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My last day of the school year was my most proud

What does good professional development look like? I've struggled with this question during my decade as a professional educator. Some of the questions I've asked myself or discussed with others is -

  • Before school? During school? After school? 
  • Compensated? Contractually compelled?
  • Not compensated? At will participation?
The better question is - how does the learning take place - not when or why. If we preach to our teachers to change how they are doing things in the classroom, it's pretty disingenuous to set up professional learning in a lecture hall/auditorium setting, or a 40 minute demo with time afterward to "give it a try."

My last full day of the 2012-2013 school year, was my most proud because I think the team I worked with got professional learning right. It was a leadership retreat, rather than a data focused retreat this year. My director laid out the videos she wanted to share to get the building leadership teams to - for lack of a better line - think different about learning and leadership. This was coupled with Plan - Do - Study - Act handouts that the teams could use to put a plan together for in-house action research. The director and I were available to the groups to talk through ideas and issues they had. It was a wonderful day of conversations and planning for 2013 and beyond.

We had a few connection hick-ups, which is why the wireless infrastructure is getting a face-lift this summer, but after some early morning issues, things went well. Groups were reflecting and collaborating after they watched a Ian Jukes speech here or a Ken Robinson piece there. There were a variety of resources and time available to allow the idea to soak in a bit.

I walked out of the building feeling very good. There was a feeling that something happened, that meaningful conversations took place...that no one was bored listening to something they didn't want to - they voted with their mouse if they didn't like what they heard. 

The true test will come in the fall as these plans take shape and have an affect in the classroom. We've given the teams a format to take back to their buildings - PD doesn't have to be boring or dreadful. Some will always fight it and progressive ideas, but if you give professionals choice and time for their own learning, great things can happen.

Side note - this day happened back in June and I've left this district, but I've been reflecting on what's next for me with professional development planning and how we can keep getting better. I love online learning, we need online resources to make it work well, but there needs to be that human element there - facilitators available to work through plans, committed colleagues to see what the building/district vision looks like. I think that sometimes gets lost.


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