Study of the Mount Diablo Unified School District - Mt. Diablo Unified ...

Personnel Services and Professional Developmentprovide professional development related to data‐driven instruction, standardsbasedcurriculum and IEP goals, as well as collaborative instruction.• Training can also be provided at cost to the district through training servicesuppliers.• Each building should develop professional learning communities where professionaldevelopment opportunities are discussed and implemented locally. Research onprofessional development suggests that in order for the opportunities to beeffective they need to be put into practice within 72 hours of the training. Acommitment is needed from the staff to improve their skills and immediately usethe information and skills gained.Cost Implications for Issue 5‐7:Training conducted by district staff will be at little or no cost to the district because there iscompetence on the staff that can meet the professional development needs. Trainingcompleted by staff may be at some cost to the district depending on implementation (seeIssue 6‐10 for cost‐effective methods of delivering professional development). If the districtworks with a training supplier, there will be a cost for each staff member trained andassessed.Issue 5‐8: Off‐Site Meetings and Professional Development.During onsite focus group discussions and interviews, a number of interviewees expressedthat staff are off‐site too often for meetings and professional development.Training of staff members is essential, and there will be times when staff are off‐site. It isimportant that there is a designee to make decisions in times of difficulty, and that there isproper supervision of staff. Meeting together is also important as it builds camaraderie andteam building. Administrative staff cannot function alone and must have the contact withcolleagues at various times of the year.Most responsibilities of administrators and teachers require their daily attendance.Teachers absent from their classrooms can cause serious harm to students, especially thoseneeding constancy and structure. A substitute can manage the day, but oftentimes doesnot move lessons along. Teachers need the same support of colleagues as was expressedby the special education focus group. Although it is beneficial to be a member of a buildingteam, it is beneficial for specialists to gather to discuss common concerns and to sharesuccesses. General education teachers have this opportunity daily with colleagues.Considerations for Issue 5‐8:• Determine a method of communication where informational items are shared indifferent mediums.MGT of America, Inc. Page 5‐8