School-wide professional development is a key lever in improving student achievement and improving instruction. School-wide professional development should be rooted in the vision of excellent instruction and in developing a Culture of Achievement. Effective professional development models strategies that teachers should be using in their classrooms.
Focused on practices to facilitate instructional vision, cultivating a Culture of Achievement, and improving pedagogy and content
Time is dedicated and allocated for professional development
Clearly defined outcomes for each session and planned in advance
Teachers and staff have the opportunity to practice the skills (ie through planning or role play) during the professional development
Feedback is collected during the professional development both on content delivered and on the facilitation
The professional development includes follow-up with teachers and staff to ensure that practices learned in professional development are being utilized in classrooms.
Clear trajectory and arc for the work, grounded in the vision for excellent instruction and acting in cohesion with the other components of the system
Using the vision of excellent instruction and the Culture of Achievement, decide using data what the highest leverage learning teachers must do in order to improve their practice.
Develop a scope and sequence for professional development.
Decide who will lead the professional development sessions. Think about who has the expertise and facilitation skills to best deliver the content.
Plan the professional development using the LLA PD Planning Tool (below)
Create a system for implementation and follow-up after professional development
Review and analyze data collected from professional development and follow-up