Huntington County Community School Corporation

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Huntington County Community School Corporations
Professional Development Model

• Building Equity Longevityin Huntington County
  Community Schools
• Schools Exceeding Expectations ConferenceApril
  21-24, 2010

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Catch Me If You Can

• Your brain remembers and retrieves short bits of
  information which is why companies all over the
  world use catch phrases or slogans to help you
  remember their products. An
  example is Nikes, Just Do It.
• Think about yourself professionally and/or
  personally and write a 3-5 word catch phrase that
  fits/describes you.
• Introduce yourself to the group by telling us
  your name, where you are from, and your catch
  phrase.

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HCCSC Demographics

• 6,074 students in grades Pre-Kindergarten-12
• seven K-5 elementary schools
• one K-8 school
• two 6-8 middle schools
• one high school
• Approximately 375 full-time teachers, 12 District
  Administrators, 20 Principals/Assistant
  Principals, 3 Professional Development
  Coordinators
• 95 Caucasian, 3 Multiracial, 1 Hispanic, 1
  Native American 36 Free/Reduced Lunch

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• Never before has the pressure been so high to
  find ways to support successful teaching and
  learning through effective professional
  development.
• -Salpeter, 2003-

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HCCSCs PD History

• Professional Development Past Efforts
• District professional development using a
  Train-the-Trainer Model within buildings
• Annual Model Teaching Week each summer for Susan
  Kovaliks ITI/HET Model
• Training sessions with various consultants at the
  individual building level
• Development of three district level positions
  for professional development
• Two Literacy Coordinators (1 coordinator/100
  teachers)
• One Technology Integration Specialist (1
  specialist/400 teachers)

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Hurdles to Professional Development
What are some of the hurdles that you face in
terms of professional development in your
district?
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HCCSCs PD History

• Professional Development Hurdles
• Inconsistency of trainings across the district
• Amount of professional development expenditures
  with limited accountability
• Lack of significant progress towards AYP
• Coordinator to Teacher Ratio
• Lack of relationship and connection with students
  when modeling a lesson
• Consistency throughout the corporation of
  teachers participating in ongoing professional
  development

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• The best way to get a good idea is to get lots
  of ideas.
• -Linus Pauling-

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Guiding Principles of HCCSC Professional
Development Model

• Teachers can change a behavior or practice when
  they SEE what the new behavior or practice LOOKS
  like in a real world setting multiple times.
• For professional development to truly be
  effective and sustained, it must be accompanied
  with on-going COACHING in a non-threatening
  environment.

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HCCSCs PD Model

• Professional Development Model is a cycle -

Professional DevelopmentTraining Observations
Implementation with Coaching
Individual Goal Setting
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HCCSCs PD Model
Goal To develop a professional development
model that would

• Create a situation where teachers observe best
  practice strategies at anytime throughout the
  year.
• Provide continuous support from professional
  development coordinators with ongoing coaching.
• Support teachers in setting individual, specific
  goals for implementation of best practice
  strategies.

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Funding the Model

• Combination of Funds
• General Fund
• Title II-A Professional Development Funds
• Title I Professional Development Funds
• Special Education Professional Development Funds
• School Improvement Funds

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Idea to Action

• Getting the Model in Place
• Create a plan at the Spring Summit, April 2007
• Generate HCCSC support
• Central Office
• Teachers Association
• School Board
• Restructure three current professional
  developmentpositions
• Hire an additional Professional Development
  Coordinator
• Plan Professional Development opportunities
• Create two demonstration classrooms

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Overview of the HCCSC Professional Development
Model

• Comprehensive training modules for ALL Pre-K -
  Grade 5 teachers
• Training modules include
• Choice
• Observations
• Training coaching on strategies
• Goal setting
• Adequate time for implementation
• Reflection on goals

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Structure of PD Modules for Teachers

• Week One
• Meet with Professional Development Coordinator to
  choose training option from a menu of choices
• Week Two
• Half-day training session which includes
  observation in the demonstration classroom
• Week Three
• Meet with Professional Development Coordinator to
  create a goal and implementation plan that
  reflects training session
• Weeks Four
• Additional support from Professional Development
  Coordinator
• Weeks Five Eight
• Implement and reflect on plan to accomplish goal

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Options for Modules

• Teachers choose from a menu of professional
  development options including
• Highly Effective Teaching Model components
• Comprehensive Literacy Framework
• Best Practices in Math Instruction
• Technology Integration
• Using Assessment Data to Drive Instruction
• Curriculum Mapping
• RTI Implementation

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Structure of the Model 2007-2009
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Module Structure - Weeks 1-4
Demonstration Classroom
Assigned Schools
Andrews Elem.
Flint Springs Elem.
Primary Demonstration Classroom taught by PD
Coordinator A
Horace Mann Elem.
Lancaster Elem.
Lincoln Elem.
Northwest Elem.
Intermediate Demonstration Classroom taught by
PD Coordinator C
Roanoke Elem.
Salamonie Elem.
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Module Structure - Weeks 5-8
Demonstration Classroom
Assigned Schools
Andrews Elem.
Flint Springs Elem.
Primary Demonstration Classroom taught by PD
Coordinator B
Horace Mann Elem.
Lancaster Elem.
Lincoln Elem.
Northwest Elem.
Roanoke Elem.
Intermediate Demonstration Classroom taught by
PD Coordinator D
Salamonie Elem.
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Mrs. Aschliman listens to students during a 4th
Grade Demonstration Classroom Celebration of
Learning.
Mrs. Moore conducts a PD session with a group of
teachers.
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Sustainability of the Model 2009-2010
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Teacher Benefits of the Model

• Better preparation to implement strategies in
  classroom.
• More one-on-one support instruction with less
  time out of the classroom.
• Current coordinator/teacher ratio 138 for all
  initiatives
• Receive consistent professional development
  training and coaching at least 4 times a year
• Training is differentiated to meet each teachers
  needs
• Support available to administrators to continue
  development understanding of strategies

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Benefits of the Model for Students

• At the onset of the model, approximately 50
  students received direct instruction utilizing
  brain research and best-practice strategies on a
  daily basis.
• The number of students receiving this type of
  instruction grows exponentially as teachers
  implement strategies from professional
  development trainings in their classroom.

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I love the opportunity to choose what I need
professionally to benefit my students. It gives
me the chance to challenge myself and continue my
growth as a teacher. I observed a math workshop
lesson, and it changed the way I teach and
implement math skills. Now its an everyday
occurrence, and the kids love it. - HCCSC
Teacher-
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Teacher Survey Data

• 97 of teachers agreed that following coaching
  opportunities and observations, they have a level
  of understanding to begin implementing the
  professional goal.
• Of 122 teachers surveyed, 100 agreed that they
  are able to select a measurable goal that
  reflects the needs of students, professional
  development, and supports HCCSC District
  requirements.

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I appreciate the support on implementing
district initiatives. The professional
development in the past two years has been very
helpful because it was differentiated to address
my specific needs and gave me choices on the
areas I feel I need to improve. Giving teachers
choice and support in an areas they choose helps
them take ownership and implement what theyve
learned. -HCCSC Teacher- http//www.bestwayout.c
om/
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Contact Information

• Charles Grable HCCSC Assistant Superintendent
  for Curriculum and Instruction
  cgrable_at_hccsc.k12.in.us
• Kari George HCCSC Grades 3-5 Professional
  Development Coordinator kgeorge_at_hccsc.k12.in.us
  
• Janette Moore HCCSC Grades K-2 Professional
  Development Coordinator jmoore_at_hccsc.k12.in.us