Thinking about professional development

Steve Bross :
After teaching for almost nine years, and spending too many late nights at SkillsUSA events, I, with the help of other staff members, have come up with a few concepts and plans about what would make Central the Perfect Tech School”. I know that this school has so much more to offer, and I can’t think of a better time than now to run with these ideas. There is no doubt in my mind that we can be a model school not just academically, but culturally as well… and it starts with professional development.
I started with this statement because; I truly feel that the professional development, in my school, has never really gotten to the level that I would have expected. The one thing that sets me apart from a teacher that has been around for more then 10 years, is that; I have never stopped my own professional development. I mean, if all this works out, in the end, people might actually have to call me Dr. Bross… Scary I know. But, when I look around the school, I see a lot of teachers out of the loop and just using the same teaching techniques they have grown comfortable with.
I often questioned, what is our professional development plan? Is their a plan or is it just keeping up with state requirements as far paperwork. I believe my school makes plans for putting the ideas they have in place; I just don’t ever really feel it gets off the ground.
Our school has a mission statement or a tagline that we use that says “Providing the connection… college, career and community.” Are we a good school? Yes. Are we a great school that lives up to it tag line… MAYBE, maybe not?
As you may know, my goal in life is to be a self proclaimed expert in teaching with technology and if I had to set up a plan to run with, as far as professional development, I would want to not only change the thinking of the teachers but change the culture of the school as well. Let start with the simplest one, the overall professional development concept itself. If I was I charge (god help us) my job should be to “Educate the Educators”.
Step 1 – “Professional Development” (…the connection, teachers.) Professional development needs to inspire teachers to try new concepts, reflect on what they do already and drive their programs forward. This could be a simple as 15 minutes of time during the facility meeting.
Almost all teachers get to point where they start to settle on with what the are doing in their classrooms, I get it, it happens. But the answer is to motivating the teachers to go back and take another look, or try something different today. Every year teachers should be looking to improve on last year’s program. We teach technology, it changes every year and so should our curriculum.
Step 2 – “Highlight The Right Students” (…the connection, students.) It seems in today’s educational system all we do is tend to the needs of the average to failing students, and in the long run we forget about the students who are doing their best work day in and day out.
How? Educate the teachers on the programs that we as a school expect to support. Create an ongoing set of rewards to the student that are making the grade with the money raised by labor and industry.
All of these ideas should be done each marking period and presented by our school administration along with the teacher.
Ask or provide teachers with the knowledge on how to support the school wide inniciatives. Explain how we can we all work together to provide the connection to the students. These are few of the ideas that I have had to promote the success of the student.
The “A” Club – We need to reward these students publicly and in their classrooms. Give them a thank you letter from the administration “Personally” along with a gift card, tools from their shops, sweatshirt, anything that will make them realize their efforts are being noticed. The other students need to see that we know what is going on with our students… Good and Bad. – Also, send a thank you letter home to the parents… Or Email
Perfect Attendance – This used to be a big deal, what happened? This is an easy way to reward students for completing the most basic of career tasks, showing up every day.
Forget that they may be a “C’ student and reward them too. – Also, send a thank you letter home to the parents… Or Email
Student of the Quarter – This is already in place, but all we do is say good job… get you’re grub on. Most of my students don’t even really want to go because they go up by themselves, maybe don’t really know anyone and just feel uncomfortable. This is a great thing but how can it be better? – Also, send a thank you letter home to the parents… Or Email
Catch them in the Act – This one is the easiest, go into a class, find a student working hard and reward them for it. The results are endless for this one. Think about the fact you may even catch our worst student one day and that moment will be something they will remember and brag about to their friends. – Also, send a thank you letter home to the parents… Or Email
Reading & Journaling Award – All 3 of my kids have to keep a reading log of the books that they read, In most cases the teachers might not have the time to manage a school-wide program, but I believe it can be done. You are not going to get everyone on board with this, but is there enough students to begin highlighting the ones that read on a regular basis.
This could be done through CTSO’s, a required reading list or as a school. All of the classics are on-line for free.. It could all be managed through the school website. – Also, send a thank you letter home to the parents… Or Email
Step 3 – “Empower The Students” (…connection student and community) One huge issue that has gotten away from education is the opportunity for the students to be involved in some of decisions making in their education. Surprisingly when the students have a say in the events that affect them, they tend to rise to the occasion and prove themselves. I believe that there are a lot of great students out there who want to see this school advance just like we do… But How?
Step 4 – “Labor & Industry” (…the career and community) Create a relationship with Labor & Industry that will financially support and drive academic, professional and career development.
How? Teachers, even myself become to comfortable with just having the right amount of people show up to your OAC Meetings. But we need to go further and these are all ideas on how to get this section up to a level I think could be amazing.
Conclusion: I think about all the issues that come down the road in the world of education. I can’t help it to start to think we are getting away from allowing schools to take on the true task of letting students fly.
 I have read 3 or 4 books now provided from our administration. SREB – High Schools that Work, No Teacher Left Behind, and few others, I forget the names… and in the end, the different systems all promote the same idea. It starts with the teachers, but they need the tools and the training.
Especially in in CTE! There are at least 5 ways to take notes, 10 plus ways to start a lecture, and countless other techniques to use in the classroom. It’s the administrations job to put the right tools into the teacher’s hands.
I think the biggest mistake administrators do is put specific requirements on teachers as far as what they use. Something that works for one teacher isn’t the answer for the rest of the staff. I think a “Master Teacher” is someone that challenges their student with different styles, ideas, technology and creativity.
Education is the only time I believe the “Trickle Down Theory” actually works. But it’s not money, its inspiration! We all have a person or teacher that just gets us excited about something we care about. I’m not sure I have seen that boss yet, (in education) I think a few more years with my first assistant director, it might have been there. But, I guess, I wonder if, I could be that boss for someone else. Someone who can educate, inspire and let them fly.