Professional Development

Teachers improve their knowledge of the best teaching practices and refine their expertise by participating in ongoing professional development. Banked-minute days provide valuable collaborative time for teachers to analyze student assessment data, set goals for student achievement, and plan instruction. The District offers staff development days annually where teachers participate in a variety of professional growth opportunities in curriculum, teaching strategies, and methodologies.

The District has received numerous grants for professional development including the Reading First Grant and the math PROMISE Grant. The majority of District elementary and language arts teachers have participated in AB 466 professional development, a 40-hour summer program focused on the effective implementation of standards in reading and language arts. At Daniel Phelan Elementary School, teachers receive individual support from the site Reading Coach. All new teachers attend a training/coaching program in which they learn about the Districts curriculum.

Phelan School continues to offer professional development for all teachers in the use of Thinking Maps to increase student achievement. We are a pilot school for the FOSS science program so 5 of our teachers are receiving in depth teaching in the science standards and the implementation of the new science kits.