Staff Development Committee Summary

Sargent Public Schools staff is committed to improving their teaching strategies and effectiveness when working with our students. We have become more focused on our school improvement goals in the last two years. Our primary goal is improving academic vocabulary; however, before expecting improvements from our students, our staff must also be trained to enhance our students’ skills.

The majority of our 21 certified staff has completed additional training in the last five years.

Some of the staff development training consists of: Reading Street (K-6), Schoology, curriclum training, and N-WEA MAPs Reporting. These trainings have provided continuous learning opportunities for classroom teachers. Many of our teachers also participate in our Educational Service Unit workshops and webinars, other conferences like NETA and onsite training to enhance our curriculum. Throughout the years, we have been required to attend early out trainings where we analyze data, set goals, and share what was learned at the above trainings. We have also come together on Tuesday's for our weekly "Tech Tuesday's" to meet and share examples of technology tidbits to enhance our teaching styles.

In regards to technology, each of our certified teachers and a few staff members use a laptop and/or Chromebook purchased through the school. we are on a second lease agreement so we have had availability to this technology for six years. Initially, our teacher’s in-service focused a lot of attention on using the laptops in the classroom and to assist our teachers in working more efficiently. Our K-12 students are 1:1 with Chromebooks, with Pre-Kindergarten having a cart of iPads within their classroom. We've had a technology committee implemented for four years now to assist with making decisions on future technology usage and training needed.

We currently have eight teachers that have a master’s degree. On top of that, we have four teachers that have hit the maximum hours and years on the pay scale.

Sargent Schools has a school nurse that updates us yearly on blood-borne pathogens and offers CPR training for anyone interested. She also keeps everyone updated on our Power School website any medical issues each student has.

A few weaknesses in regards to staff development at Sargent Public Schools is the lack of communication and training for new teachers. Our ESU offers training in the summer, however we do not feel we offer enough training regarding the little things important when you first start at the school. Items like: assessments taught, curriculum expectations, technology available, fire drills, lunch, report cards, Power School, attendance, and recess, lunch, and detention duty rules.

Goals that we have for Sargent Public Schools dealing with staff development would be: start a new teacher training checklist and also assign a veteran teacher mentor. This mentor program has been proven successful at other schools and would be very helpful for new teachers to our district.