Professional Education Plan

8/14/2019 Professional Education Plan

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Pennsylvania Department of Education

Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaDepartment of Education

333 Market StreetHarrisburg, PA 17126-0333

Professional Education ReportThursday, September 10, 2009

(Last Last Approved: Friday, April 20, 2007)

Entity: Northwestern Lehigh SDAddress: 6493 Route 309

New Tripoli, PA 18066-2038Phone: (610) 298-8661 Ext: 1225Contact Name: Susanne Meixsell


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Professional Education Planning Committee

Name Affiliation Membership Category Appointed By

Bender, Anne Northwestern Lehigh HighSchool

Ed Specialist -Instructional Technology

Educational Specialists

Bleam,Deborah

Community Representative CommunityRepresentative

School Board

Carnahan,Tari

Northwestern Lehigh HighSchool

Secondary SchoolTeacher

High School Teachers

Cartier, Renee Weisenberg Elementary Administrator Administrative Team

Fitzgerald,Sara

Northwestern Lehigh MiddleSchool

Middle School Teacher Middle SchoolTeachers

Foucek,Andrea

Northwestern Lehigh Highand Middle Schools

Ed Specialist - SchoolPsychologist

Educational Specialists

Gates,Elisabeth



Gensits,Stephen Northwestern Lehigh HighSchool Secondary SchoolTeacher High School Teachers

Huber, Nancy Business Representative Business Representative School Board

Johnston,Marsha

Northwestern Elementary Elementary SchoolTeacher

Elementary Teachers

Klein,Christopher



Meixsell,Susanne

Central Office Administrator Administrative Team

Nickischer,Amy

Northwestern Lehigh HighSchool

Administrator Administrative Team

Piescienski,Marci

Community Representative CommunityRepresentative

School Board

Reiss, Pamela Northwestern Lehigh HighSchool

Secondary SchoolTeacher

High School Teachers

Scott, Mark Central Office Administrator Administrative Team

Stark, Beth Weisenberg Elementary Elementary SchoolTeacher

WeisenbergElementary Teachers

Stitzel, LeAnn Central Office Administrator Administrative Team

Suter, David Business Representative Business Representative School Board

Venusto,Cathy

Parent Parent School Board

Yadush,Aileen

Parent Parent School Board

Needs Assessment

Reflections

Legacy Dataview 371


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Concern Last Modified: 5/18/2009

The District continues its commitment to increasing the reading proficiency rates forspecial education students. This continues to be an area of challenge in that the regulareducation students are meeting with AYP, but not all of the special education studentsare meeting with AYP. Over the course of the previous plan, the K-12 Language Artscurriculum was reviewed and rewritten with regular and special education teachers to

achieve complete alignment with the PA Academic Standards and AssessmentAnchors. As a result, a new reading series with a research based component parallelingthe general education curriculum, has been implemented at the elementary levels overthe past two years.

Additionally, the 5th Grade will be returning to the elementary level in September of2009. As part of this realignment, the 5th grade language arts curriculum has beenmapped and is being revised to reflect differences in delivery systems and instructionalpractices between the Elementary and Middle Level programs.

Reading benchmark tests as well as the use of DIBELS, Developmental ReadingAssessment and Study Island data is being utilized to identify and remediate readingdeficiencies very early for individual students. The District is also renewing its focus on

improving the use of Differentiated Instruction approaches through increased staffdevelopment.

The Northwestern Lehigh School District has assessed the staff development needs of theprofessional educators relevant to instructional and technology skills through the use of theProfessional Development Council Needs Assessment, the Technology Needs AssessmentSurvey, and staff development/course evaluations. This data was analyzed to develop a courseof action for the Strategic Plan as well as professional development needs to support all areas ofgrowth.The Middle States Accreditation for Growth continues to serve as a key piece of data inidentifying needs for the High School and District. Additionally, current PSSA results andbenchmark assessments have been analyzed to identify targeted areas for improvement andmore focused staff development. Through the analysis of all this data, it was very clear to theStrategic Planning Committee that focused and integrated goals for improvement to sustain adult

learning are critical.

Additional resources that were considered in designing the Professional Development Plan werethe following:

District Mission Statement District Vision of 2012 District Shared Values Student Achievement Data Educational Technology Plan Special Education Plan Student Services Plan Academic Standards and Assessment Plan

Student Demographic Data Ongoing input from District administrators as well as teaching staff PATI surveys Parent Advisory Councils and Parent Teacher Organizations State and Federal Regulations such as IDIEA, Chapter 16, and Chapter 12 Act 48 regulations

The Northwestern Lehigh School District maintains the philosophy that teachers andadministrators need to learn side-by-side so that both groups can strive for improved student


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learning. While teachers are applying their knowledge and skill to the classroom environment,administrators can more effectively supervise and support teacher professional growth. Districtadministrators must also continue their own professional growth in the areas of supervision, legalissues, policy development, data-driven decision-making, personnel, program evaluation,curriculum mapping, leadership, and facility planning.

Through this comprehensive analysis the following specific areas for professional developmentwill be addressed by this plan. Teachers, administrators, and pupil services staff are expected toattend these sessions. Support staff such as teacher aides, secretaries, and substitute teachersare also invited to attend.

Technology Skill DevelopmentUse of DatawarehouseDiscovery Education StreamingKid/Teen BizWeb 2.0 toolsTechnology Integration in the ClassroomWebpage DevelopmentSapphire Grading System, Parent Portal, and IEP WriterBlackboard course softwareStudy Island for Math, Language Arts, and Science grades 2-12Interactive Whiteboards & MobisCyber InstructionUsing tech peripherals, i.e. digital camera, scanner, projector, handhelds, classroom performancesystems

Pedagogical Development

Grading Practices/ Purposes K-12Differentiated Instruction workshops and training for K-12Writers Workshop for grades K-8

Guided Reading for grades K-5

Advanced Placement teaching techniques for grades 9-12

Principles of Coaching K-12ESL and Gifted Training K-12

Curriculum, Standards, and Assessment Anchors K-12Literacy Interventions and fidelity in administering Assessments K-5Data-driven instructional decisions K-12

Curriculum Mapping K-12

Benchmark Assessment Training K-12Response to Intervention methods and techniques, K-5

Safety and Security

CPR/AED/Basic First Aid K-12Cyberbullying and Internet Safety K-12

Bullying Prevention K-12

Best practices in school nursingCrisis Response Training K-12

Crisis Prevention Intervention Training K-12Student Assistance Program Training K-12

Student Services Staff

Navigating County Agencies

Mental Health Services

Understanding Asperger's Syndrome


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Description: Instructional staff will be trained on use of the PA Academic Standards andAssessment Anchors.

Person Responsible Timeline forImplementation

Resources

Stitzel, LeAnn Start: 6/5/2006Finish: 8/3/2012

$3,000.00

Professional Development Activity Information

Number of Hours PerSession

Total Number ofSessions Per SchoolYear

Estimated Number of ParticipantsPer Year

6.00 4 180

Organization or InstitutionName

Type of Provider Providers Department ofEducation Approval Status

Training will be completed in-

house (Northwestern LehighSchool District) as well as atthe Carbon Lehigh IU #21.

School Entity

Intermediate Unit

Approved

Knowledge and Skills Research and BestPractices

Designed to Accomplish

Staff will gain an understandingof the PA Academic Standardsand Assessment Anchors, andwill learn how to use theStandards Aligned Systems incurriculum alignment andlesson planning.

The Standards AlignedSystems incorporates allareas that are required toenhance performance ofour students.

For classroom teachers, schoolcounselors and education specialists:

Increases the educatorsteaching skills based onresearch on effectivepractice, with attention givento interventions for strugglingstudents.

For school and districtadministrators, and other educatorsseeking leadership roles:

Provides the knowledge andskills to think and planstrategically, ensuring thatassessments, curriculum,instruction, staff professionaleducation, teachingmaterials and interventionsfor struggling students arealigned to each other as wellas to Pennsylvaniasacademic standards.

Educator Groups Which Will Participate in this Activity

Role Grade Level

Classroom teachers Early childhood


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Principals / asst.principals

(preK-grade 3) Middle (grades 6-

8) Elementary

(grades 2-5) High school

(grades 9-12)

Follow-up Activities Evaluation Methods

Creating lessons tomeet varied studentlearning styles

Classroom observation focusing on factors such asplanning and preparation, knowledge of content,pedagogy and standards, classroom environment,instructional delivery and professionalism.

Student PSSA data Standardized student assessment data other than the

PSSA Classroom student assessment data Review of participant lesson plans

Status: In Progress Upcoming

Strategy:Benchmark Assessments

Description: District instructional staff will use benchmark assessments in all core subject areasaligned to the PA Academic Standards and Assessment Anchors.

Activity:Training to Utilize Benchmark Assessments

Description: All teaching staff in grades 2-12 and District administration will be trained in usingthe selected benchmark assessment tool.

Person Responsible Timeline for Implementation Resources


$8,000.00


Number of Hours Per Session Total Number of Sessions Per

School Year

Estimated Number of

Participants Per Year

6.00 2 30



Northwestern Lehigh SchoolDistrict

School Entity Approved

Knowledge and Skills Research and Best Practices Designed to Accomplish


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Teachers and administrators willlearn how to use the benchmarkassessments in Study Island,and will work in teams toanalyze the data from theseassessments.

Data teams at each building willanalyze benchmark assessmentdata to determine appropriateinterventions for strugglingstudents and possible programchanges.

For classroom teachers,school counselors andeducation specialists:

Provides educatorswith a variety of

classroom-basedassessment skills andthe skills needed toanalyze and use datain instructionaldecision-making.

For school and districtadministrators, and othereducators seeking leadershiproles:

Provides leaders with

the ability to accessand use appropriatedata to informdecision-making.


Role Grade Level

Classroom teachers Principals / asst.

principals School counselors Other educational

specialists

Early childhood (preK-grade 3)

Middle (grades 6-8) Elementary (grades 2-5) High school (grades 9-

12)


Team development andsharing of content-arealesson implementationoutcomes, withinvolvement ofadministrator and/orpeers



PSSA Classroom student assessment data


Strategy:Curriculum Review Cycle

Description: District staff will revise the curriculum cycle to incorporate subject area integration,


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utilize curriculum mapping database software as a curriculum analysis tool, and allow for annualreview of curriuclum.

Activity:Curriculum Mapping Training

Description: District administrators, building principals, department and curriculum chairs will betrained in Heidi Hayes Jacobs' approach to curriculum mapping.


Resources


$12,000.00


Number of Hours Per SessionTotal Number ofSessions Per School

Year


3.00 2 5







Educators will be trained in howto effectively map theircurriculum in order to analyze

areas of overlap and gaps.

To effectively evaluateand improve curriculum,existing curriculum must

first be mapped using aconsistent model.


Provides educators with avariety of classroom-basedassessment skills and theskills needed to analyze anduse data in instructionaldecision-making.


Provides the knowledge andskills to think and planstrategically, ensuring thatassessments, curriculum,instruction, staff professionaleducation, teachingmaterials and interventionsfor struggling students arealigned to each other as wellas to Pennsylvanias


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academic standards.


Role Grade Level

Classroom teachers

Principals / asst.principals

Superintendent / asst.superintendents

School counselors Other educational

specialists

Early childhood

(preK-grade 3) Middle (grades 6-

8) Elementary

(grades 2-5) High school

(grades 9-12)


Team development andsharing of content-arealesson implementation

outcomes, withinvolvement ofadministrator and/orpeers

Participant survey Review of written reports summarizing instructional

activity


Strategy:Parent Communication for Academic Performance

Description: All District instructional staff will utilize the Internet and community portal to

communicate academic and performance data on a regular basis to parents.

Activity:All staff will learn how to utilize the web site to post weeklyassignments.

Description: Staff will be required to communicate lessons via the web as part of theirprofessional responsibilities.

Person Responsible Timeline for Implementation Resources

Uplinger, Brian Start: 9/7/2009

Finish: 6/11/2012

-



Total Number of Sessions PerSchool Year

Estimated Number ofParticipants Per Year

3.00 2 25


Type of Provider Providers Departmentof Education Approval


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Status




Teaching staff will learn how to

create/update their websiteand will reviewpolicies/procedures regardingrequired information.

Teacher websites have become a vital

communication link between schooland families. Using the websites,families can access student grades,assignments, homework, andprocedures.

For classroom teachers,

school counselors andeducation specialists:

Empowerseducators to workeffectively withparents andcommunitypartners.

For school and districtadministrators, and othereducators seeking

leadership roles:

Instructs theleader inmanagingresources foreffective results.


Role Grade Level

Classroom teachers Early childhood (preK-grade3)

Middle (grades 6-8) Elementary (grades 2-5) High school (grades 9-12)


Peer-to-peer lessondiscussions

Website analysis (Analysis of teacher websites bybuilding administrators)


Strategy:Use of data

Description: Staff will utilize appropriate data for comprehensive analysis of academicperformance data. All instructional staff will be trained on the use of a data warehouse or acomparable solution as with the Sapphire Suites. Staff will analyze benchmark assessment dataagainst other variables such as PSSA data, grades, and demographic data.


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Activity:Training

Description: Instructional and adminstrative staff will receive training on effective data analysis.

Person Responsible Timeline for

Implementation

Resources

Uplinger, Brian Start: 8/20/2009Finish: 5/31/2012

$24,000.00


Number of Hours Per Session Total Number of SessionsPer School Year


6.00 2 30

Organization or Institution NameType of Provider Providers Department ofEducation Approval Status

Northwestern Lehigh School

District




Educators will learn how toeffectively analyze data frommultiple sources.

Data teams will be formed tomeet and discuss data andmake informed decisionsregarding students andprograms.

For classroom teachers, schoolcounselors and educationspecialists:

Provides educatorswith a variety ofclassroom-basedassessment skills andthe skills needed to

analyze and use datain instructionaldecision-making.


Provides leaders withthe ability to accessand use appropriatedata to inform

decision-making.


Role Grade Level

Classroom teachers Principals / asst. principals Superintendent / asst.

superintendents

Early childhood(preK-grade 3)

Middle (grades 6-8) Elementary (grades


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School counselors Other educational

specialists

2-5) High school (grades

9-12)


Team development andsharing of content-arealesson implementationoutcomes, withinvolvement ofadministrator and/or peers



PSSA Classroom student assessment data Participant survey


Goal:Highly Qualified Effective Teachers

Description: All students will learn from highly qualified and effective teachers.

Strategy:Professional Development

Description: A comprehensive staff development plan for instructional and administrative staff

will include a focus on differentiating instruction and technology for the next three years.

Activity:A professional development action plan for DifferentiatedInstruction training will be developed and implemented.

Description: A team of teacher leaders and administrators from each building will work todevelop a detailed action plan for rolling out D.I. training to all of our teaching staff over the nextthree years.

Person Responsible Timeline for

Implementation

Resources


-



Total Number of SessionsPer School Year


3.00 7 10


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Knowledge and Skills Research and Best

Practices


Teacher Leaders and BuildingAdministrators will work as ateam to develop a detailed,long-term action plan forDifferentiated Instructiontraining for all teaching staffbeginning in the 2010-2011school year.

Differentiated Instructionhas been identified as amain focus area forprofessional developmentfor the next three years forall teaching staff, K-12.

For classroom teachers, schoolcounselors and educationspecialists:

Increases the educatorsteaching skills based onresearch on effectivepractice, with attention givento interventions forstruggling students.

Provides educators with avariety of classroom-based

assessment skills and theskills needed to analyze anduse data in instructionaldecision-making.


Provides the knowledge andskills to think and planstrategically, ensuring thatassessments, curriculum,instruction, staff professionaleducation, teachingmaterials and interventionsfor struggling students arealigned to each other as wellas to Pennsylvaniasacademic standards.

Empowers leaders to createa culture of teaching andlearning, with an emphasison learning.

Educator Groups Which Will Participate in this ActivityRole Grade Level

Classroom teachers Principals / asst.

principals

Early childhood(preK-grade 3)


2-5) High school


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(grades 9-12)


Team developmentand sharing of content-

area lessonimplementationoutcomes, withinvolvement ofadministrator and/orpeers

Creating lessons tomeet varied studentlearning styles

Lesson modeling withmentoring

Classroom observation focusing on factors such asplanning and preparation, knowledge of content,

pedagogy and standards, classroom environment,instructional delivery and professionalism. Classroom student assessment data Review of participant lesson plans

Status: Not Started Upcoming

Activity:All educators will increase their proficiency in using technology atthe point of instruction.

Description: Teachers will integrate technology in their lessons, as appropriate, on a regularbasis. There will be assistance from our K-12 Technology Integration Specialist.

Person Responsible Timeline for Implementation ResourcesStitzel, LeAnn Start: 9/8/2009

Finish: 6/4/2012-


Number of Hours Per Session Total Number of Sessions PerSchool Year


6.00 11 120



Northwestern Lehigh School

District



Educators will learn skills usingspecific technology that they haveavailable for use in the classroom.They will learn how to use theequipment/software, and how itcan be integrated into their dailylessons.

The content within thesetraining days is part of ouroverall plan to incorporatedifferentiation at the point ofinstruction. Technology is a toolthat can be used to differentiatein the classroom.

For classroom teachers,school counselors andeducation specialists:

Increases theeducators teachingskills based on


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research on effectivepractice, withattention given tointerventions forstruggling students.

Provides educators

with a variety ofclassroom-basedassessment skillsand the skills neededto analyze and usedata in instructionaldecision-making.


Empowers leaders tocreate a culture ofteaching andlearning, with anemphasis onlearning.


Role Grade Level

Classroom teachers School counselors Other educational

specialists

Early childhood (preK-grade 3)

Middle (grades 6-8)

Elementary (grades 2-5)

High school (grades 9-12)


Creating lessons to meetvaried student learningstyles

Peer-to-peer lessondiscussions

Participant survey Review of participant lesson plans


Activity:On-line staff development opportunities will increase.


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Superintendent / asst.superintendents

School counselors Other educational specialists



9-12)


Analysis of student work,with administrator and/orpeers

Journaling and reflecting

Participant survey Review of written reports summarizing instructional

activity


Activity:Staff development opportunities related to technology use andintegration will be maintained and expanded as needed.

Description: Staff will be offered training opportunities related to technology including, but notlimited to web-based software such as First in Math, Study Island; data analysis; SapphireGrading Program and Community Portal; Classroom Performance System; Discovery EducatorTools; Microsoft Office; Web Site pages; Integration of Technology.


Resources

Stitzel, LeAnn Start: 9/8/2009

Finish: 8/31/2012

$28,500.00



Total Number of SessionsPer School Year


6.00 12 180

Organization orInstitution Name

Type of Provider Providers Department of EducationApproval Status

Northwestern LehighSchool District


Knowledge and Skills Research and Best

Practices


Staff will learn how to useand effectively implementDistrict-wide hardware andsoftware programs intotheir lesson plans.

This is related to ourDistrict's goal to providemore differentiation in allclassrooms. Technology isone way that this can beaccomplished.


Increases the educatorsteaching skills based onresearch on effective practice,with attention given to


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interventions for strugglingstudents.

Provides educators with avariety of classroom-basedassessment skills and the skillsneeded to analyze and use

data in instructional decision-making.

For school and district administrators,and other educators seeking leadershiproles:

Provides the knowledge andskills to think and planstrategically, ensuring thatassessments, curriculum,instruction, staff professionaleducation, teaching materials

and interventions for strugglingstudents are aligned to eachother as well as toPennsylvanias academicstandards.

Provides leaders with the abilityto access and use appropriatedata to inform decision-making.


Role Grade Level

Classroom

teachers Principals / asst.

principals

Early childhood

(preK-grade 3) Middle (grades 6-8) Elementary (grades


9-12)


Creating lessonsto meet variedstudent learningstyles

Participant survey


Annual Review Process

The District Professional Development Council meets twice annually to assess staff developmentneeds, evaluate program effectiveness, and plan for addressing the staff development needs.


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This Council also oversees the Professional Development Plan of the Strategic Plan. Thefollowing specific activities occur to review, revise, and amend the plan as may be necessary:

monitor accomplishments of strategic planning goals determine additional needs select and schedule professional development activities

evaluate each professional development event set priorities for conference attendance evaluate District compliance and record-keeping relevant to Act 48

The Professional Development Council uses an evaluation tool for each professionaldevelopment event. The evaluation tool contains standard items requesting feedback with anumeric rubric for the following items:

course objectives organization of the course quality of the content relevant learning experiences to master the content relevancy to the participant's assignment ability of the participant to turn-key the learnings quality of the instructor effectiveness of the instructor's teaching strategies knowledge and preparedness of the instructor

The remainder of the evaluation tool is developed specifically with the course content in mind.Examples of this type of feedback are:

list the three ways in which the participant will apply the specific knowledge how did the specific activity contribute to your professional growth how will you share this knowledge with your grade level partners or colleagues in your

department

what other learnings are now essential as a result of this session

The Professional Development Council reviews all of the course evaluations annually todetermine a course of action based on this feedback.

Supporting Documents

Supporting Documents - Attachment

Professional Development Needs Survey

Contact Information


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Appendix B

Entity Information Page

Entity: Northwestern Lehigh SD

Address:6493 Route 309New Tripoli, PA 18066-2038

Superintendent or Chief Administrative Officer: Susanne H. MeixsellE-mail: [email protected]: 610-298-8661 x1225Fax: 610-298-8002

Professional Education Committee Chairperson: LeAnn M. StitzelE-mail: [email protected]: 610-298-8661 x1275

Fax: 610-298-8002

Act 48 Reporting Contact: LeAnn M. StitzelE-mail: [email protected]: 610-298-8661 x1275Fax: 610-298-8002

Professional Education Plan

Documents

Transcript of Professional Education Plan