Professional Development
Bonnie Lehet
609-806-4203
"The first, and most important, ability you can develop in a flat world is the ability to ‘learn how to learn’ to constantly absorb, and teach yourself new ways of doing old things or new ways of doing new things."
-Thomas Friedman, The World Is Flat, p. 302
Vision
The District strives to provide opportunities for administrators, supervisors, principals, teachers and support staff . . . to help staff better understand and meet the needs of all students including those with diverse learning styles and needs.
District Definition of Student Achievement
Based on each school's definition of student achievement, the Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC) identified common priorities such that students:
1) acquire increasing levels of independence for lifelong learning,
2) utilize multiple forms of thinking, and
3) demonstrate evidence of learning in academic, social and emotional pathways.
District PD Goals are aligned to Board goals as follows:
District Goal 1) To increase student achievement overall while narrowing the gaps among groups of students, especially students of poverty and students of color when compared to aggregate or majority achievement.
PD Goal 1: To increase student achievement in writing in the four genres of writing using literacy portfolios, writing logs (and other self-assessment strategies), and writing rubrics to document improved learning by our students.
District Goal 2) To build a connected PK-12 curriculum that is standards-based, clearly articulated for implementation among all schools and across all grade levels, and provides for the academic growth of all students.
PD Goal 2: To identify gaps and repetitions in our curriculum and its alignment with the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards.
District Goal 3) To develop a system to closely monitor individual student achievement PK-12 via regular formative and standardized assessments in order to create specific learning profiles on which interventions, supports and extended learning opportunities can be based.
PD Goal 3: To increase student achievement in Core Content areas by using common and/or district benchmark assessment results.
- To enhance the opportunities for staff to work collaboratively for the purpose of improving teaching and learning
- To strive for excellence in teaching and assessment practices to meet the needs of all learners
Some specific topic areas for 2010-2011 include:
- Continuing the focus of the Keeping Learning on Track Teacher Learning Communities
- Expanding the Teachers College Writing Workshop approach at the elementary level
- Expanding our instructional strategies with English Language Learners
- Increasing our use of instructional technology
Tri-State Indicator for Professional Development:
The professional learning plan is based on current student and teacher needs linked to district goals. Professional learning is embedded, collaborative and reflective. The district is attentive to providing the time and resources for this learning to take place. Professional learning is evaluated using a supervision and evaluation process that focuses on the efficacy of instruction and attendant growth in student learning.
PD Committee Focus
- To develop a consistent, focused, and comprehensive district-wide professional development program
- To begin the year with the program in place for the year
- To provide opportunities for sustained investigations into a topic
- To complete a long-range plan
- To design a program that allows for follow-up and support
- To continue and to connect to previous professional development experiences
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