Professional Development Guidelines
Professional Development Committee -- 2009 - 2010
Stephanie Mason, Chair
- Melanie Dickerson
- Stephen Owens
- Dr. Katie Osborne
- Christy Owens
- Christy Wooten
- Courtney Wallace
May 1, 2009 - April 30, 2010
Definition
Professional Development education is defined as a program of planned activities designed to increase the competencies needed by all licensed personnel in the performance of their professional responsibilities. In this context, "competencies" are defined as the knowledge, skills and attitudes which enable personnel to carry out their tasks with maximum effectiveness.
Legal Basis
Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3004, states that all teachers who have a 200-day contract must have five (5) days of Professional Development education. This applies to any person who holds a Tennessee Teacher License and is employed by the Robertson County Board of Education. It is the duty of the educator, with the approval of the principal, to determine a plan of activities which best meet the needs of the teacher and the overall goals of the school.
Time Line and Hours
The thirty (30) hours or five (5) days for School Year 2009 - 2010 shall be earned beginning May 1, 2009 and ending April 30, 2010. Credit shall be awarded for a teacher who completes the professional development session in its entirety.
The principal will design the Individual Professional Development Plan for each teacher. The plan can include in-county and out-of-county activities. Any activity requires the principal's prior approval.
A required activity may be missed when the teacher is on sick leave, bereavement leave, personal leave or if there has been approval from the Director of Schools. In the case of illness, sick leave will be used and a doctor's statement must be given to the principal. If approved leave is used by the teacher, the principal will allow the teacher to make up the professional development activity if there is an activity available that is comparable to the activity missed.
The number of hours of credit awarded a teacher shall be determined by the actual teacher's role in the activity. The teacher may serve as a participant or presenter.
Participant
A participant may be awarded one (1) hour of credit for each hour spent as a participant. A participant is a teacher who attends a workshop, conference, training session, etc.
Presenter
A presenter may be awarded three (3) hours for each one (1) hour that is spent presenting a session. The total of three (3) hours includes time spent by the presenter to prepare for the session and the actual time spent conducting the presentation. Three hours of credit as a presenter is allowed only for new presentations.
PLEASE NOTE: A presenter is a teacher who conducts a presentation at a workshop, training session, conference, etc. It is necessary for the teacher desiring to present professional development to obtain prior approval from the Professional Development Committee. Approval will be based on the relationship of the session's content to areas covered under No Child Left Behind, School Improvement Plan Goals, District Goals, and the quality of the material being presented.
Approved Professional Development Opportunities
The Professional Development Directory (SchoolStation) is the most up-to date listing of professional development opportunities to address system-wide needs. The activities were scheduled by central office personnel based on needs identified by school principals. The activities were developed to assist teachers in meeting accountability guidelines for all students and subgroups identified under No Child Left Behind.
Other activities will be designed by the principal and the professional development committee at the school and will include activities such as the following:
instructional assessment and improvement studies, workshops and / or other activities based on the assessed needs of a school or school system, development and coordination of system and school-wide curriculum, conducting staff development programs / activities that are consistent with needs identified at the building and /or system level, studies of: teaching methods and strategies, classroom management, child development, curriculum and instruction, motivation, community involvement, planning and evaluation, workshops, seminars, institutes, state sponsored activities, teacher-centered activities, professional organization sponsored activities and college or university sponsored activities which are related to a teacher's assignment or to a school's or system's objectives, and specific training for instructional assignments.
A teacher can be awarded 6 hours of professional development credit for serving on a SACS or SIP committee or 12 hours for serving as a committee chair. A teacher must present documentation with the actual number of hours he/she has served outside of the school day. A teacher may be awarded a maximum of three (3) hours for working with the Science Fair, Spelling Bee or for serving on a textbook committee. Teachers may accrue a maximum of eighteen (18) hours for attending a professional conference(s) that meets the guidelines of their endorsement and teaching assignment.
Non-Approved Activities
Professional development credit shall not be allow for activities scheduled during the regular school teaching days. Non-approvable activities include:
- parent teacher conferences,
- school year orientations/open houses,
- teachers working in their rooms,
- working on permanent records,
- business meeting for professional association,
- coaching/cheerleading clinics,
- college courses for credit (except for renewal of the Professional License),
- visits to exhibits, historical sites, theatrical performances, movies, personal trips, and other activities not specifically intended as teacher training, workshop or activities which have not been pre-approved by the principal, and
- other activities that do not specifically address improving knowledge, skills and attitudes of the teachers.