Thoughts on Professional Development

9-28-10     Our most effective professional development activities have been gleaned from our staff needs survey, presented by experienced competent staff, and are activities that directly impact student learning and classroom instruction.  This is not to overstate the obvious, but too much emphasis is sometimes placed on outside experts that bring the flavor of the month in to a school with all the answers to the problem of the week.  We take the evaluations at the conclusion of PD activities seriously and attempt to modify and correct problems that are identified.  At times, teacher needs and district necessities require a balancing act to make everything work.  We have managed to strike that balance in a positive productive way.  Food always helps and refreshments are a necessity.  We are currently partnering with Living Well Village, a local camp that focuses on healthy living, to conduct a school wide service-learning project.  Some of our professional development time has been utilized to identify opportunities to expand the walls of our school into the community and specifically into the Living Well Village.  Teacher leaders are wax that holds this whole endeavor together.  We have some tremendous teacher leaders.  I have a fantastic staff and my assistant principals have formed a team that seems to address most of our needs.  Of course that is the basis for every successful organization, that is, clearly focused professionals working towards a common goal.