Page 46 - EdViewptsSpring2021

Why Do We Have to Do This?

The Need for Ongoing Systemic

Professional Development

By Allison Staffin, Assistant Principal, and Dr. Kwame Morton, Principal,
Cherry Hill High School West

Pedagogy and instruction they experience when their students must change with it or we are doing
are the foundation of all have those a-ha moments is palpable. a disservice to our future leaders.
We are energized as their eyes
As we continue to prepare students
that we do as educators. explode with excitement over a new to move beyond high school, it is
Just as we would not use a hair stylist concept, idea, or venture, hoping important that we are providing them
who is still creating styles that were that we are igniting their passion for an education that promotes critical
popular in the 1950s, as educational the future. At times, however, we get thinkers and problem solvers. Creating
practitioners, we cannot continue to stuck in the “I am the teacher, you professional learning opportunities for
create lessons that emulate our own are the student” quagmire, rather our staff that assist in re-envisioning
teachers and those before them. than relishing in the delight when they their classrooms, their roles, and the
As the 21st Century continues to teach us something as simple as how digital natives in front of them has
evolve we must accept that education to send a “tweet”, or something more changed our focus and allowed for
evolves as well. Educators are often sophisticated, like creating our new multi-year goal setting. Our teachers
passionate about the expertise that digital meeting platform like Discord. are our best resources, by committing
they have developed in their chosen We owe it to our students and those to greater professional development
curricular area. The excitement that still to come to adapt and accept that opportunities for them we are
this is a changing world and education enhancing our overall schematic to

Educational Viewpoints -44- Spring 2021