PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2010-2011 

This year’s Staff Development Program has been developed to include course offerings of expressed interest or need for you, our District staff. Once again, the program developers look forward to the participation of each of you in some aspect of the various program sessions as an opportunity for skill and knowledge development.

You are reminded that the offerings provided in PD Express represent just one component or element of comprehensive staff development. Just as you are encouraged to enroll and participate in these offerings, you are also encouraged to seek and participate in other available courses, conferences, workshops and in-service opportunities in your field of responsibility. Many such opportunities are available regionally through the Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA), the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center, and local colleges and universities.

Oftentimes, throughout the school year staff members question whether or not activities in which they have participated qualify for professional development credit. The guiding principles for any professional development activity are to ask yourself:

Will it enhance my instructional (or work-related) skills?

Will my students benefit from this workshop?

For purposes here, professional development should consist of:

1. Mandated courses such as Right-to-Know, Child Abuse and Substance Abuse training.

2. Conferences and/or Workshops that do not occur during contractual work hours and have no salary or stipend for professional development time commitment.

3. Course work that helps to develop your expertise and is not compensated through the District’s tuition reimbursement program.

Finally, remember that you are responsible for registering for classes listed in PD Express and that you are, also, responsible for ensuring that all outside hours are recorded in PD Express. Should you have any questions regarding PD Express, please contact Cheryl Mackey at 475-6090.