Plans for Professional Growth

Take the opportunity to immerse yourself in your growth as a professional educator.  Our school district is undergoing a major transformation, seeking to better educate all of our students and do so in more innovative, equitable and personalized ways.  With these foci, also available are numerous opportunities to engage in your personal growth.  Through the districts collaboration with Google to create the digital backpack for students, there are opportunities for Google Level 1 and 2 Certifications.   Professional development opportunities are shared through the weekly email Friday Forward.  There are videos created by JCPS educators and others around the state on the #KentuckyGoDigital channel.  This video describes how to get Google certified.

Google Certified Educator: Designed for educators and classroom teachers who wish to demonstrate proficiency in using Google for Education tools. The Level 1 status indicates that an educator is able to successfully implement G Suite for Education into their teaching practice in order to enhance teaching and learning. The Level 2 status indicates that an educator is able to successfully integrate a wider range of Google for Education tools and other technologies in order to transform their teaching practice.

The Diversity, Equity & Poverty Department is hosting many professional development sessions, speaker series, and sponsoring book studies on various topics.  Attached is a copy of Envision Equity, their monthly newsletter that shares stories around the district, promising practices, resources, and a list of sessions they offer.

PD Central has many choices of professional development across various topics and last, lean in with reading professional books, articles, and talking with other educators.

Take advantage of any professional development using MAP results.  A very useful report when planning instruction is the Classroom Learning Continuum.  You are able to run the report for math or reading.  This report shows you where students are 'ready to learn' related to learning standards.  On the NWEA website, log in, click on 'growth reports', and then 'learning continuum'.  Any of our resource teachers, Jones, or I can assist with locating this report.

Our vision is for students to demonstrate proficiency, develop individual talents, and display leadership within the school and community.  To be prepared to meet students where they are and guarantee at least a year's worth of growth for each student, we must continue to increase our knowledge and collective efficacy to facilitate achievement.

Reflecting on your practices and creating a plan for your professional growth will provide a trajectory for your goals this year.  Resources can be found on the KDE website.  Please remember your professional growth plan is due to me by September 14th.  

Our Student Progress Goal is to implement the student digital backpack for each student, with all students having at least three entries by November 1, 2018, at least six entries by February 1, 2019, and at least 10 entries by May 1, 2019. This will be achieved through the following practices:

• We will facilitate instruction on the attributes of the JCPS Graduate Profile (five success skills):  (1) Prepared and resilient learner, (2) globally and culturally competent citizen, (3) emerging innovator, (4) effective communicator, and (5) productive collaborator.
• We will make clear connections for students as to how their work products will be representative of the graduate profile attributes.
• We will collaborate with one another and outside educators to improve our collective efficacy with providing differentiated learning experiences to challenge students.
• We will analyze student assignments and work products utilizing the Quality Work Protocol to improve our practice.

I also shared a document with everyone via Google Slides.  I ask how we can make the five success skills concrete to influence student understanding.  It is crucial we build this foundation for our school.

Please remember to check the daily updates and Living Calendar.  We will begin MAP testing Tuesday.  

Wednesday, we will have a visit from district personnel who will complete classroom walkthroughs (I do not have a copy of the instrument) and talk with staff regarding our mission and work at King.  Be prepared for visits to your classrooms.

**Please keep Mrs. Harlan in your thoughts and prayers, her father passed away over the weekend.