1. Overview of Professional Development for Staff
Special Education Citizen’s Advisory Council
Thursday, September 29th, 2016

2. Nick’s Priority # 2
Increase efficiency of the Office of Special Education
Be responsive to student and stakeholder needs
Professional development and learning

3. Mission
In order to achieve its Vision, the Office of Special Education will:
Value and respect all.
Lead by example.
Provide high quality individualized instruction and carefully monitor student growth in order to narrow the achievement gap.
Promote and provide targeted and meaningful learning opportunities with adequate resources that empower all.
Foster collaboration among/across staff, families, and community partners.
Create an expectation of accountability.
Efficient and effective communication and procedures.

4. Core Values/Beliefs for the Office of Special Education
Presume competence (all students can learn)
Student-centered
Communication
Honesty
Respect
Build capacity
Family engagement

5. “The most promising strategy for sustained, substantive school improvement is developing the ability of school personnel to function as a professional learning community.” -Richard DuFour, Rebecca DuFour, and Robert Eaker “Revisiting Professional Learning Communities”

6. What is a Professional Learning Community?
Focus and commitment to the learning of each student.
Composed of collaborative teams who work interdependently to achieve common goals.
Engage in collaborative inquiry in best practices related to teaching and learning.
Consist of members that are action-oriented.
A shared commitment to continuous improvement.
-Richard DuFour, Rebecca DuFour, Robert Eaker, and Thomas Many “Learning by Doing, A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work”

7. How is it delivered? System-wide: 1 day (Aug. 23)
Principal-directed: 5 days
2 pre-service days (Aug.)
2 early dismissal days (Sept. 19 and March 10)
1 full day (Nov. 7)
Teacher directed: 2 days (Jan. 27 and June 15)

8. Other Opportunities for PD
Faculty meetings
Team collaborative meetings
PLC’s/study groups
New teacher week
New teacher induction program
Curriculum sessions for teachers
Principal and Assistant Principal meetings
PD for new administrators
Individualized PD opportunities
Instructional Assistant Conference
MSDE Courses
College courses (tuition reimbursement)
CPD (Continuing PD) courses
Title II Programs
Specialized training (AT, ESOL, etc.)

9. What does this look like in our schools?
All special education teachers across the county coming together in August to learn about legal updates, goals/objectives, and enhancing independence.
Monthly faculty meetings where teachers participate in learning that supports goals in the School Improvement Plan.
Groups of teachers working together in a group to further their learning on a shared topic.
Individual teachers working with their Supervisors or Instructional Consultants to develop individual areas of growth.
Administrators visiting our special programs to further their knowledge.
Special education teachers attending general education content PD.
Special education PD for general education teachers.

10. Sample PD Calendar
Winfield Elementary PD Calendar

11. Vision Revisited
The vision for the Office of Special Education is to become a model department of seamless student advocacy, school support, and family engagement.

12. What are your learning needs?
What are the learning needs of our families?
What is the best way to deliver this learning?
What else can we do to better support our families?
Other feedback?

13. Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

14. Thank You!
Nick Shockney Director of Special Education (410)