PD that Doesn't End When the Day is Over

According to a recent Education Week study, schools spend “between $6,000 to $8,000 a year per teacher” on professional development. However, in order for this significant investment to be worth the cost, schools must see increased student outcomes as a result. 
The Center for Student Achievement has partnered with The Teacher Retention Project and other schools across the state to ensure that each site is seeing systematic increases in teacher effectiveness as a result of custom-created professional development and coaching plans.
Here’s what we have learned from schools that have seen amazing results:

• Each training session must have one to two specific, measurable objectives and a deliverable
• The cognitive processing is the responsibility of the participants, not the facilitator
• Improved outcomes are dependent upon a pre-planned system or accountability structure
• It is important to consider peoples’ needs, what the product of the professional development will be, and the appropriate process for accountability

This year TRP has included custom designed sessions from The Center for Student Achievement as part of our two cohort wide professional development events.  Following the Center for Student Achievement’s model of professional development, teachers in our cohort are presented best practice strategies as part of our professional development sessions.  Then, teachers are able to try out new strategies and skills learned for a week following professional development events in their classrooms. Last, Center for Student Achievement Presenters and TRP Coaches continue the professional development by visiting the teacher in their classrooms to observe and debrief the professional development in practice. TRP Coaches are able to integrate new skills into coaching plans. What is unique about this model is that professional development doesn’t end when the day is over. To borrow from the great Paul Bambrick-Santoyo with UnCommon Schools, professional development only matters if it translates from paper to practice, driving real improvements to student learning and that is the thrust of the partnership between The Center for Student Achievement and The Teacher Retention Project.

Justin O'Connell, Center for Student Achievement

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