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Benchmark – Reflection of Professional Development Session

Grand Canyon University: EAD-523

Shanaye Packineau-Williams

July 14, 2021

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Throughout this course, I have learned the importance of growing as a professional

through the feedback of other professionals. I know that this is important as a leader, and a

teacher so that I can continue to grow and reach my full potential as a professional. Feedback is

powerful in all aspects, and it is a tool that is so important for improvement, and everyone has

room for improvement.

Professional Development Presentation

“State and District Academic Standards,” is the professional development (PD)

presentation that I produced for this class. The objectives of this PD were to identify beneficial

collaboration skills to benefit the learning of students, and effectively develop collaboration

strategies within grade levels. To get my audience’s attention, I sated off my PD by asking: “If

you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why?” The reason I stared

off by getting everyone’s attentions is to explain that the experiences that we have at different

ages are valuable. Our approach is different for all age groups, but we must make sure that our

teaching is a positive experience for our students to ensure that they continue to grow and learn

without shutting down. After this my PD presentation moved into talking about the importance

of collaboration by watching a video as a whole group and then each table group comes up with

five collaboration rules that are essential during activities for success. After each group game up

with the five rules, I did an activity called “inside/outside circle”. This activity had two circles,

an inner and outer circle. The outside circle rotated around the inner circle. The reason for this

activity was to share with multiple people in a time effective way, so that everyone is being

heard and there are academic conversations going on about the topic, and to show “teachers

working together have a positive impact on each other and contribute naturally to school

improvement” (Arkansas State University, 2017). After these activities, I went into talking about
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some techniques to align standards into our activities. I shared that having the standards visible

for students to see and refer to throughout the lessons helps them know what they are expected to

learn. I also suggest having them refer to the standards in their check for understandings

throughout the lessons and exit ticket. The reason for this is to get them to have ownership of

their work using the standards that are being taught. After this, I showed everyone how they will

be held accountable to ensure that everyone is on the same page, and that there are no surprises

along the way. I ended my presentation with an evaluation of 5 questions to see what they

learned, and to receive feedback so that I know how to approach the next PD.

I presented my PD to my principal mentor and another colleague first before I did present

it to more of the staff. My mentor gave me some really good feedback, and suggested that I put

notes on all slides, and to incorporate more engagement throughout my presentation so that I get

the attention of my audience from the start. The staff gave me very good feedback as well. They

also said to make sure that I have engagement throughout the PD, to ensure that the staff is not

doing other work and paying attention.

After receiving all the feedback for my PD presentation, I was able to take those

suggestions and make changes. I then presented this to my mentor along with two additional staff

members and received great feedback. Everyone really like the PD presentation, and everyone

thought it was relevant to our school and engaging. The only feedback I received this time

around was to maybe make the appearance be a little “livelier” since it has a very professional

look to it.

Data

As a professional, one of the main things that you hear from other teachers is that their

time is not valued, and that most professional developments are a waste of their precious time
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and the time that was used for the PD could have been used to get a lot more things done. I have

heard this many times and have said it a time or two myself. Having been through this, PDs need

to be relevant to teachers teaching and there must be ways to ensure that they are engaged to

affect outcomes. Evidence and School-based data should always be used in the purpose of all the

PD sessions.

Teachers should not be the only ones using data to drive their instruction, schools also

need to make sure that they are using data to ensure that they are meeting the needs of the staff

and most importantly the students.

At Sunset Hills Elementary School, the school that I am currently teaching at, every

professional development that we do connect to student data. This could be looking at student

data and how to drive your instruction using this data, or it could be how it will impact students’

future. For example, we did a gap test due to the pandemic to see where our students were

compared to where they should be. We learned how to use this data and focus on specific

standards that they did not retain in the previous year and were able to incorporate this into our

lessons by knowing exactly what gaps they had. With collaboration, we were able to talk across

the grade levels and collaborate to meet the needs of our students. As teachers, we grow as we

see areas of improvement. The professional developments need to allow staff to add strategies

that are evidence-based for academic success of our students.

Throughout my presentation I incorporated how presenting the standards at the beginning

of the lesson and having students refer to them can increase the results of student data by using

results that are real. It showed that by incorporating this strategy throughout in the checks for

understanding to the exit ticket determined the growth of their understanding of the standard. All
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The strategies for instruction and assessing the students in real-time ensure that there is

school-based data being used to drive the instruction of teachers in their classroom. It is

important as educators that we are learning to reach all our students and be able to use

assessment data in real time to differentiate the instruction that we are delivering to our students

so that we ensure that we are reaching the needs of every individual student that we have.

Mission/Vision

At the Sunset Hills Elementary school, we ensure that we are incorporating the mission

and vision into everything that we do. The PD that I presented also was made that way. I

incorporated the school’s vision and mission statement and explained how and why it was used

in my presentation to show achievement in the pursuit of excellence in academics. This is part of

our mission and allows for us to always be sure that we are working towards excellence by

showing achievement in all that we do. The video I started off with after my opener, is to help

inspire teachers that collaboration is so beneficial in all that we do, so that they can grow and

ensure that students are always learning and continue to learn. I wanted to make a point that we

must not settle, and always have room to evolve and continue to learn and grow. Some strategies

that I touched on could have been something that teachers were already aware of, but the reason I

used them in my PD was because I want the staff to understand how powerful these strategies are

allowing them to work put them into action by working together. When teachers include

collaboration, assessments that are in real time, and differentiation they are allowing for

academic success within their classrooms. These strategies not only help with academic success,

but also help with the social aspect as well. Working together helps build relationships in a

positive way within the classroom setting. The PD presentation was made with the goal of

allowing everyone to work together to work towards using their full potential.
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The Next Steps

The next steps as a principal that I would take to ensure that the skills learned from the

PD are embedded into classroom instruction were presented in the professional development

presentation to ensure that teachers are aware, so that they are being held accountable. This

includes Bi-weekly follow-ups, quarterly observations, and an on-going document that is shared

with all staff with effective strategies.

Teachers, just like students strive and continue to do things through positive

reinforcement and feedback. “Giving teachers the feedback and support that will help them

improve their instructional practice and therefore improve student outcomes” (Education First,

2015 p.2). Receiving recognition and providing feedback for using the skills learned is a huge

way to ensure that the strategies are being used. One way our school does this is by having our

TLS take pictures in the classroom when she sees a skill or activity being used, and shares them

out at our next PD. It is a great way to positively recognize and continue to encourage these

types of behaviors. These are done through observations and walk throughs. It is also encouraged

to send pictures of you using these activities as well, or to let administration know when you will

be doing using a specific skill so that they can come and see how it looks within the classroom

setting. Our school loves this, and I believe that other would benefit from it as well! Also, the

google document that was stated above is another great way to share and collaborate for the

success our of students, and a way to hold teachers accountable by sharing with others.

Emerging Trends and Initiatives

A common trend in education is that it is always changing, just like our students and our

world. This includes the way we handle behaviors, engagement strategies, the use of technology,

laws, etc. Through professional developments, research, and collaboration amongst educators it
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makes it possible to anticipate and assess the emerging trends and initiative to adapt school-

based leadership strategies. Through these things, we can be informed, and learn how to adapt to

the ever-changing world around us. I believe that this was really brought to light when we were

forced to close our doors at our schools, and we continued to teach so that our students could

grow and prosper. We can do anything and adapt to anything if we all step up and continue to

keep the students’ best interests in mind!

Preparation

As I prepared for my presentation, I was nervous and worried that I would not do well on

presenting it, and it would take away from the time that my mentor and colleagues had for their

families during the summer break. I knew that my content was good, because as a teacher I felt

that it was relevant to what is needed in our school. Presenting to other professionals is always

scary compared to teaching to our students. I was able to gain confidence after presenting it to

my mentor and a peer and taking their feedback along with my instructor’s feedback and make

the needed changes to have an effective PD. When presenting future PDs, I will make sure to

have someone look it over and provide feedback to ensure that it is the best quality before

presenting it to my staff. I felt more prepared the second time around when presenting my PD,

and I know that the more I present PDs, the more confident I will become through engagement

and feedback!
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Resources

Arkansas State University. (2017, June 8). The Importance of Teacher Collaboration: A-State
Online. https://degree.astate.edu/articles/k-12-education/importance-of-teacher-
collaboration.aspx. 

First, E. (2015). Giving Teachers the Feedback and Support They Deserve. Education First .
https://education-first.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Giving-Teachers-the-Feedback-
and-Support-They-Deserve.pdf.