Page 52 - EdViewptsSpring2017
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Changing the PD Model in Your District
By Rich Czyz, Principal of the Thomas Richards School, Waterford
As a district-level adminis- During the past few years, there has sessions and to incorporate interactive
been a major shift in instruction for and relevant sessions that allow for
trator, I was responsible for planning students. Educators have figured teacher voice and choice.
district-wide professional development out how to effectively reach students
sessions for about 350 instructional through engaging activities, allowing Below are some ways that
staff members. In my time doing this, for student voice and choice. We have you can use to reinvent
I came to two realizations about pro- also seen a number of educators who professional development in
fessional development: are pushing this same shift in profes- your district:
1. Educators are looking for sional development. Many of the same
professional development that characteristics of effective learning are Edcamp as District PD
is relevant to their daily roles. true for teachers as well as students. I A few years ago, my district conducted
2. Educators do not have enough believe that it is absolutely necessary its first Edcamp. The response among
teachers and staff members was over-
to engage teachers in professional de-
professional development time velopment that is relevant to their daily whelming. While structured a little
built into their schedules. teaching while being able to provide differently than most Edcamps, our
With these points in mind, it is numerous on-demand opportunities district version gave educators choice
important to rethink the profes- for professional development. This in what they wanted to learn about,
sional development model that is change in mindset with regard to pro- while providing strategies that were
used in many schools and districts. fessional development has allowed me classroom ready the next day. Some
to think past traditional “sit and get” teachers learned about the calming
Educational Viewpoints -50- Spring 2017
