Standard 5

Providing quality professional learning in the district supports the district's core beliefs and commitments in Equipping students and staff with the educational tools necessary for achievement and growth. This VUSD Induction program works collaboratively with other district departments to facilitate New Certificated Staff Week the week prior to school. This is the initial professional learning that teachers receive as they begin working in the district. This professional learning includes grade and content-specific curriculum and instruction, Social Emotional Learning, Classroom management, as well as employee responsibilities, etc. focused on Because of the support and collaboration of professional development opportunities, the program provides new educators and administrators, the VUSD induction program collaborates with the teachers union and district administrators and departments to support in facilitating additional professional learning to all teachers and administrators in the district.

Visalia Unified evaluation process for both teachers and administrators is focused on a growth model. This evaluation was designed to support the personal growth of VUSD employees. This growth model supports

Every year, all candidates in our Teacher Induction Program (TIP) and Clear Administrative Services Credential (CASC) Induction Program complete a pre and post-survey that asks them to assess their growth as teachers and administrators over the course of their induction journey as well as their current competencies in the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP) and California Preliminary Standards for Education Leaders (CPSEL) upon exiting their induction program. These results serve as a road map for program improvement because it allows us to see in what areas the programs are making the most impact on candidates and where we need to adjust our professional learning to address evident needs.

Additionally, each program candidate and mentor/coach complete a year-end survey that exemplifies whether or not the TIP and CASC programs are effectively implemented to meet the standards outlined by the California Teaching Commission (CTC) as well as whether or not the programs are making a positive difference for candidates in regards to their teaching practice.

Visalia Unified School District TIP also uses data that depicts Trends Over Time in an effort to identify program-wide areas of strengths and areas for growth as well as program impact on learning and competencies. Additionally, this data is shared with the necessary stakeholders so the information can be compared to district goals and provide an opportunity for effective planning for district-wide improvement and professional learning for the following year. The CASC Induction Program is still relatively new but in the next few years, the trends over time CASC data will allow the program and district to identify areas of strengths and areas for growth as it applies to our administrative teams.

Finally, the programs conduct an exit interview at the end of the candidates' induction journeys that require them to complete a presentation TIP/ CASC; formerly a video) that asks them to reflect on their growth and competency in their chosen CSTPs and CPSEL areas. This is a time for the candidate to share their goals and successes, program experiences, and mentor/coach supported them through their growth and competency in induction.