Clinical Field Experience A: Professional Development Program 1

Clinical Field Experience A: Professional Development Program

Katia Sachoute

College of Education, Grand Canyon University

EAD 523 Developing Professional Capacity

Professor Lisset Pickens

June 14th, 2023

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Program Development Interview Questions:

1. What are the major functions and activities related to the responsibilities of developing

teachers and staff through professional development?

a. You need to make sure that you are not wasting teacher’s time and providing

them with information that is current and beneficial to student growth. Research is

important as you develop these PD experiences, data analysis and feedback are

critical.

2. What topics are present in the professional development program at your school?

a. Topics that are currently present are SEL- the social/emotional development of

our students, technology implementation (we provided each studnet with an IPad

to work in school and take home this school year), Cambridge implementation for

the upcoming school year and behavior management.

3. How were the topics in the professional development program determined?

a. By using school data from the previous school year, test, FAST Progress

Monitoring data, and teacher surveys and feedback.

4. How was the program developed, and who were the participants in the development

process? Were any data points reviewed when developing the program?

a. Program was developed by first bring a team together to work on the CIP;

reviewing the data of different assessments and school reports to determine the

necessary plan.

5. How is technology incorporated into professional development sessions?

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a. Students are using technology delay, therefore we ensure that teachers are

receiving an equivalent experience during the PD. Lessons, surveys, activities and

resources are upload on the teacher platform after each PD.

6. How does professional development support the school’s Continuous Improvement Plan?

a. The CIP drives the decisions of what occurs during the PD - The school uses this

outline the areas of needed improvement

7. How do you know if the professional development achieved its goals/outcomes?

a. By reviewing data/ student work samples/classroom observations.

8. How do you motivate teachers to use the information provided during a PD?

a. It is important to have an accountability plan, teachers have to know that you will

be following up and proving feedback.

9. What steps do you take to create a culture of continuous learning and improvement?

a. By making sure that it starts at the very top and having strategies in place that

motivates teacher who will in turn motivate the students.

Reflection

How professional Development Program was Developed

Professional develop programs are extremely important, and when you are wanting to

improve the effectiveness of your staff and improving the academic achievement of your

students. It takes intentional effort and time to train staff that can properly execute, the necessary

vision and mission of the school. It takes intentional effort and time to train into pull up a stop

that can properly execute, a necessary vision and mission of the school. Professional

development programs are vital when it comes to the development of teachers.

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Throughout the past two years at our school, professional development has been led by

our principal mentor. She conducts the sessions and facilitates the PD depending on the content

area. There may be times where it is handled by a coach, such as a reading or math coach. Prior

to implementing the program the administration staff gathers school wide data that focuses on

different areas that impact student achievement. For example they review previous school term

assessments, behavioral data, attendance, and student growth reports. From this data driven

analysis they are able to determine what areas will be targeted during professional development.

Implication for Future Practice

PSEL 6 states, “effective educational leaders develop the professional capacity and

practice of school personnel to promote each student’s academic success and well-being”

(NPBEA 2015). It is important to realize that through professional development leaders are

initially influencing the outcome of student academic success. From PSEL 7 this is where we see

the importance of having a leader that creates that community of lifetime learners, it states

“effective educational leaders foster a professional community of teachers and other professional

staff to promote each student’s academic success and well-being” (NPBEA 2015). My principal

shows in many ways of how to be a leader that creates a space for all teachers to be anchored in

always learning more and wanting to learn more.

As a future leader I will keep these standards in mind because I believe when you create

this type of community this will correlate with the next PSEL standard that speaks to instruction.

“Effective educational leaders develop and support intellectually rigorous and coherent systems

of curriculum, instruction, and assessment to promote each student’s academic success and well-

being” (PSEL 4). PD help support teachers confidence in the areas that they teach, I believe as

you work towards teacher’s effectiveness, curriculum rigor and outcome will also improve.
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Mentor’s role and relationship to professional development

My current mentor who is the head principal at the school serves in a critical position

when it comes to professional development. Our school is K-8th, which requires that our

principal work towards the building of an instructional leadership team. Each have a part that

they play in the overall success of our school and our students. His relationship to professional

development is refreshing and encouraging. He challenges the teachers to never stop learning

and refining your skills, whill providing clear opportunities to ensure that this is happening.

Professional Development Supports the CIP/ PD Goals Achieved

The school’s improvement plan is apart of the data analysis that determines the next steps

of professional development for the staff. Through the plan that is how PD goals are accessed,

based on the data the principal will be able to determine if the PD was successful or not.

Incorporation of Technology

Technology is critical and necessary in every classroom, which my mentor principal is

very excited about. He spent time bragging about the installation of SMART tvs that have been

installed in each classroom on campus and the fact that the entire student body is 1-to-1 in

regards to their devices. Technology is a part of everyday instruction, teachers use the platforms

such as NearPod, StemScopes, ReflexMath, Freckle to provide instruction and remediation.

Professional development is also another area that has incorporated technology to remove the

barrier of access for all teachers. All PD sessions are upload on the teacher platform for access

after the in person session has concluded, which helps teachers that may have been absent or

may just need a reteaching. Resources and materials are also uploaded for future access, with

accountability pieces like surveys as well.

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References

National Policy Board for Educational Administration (2015). Professional standards for

educational leaders. NPBEA, 2015. Reston, VA: Author.