Professional Development Update

February 12, 2013Prepared by: Lisa Schwartz

OverviewProfessional development is a critical component to providing District 97 staff with the knowledge and tools to perform effectively in the ever-changing academic environment. This year the professional development has been strategically planned to ensure consistency across the district and to align with current initiatives.

2012-13 Professional Development Areas of Focus: Common Core State Standards International Baccalaureate (IB) Integration of Technology

The chart below represents professional development offered for all teachers that occurred during Institute Days, District-wide grade meetings, and Wednesday building meetings. IB training is not included in the chart below since that has only been provided to middle school teachers.

20.5

5

5

12

Topics of Common Professional Development

Common Core

Teacher evaluations (Inst Day)*

Building-directed (Inst Day)

Other (includes Fast ForWord, RtI, Student data)

Common Core• Summit Leader Teacher Summit• 25 Teachers• Joint effort with District 90• Summer and follow-up during school year

Elementary K-1 2nd-3rd 4th-5th GTD Middle school

LA Math Science Social Studies

Special ed0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

15

5

4

6

1

9

3

2

1

2

1

Common Core Summit

All Staff Common Core PD• All other staff have received CCSS PD – focused on ELA• Grade Level meetings led by Summit Teachers• Building Meetings• Principal meetings• Language Arts Specialists• Teacher Librarians

• Math & Writing starting spring

The feedback received from teacher evaluations regarding the two Institute Days focused on the Common Core was overall positive. The two charts below illustrate the feedback received:

August 20 Feedback

November 6 Feedback

The chart below illustrates the staff who attended IB training and content areas as well as staff who are scheduled and total staff.

Head of S

chool

Langu

age A

Langu

age B

Math

Scien

ce

Humanities Arts PE

Tech

nology

Speci

al Ed

Support

Unclassi

fied0

5

10

15

20

25

5 52

63 2 1 1

1

13

5

5

9

5

11 12

2

22

4 4

5 3

1

7

1 1 2

IB Program Training

Not yet scheduledScheduledAttended

Notes about above chart:Support staff include ESL, speech-pathology and social workersUnclassified are speech/drama, librarians and family/consumer science

International Baccalaureate

KIDS (Kindergarten Individual Development Survey)• The KIDS assessment is designed to provide information about children’s

competencies across developmental domains over time and to inform whether kindergarteners have the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in school.

• Twenty-two of our 36 regular education kindergarten teachers have participated in KIDS training. The 14 teachers not trained will be as soon as training is made available by ISBE.

Integration of TechnologyData/Technology Coaches • Setup and maintenance of curriculum, assessment, and data systems

(including student scheduling and report cards, Google docs, Lexia, Custom Typing, DIBELS, MAP, Fast ForWord, ConnectED, and SuccessNet)

• Basic data analysis techniques• MAP• Fast ForWord coordination and administration

The data coaches have provided large group, small group and individual staff development on the following topics: • analyzing MAP data (DesCartes, student goal setting)• interpreting FastForWord Reports• monitoring FastForWord progress and intervention flags• iPad training (Spring 2013)

Gifted/Clustering/Differentiation• 38 teachers and administrators attended a summer session regarding

clustering/differentiation• follow-up sessions provided at both middle schools for the entire staff

New Teachers/Best Practices• 25 new first year staff attending Best Practices • 26 second year staff attending the Second Year Seminar this year.

University 97 (U97)• Breaking the Silence: Addressing GLBT Issues (1/15/13-3/5/13)- 32 enrolled• Middle School Common Core Language Arts Collaboration (2/7/13-4/25/13)

-13 enrolled• CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) Initial Certification Course (2/9/13)- 21

enrolled

Other PD Offered to D97 Staff

Special Education• 90 special education staff members have attended professional

development that includes topics such as:• common core for special education• autism• Asperger’s syndrome• improving language and literacy skills• executive functioning

• 92 TAs have also received professional development on the below topics during Institute Days.• SLANT• Assistive technology• Overview of exceptionalities/learning styles• Understanding the Common Core• Embracing diversity; inclusion of special needs kids

Summary

Based on the feedback we have received from teachers and staff members, consistency among schools in regards to professional development is considered to be very important. In the information collected for the Systems Audit it was clear from the teacher comments that they have valued the Common Core professional development and discussions on how we transition to using more common assessments.