The purpose of staff development is to provide our staff with professional learning opportunities directly related to student needs. Staff development fosters concepts and practices proven by research to promote excellence. The goal of our overall professional development plan is to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the district by providing opportunities for teachers to participate in substantial professional development to remain current in meeting the learning needs of students.
Our goal for staff development is to continue to focus on success for students by providing classroom strategies and behavioral management techniques that support appropriate differentiated instruction in the classroom.
The theme for 2007-2009 is to develop positive professional partners with parents, pupils and personnel.
Topics to be covered through staff development workshops include:
- Integration of technology with curriculum
- Understanding students with special needs
- Instructional strategies in the content areas
- Violence prevention and behavior management
- Character education
- Mentoring new teachers
Teachers participate in staff development workshops on staff orientation day, superintendent's conference day and each month on designated dates as well as at department meetings, faculty meetings, and grade level meetings. Teachers also receive staff development with attendance at individual conferences in addition to individual pursuit of graduate courses and in-service credit programs.
