KES Professional Development Plan

Kershaw Elementary School

Lancaster County School District

School Professional Development Plan

Motto: Whatever it takes, our kids are worth it!


Mission: The mission of Kershaw Elementary is to build upstanding lifelong learners and develop optimistic graduates (Bulldog).

Vision: The vision of Kershaw Elementary is to become a globally competitive school that embraces change and risk-taking and promotes high expectations for all in order to effectively experience academic, social, and behavioral growth for each of our students as they prepare to meet the challenges, demands, and opportunities of the 21st century.

Purpose: This professional development plan has been developed for Kershaw Elementary School for the 2017-18 school year. The goal of this plan is to identify four targeted areas of focus for the school year based on staff surveys, data analysis.

The district provides staff development training for teachers and administrators in the teaching techniques and strategies needed to implement the district plan for the improvement of student academic performance. The staff development program reflects requirements of Act 135, the EAA, and the National Staff Development Council’s revised Standards for Staff Development.

Guiding Principles:

  • All professional development is based on the premise that we want all students to be prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. We will keep the profile of the SC graduate at the forefront of all strategies and PD opportunities.

  • The purpose of all of our professional development opportunities is to ultimately promote student academic growth and achievement.

Goals (Target Areas):

  • Target 1: DATA: Increase student achievement for all students in all subject areas through analysis of data and implementation of appropriate instructional resources and instructional strategies

  • Target 2: STEAM: Increase student achievement by integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math into the basic curriculum in all classrooms by providing professional development on the SC STEAM curriculum and implementation rubric, collaborating with the area elementary, middle, and high schools, and by providing professional development on STEAM strategies

  • Target 3: LITERACY: Increase student achievement by establishing a learning environment that involves literacy strategies across all content areas

  • Target 4: GOOGLE/1:1 DEVICE IMPLEMENTATION: Increase student achievement by increasing teacher and student knowledge and confidence of Google classroom and applications as we implement devices for all students in grades K-5

  • Target 5: CLIMATE: Improve the overall climate of Kershaw Elementary-Focus on the correlation between truancy, home life, behavioral issues and academic growth


Funding: State funding, local funding, Title I funding, a Parent Teacher Organization designated fund, and community partnerships will be utilized to implement all professional development activities.


Interim Goals/Action Steps Related to Each Target:


Targeted Area 1: DATA: Increase student achievement for all students in all subject areas through analysis of data and implementation of appropriate instructional resources and instructional strategies.

Action Steps

  • Data Folders will be created for individual students and teachers for goal-setting and accountability purposes.

  • Data meetings will take place during the first half of monthly faculty meetings to ensure that teachers have time to delve into data. These meetings will focus on identifying our “bubble children”, our subgroups strengths/weaknesses, and specific content strand strengths and weaknesses.

  • We will begin to investigate weekly flexible grouping aligned to student RIT scores in the area of ELA and Math.

  • Vertical teams will meet to discuss specific weaknesses that are evident across grade levels. We will research instructional strategies and technology opportunities to address our needs. Also, vertical team meetings will focus on collaboration across the grade levels and the development of common academic language as well as expectations at each grade level and means of supporting one another in this process.

  • School-wide PLC huddles engage in professional teaching and learning cycle to focus on planning and analyzing data


Targeted Area 2: STEAM: Increase student achievement by integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math into the basic curriculum in all classrooms by providing professional development on the SC STEAM curriculum and implementation rubric, collaborating with the area elementary, middle, and high schools, and by providing professional development on STEAM strategies

Action Steps

  • Generate lesson plans that define ways to integrate STEAM into curriculum. Provide samples of such plans as well as resources for all teachers.

  • Integrate STEAM planning PLCs in the weekly master schedule of our specials teachers.

  • Educate the community on the foundations and benefits of STEAM curriculum.

  • Provide opportunities for families and community members to see evidence of implementation of STEAM within our building.

  • Collaborate with and visit other schools that are considered STEAM/Arts Integration sites and identify ideas and suggestions that will benefit our program. These schools include Heath Springs Elementary, Andrew Jackson Middle, and Andrew Jackson High Schools.

  • Utilize our newly created STEAM room, allowing our technology coach to model weekly STEAM lessons for teachers.

  • Integrate a Science Inquiry Lab as a specials rotation.


Targeted Area 3: LITERACY: Increase student achievement by establishing a learning environment that involves literacy strategies across all content areas

Increased student achievement by establishing a learning environment that develops student leadership and promotes positive energy strategies to develop all students academically, socially, and emotionally.

Action Steps

  • All staff and students will engage in small group instruction and individual conferencing to differentiate instruction within the classroom as needed. Mini-lessons and the workshop structure will be utilized in ELA classes.

  • All grade levels will adhere to the district provided curriculum maps and pacing guides as well as the state department’s support documents.

  • Under the guidance and close supervision of our literacy coach, teachers will implement pieces of Lucy Calkins Units of Study in Reading and Writing.

  • Technology subscriptions will be purchased and utilized by teachers to maximize available resources and to maximize instruction for struggling learners (i.e.Reading AtoZ, Study Island, and Flocabulary). PD on these programs will be provided as needed.

  • Fountas and Pinnell training will be provided by our literacy coach.

  • Grammar will be integrated back into ELA.


Targeted Area 4: GOOGLE/1:1 DEVICE IMPLEMENTATION: Increase student achievement by increasing teacher and student knowledge and confidence of Google classroom and applications as we implement devices for all students in grades K-5

Action Steps

  • Weekly Wednesday planning meetings will be held with grade level teams and our technology coach to address teacher technology needs as well as to provide PD on new strategies and implementation steps.

  • Professional Development will take place after school on the first two Thursdays of the month, offering a minimum of one choice of make and take session of technology PD.

  • A third opportunity for one on one assistance with technology is provided after school on the fourth Thursday of each month.

  • The technology coach will assist with lesson plans, lesson plan implementation, modeling of lessons, and Google classroom.

  • All staff will create new Google websites, a new Google calendar, and will be expected to utilize Google mail.

  • All lesson plans and meeting agendas will be turning in by sharing in a Google folder.

  • Teachers will be observed as they integrate new strategies. All faculty are encouraged to step outside of their comfort zone and add technology/differentiation tools to their teaching toolbox. Admin observations will be intended on a majority of occasions to provide positive feedback on the new strategies.


Targeted Area 5: CLIMATE: Improve the overall climate of Kershaw Elementary

Action Steps

  • Survey staff regarding KES’s current climate.

  • Alternate times for monthly PTO/SIC meetings in order to maximize attendance. Create SIC focus groups with intentional monthly topics focused on student behavioral, academic, and emotional growth.

  • Create and update weekly the KES Facebook page to include positive interactions between students and teachers with the community and families. Include weekly updates and photos on the page.

  • Create a partnership with AJHS to ensure an appropriate number of positive role models and mentors for our students.

  • Create a partnership with The Kershaw News Era in order to promote the positive happenings at KES.

  • Conduct individual beginning-of-the-year teacher interviews to discuss KES strengths and weaknesses.

  • Choose a KES Teacher of the Month and KES Student of the Month, promoting both in the community newspaper, Facebook, and around the school.

  • Conduct Positive Peer Observations each semester. Provide feedback on observations to include student engagement, rigor, and questioning strategies.

  • Complete weekly positive teacher assignments, provided in the weekly Farmer’s Almanac newsletter to faculty and staff

  • Complete monthly positive home visits.

  • Complete a community bus tour to gain a stronger understanding of the home environments of our families.

  • Offer parent education classes so that they understand how home and school interact and how each can support the other.


NOTE: Building Leadership Team will engage in monthly meetings to evaluate and establish relevant ongoing professional development and to identify focus areas for improvement.