We believe in professional learning in STEM: Standard Six. SPARK has implemented STEM planning days in our calendar. The STEM Specialist is available for embedded professional development, modeling, and co-teaching. Two members of our staff are serving as math ambassadors. We have a cohort of teachers getting gifted endorsed. Two staff members are part of the Amazon Boot Up grant that helps teachers embed coding in their lessons. These teachers then develop leadership and coaching skills by redelivering to their teams.

All of our STEM teachers participate in the planning process and creation of project-based learning and STEM inquiry opportunities with our STEM lead teachers and STEM specialists. In addition to planning and professional development, our teachers have the opportunity to co-teach STEM lessons with our STEM specialist to put philosophy into reality. In addition to co-teaching with our STEM specialist, teachers have the opportunity to request to set up a peer observation on any teacher in the school in order to learn from our strengths within. Through the in-school opportunities, we have been able to provide unique professional development to our peers.

In the summer of 2019, we were able to receive training with Greg Tang. This opportunity enhanced current units and was the springboard to strengthen math.

When we went virtual in 2020, we chose to have our teachers work towards Google Certification. This allowed our teachers and leadership staff to become more proficient with using and integrating technology into the curriculum.

This year, we have chosen to focus on gifted certification to give our teachers the tools to enhance the 4 Cs- Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Communication. We have a cohort of teachers that are working towards their gifted certification.