 24th – Provincial PD day – Teacher attendance is required (built into your FTE). Teachers are encouraged to engage with provincial conferences, learn with colleagues locally, or do self-directed PD work. 

• February 17th – District PD Day – Teacher attendance is required (built into your FTE). Organized by Joint PD committee. Teachers can attend, learn with colleagues locally, or do self-directed PD work.

• Annual Professional Learning Plan Form - Complete prior to Sept. 30 to indicate your plan for your Flex Pro-D hours.                                 *NEW* A copy of the confirmation email will automatically be sent to your principal.

• Personal Pro-D Reimbursement Form FILLABLE - email completed form and attach receipts to teacher.prod@sd71.bc.ca

• Teacher Pro-D Travel Expense Form

• October Provincial Pro-D Day and February District Pro-D Day Protocols - AMS Info (No AMS needed if at regular school location or a District Pro-D site/event on the February District Pro-D Day)

• Questions about Flex Pro-D hours, uses for Pro-D funds or anything else Pro-D related? Check out the CDTA Pro-D site or email one of your Pro-D reps. We're happy to help!