The school’s mission is to hire and retain the very best teachers. Once hired, ASFG will use a professional evaluation system that encourages teachers’ continued professional growth. ASFG believes that a key factor in offering students the highest quality education possible is our teachers’ expertise. ASFG’s staff development program strives to support and inspire best teaching practice through a focus on improved student learning. The focus of staff development is not the amount of credits but how our students learn.
We will make sure our staff members have enough opportunities to fulfill the basic professional development requirements in order to maintain our AdvancED accreditation. Our staff development program is aligned with the objectives of the school and even if a staff member has met the basic credit requirements of AdvancED, this does not relieve staff of attendance at any required section training event. Fulfilling AdvancED requirements is seen as incidental where as the focus of the program is to fulfill the needs of the school.
There are several scheduled staff development events per year that are required:
Opening week of school
Section Prep Days for Professional Development (may occur on Saturdays)
Working on AdvancED standards committees
Curriculum documentation and vertical alignment
Staff development organized by the section principals or Director of Instructional Programs
Wednesday after school meetings 2:45 – 4:00pm
You will be notified of optional staff development opportunities that are offered throughout the year. Attendance is not required, but staff members who wish to attend are expected to register and respect their commitment. Please note that the evening conferences for parents can also be considered for staff development credit. Individual staff members are responsible for recording their attendance at these events on log sheets or through the Director of Instructional Programs.
To receive credit for in-services, participants must stay the entire time of the workshop. Those who leave early or show up late without prior approval from their supervisor will not receive credit. Missing a required in-service without prior approval will result in a pay deduction. Absences with prior approval will result in the loss of a personal day.
Participants must do two things to receive credit for a staff development event on campus:
Partial credit is not given for any staff development activity.
Academic staff members (teachers, teacher aides, substitute teachers) must accumulate 1.2 credits (24 clock hours) per year to qualify for continued ASFG employment. The majority of these hours can be obtained by attending all section and school wide staff development events. A variety of options are offered to enable staff members to complete their hours if for some reason they do not have enough. It is the responsibility of each staff member to track their credits and make sure that they fulfill the ASFG requirement.
Staff development credits are registered through the Instructional Programs Office using the documentation that is submitted after each event (please remember to sign in every time you attend a staff development event). You can check your personal credit letter by going to the ASFG intranet site (http://appserver) and scrolling down to Staff Development Credit Application. If you ever have any questions, please contact the Instructional Programs office.
Step One:
Speak with your section principal and/or the Director of Instructional Programs to share your idea. Communication about the training needed for your professional work is important to us.
Step Two
Staff members complete a Staff Development Financial Assistance Application (http://appserver/) and give it to their immediate supervisor. If the event qualifies for ASFG credit and the supervisor can take it into budgetary consideration, the application will be approved. If it does not qualify for ASFG credit or it is beyond the area budget, the originator will receive an explanation. Due to budgetary reasons, often times expensive opportunities cannot be fulfilled until the following fiscal cycle.
Step Three:
The final decision is based on consideration by the section principal, the Instructional Programs Director, and Director General.
Step Four:
Once approved by the Director General, the applicant will be notified; travel and financial arrangements will be completed by the Instructional Programs office and given to the applicant days before the event.
Step Five:
After the event, the employee must provide the Instructional Programs office with the required documentation for funds received and accompanying documentation for staff development credit.