Watertown Public Schools

30 Common Street, Watertown MA 02472

Professional Development

Watertown Public Schools > Departments > Professional Development




Adult Learning to Enhance Knowledge, Skills, and Expertise:

Professional Development in Watertown Public Schools is committed to adult learning that enhances educators' knowledge, skills, and expertise. Through professional development, educators deepen their content knowledge, learn research-based instructional strategies, and strive to understand all students' diverse learning needs while holding them to high expectations. Professional Development is an investment in constructive improvements of teaching and learning in the district.

The Professional Development Council in collaboration with principals and curriculum coordinators plans and implements the Professional Development Program.

Characteristics of the Professional Development Program:

  • A systemic and close alignment with school and district improvement goals
  • Educator opportunities to choose appropriate professional development activities
  • Collaboration with colleagues to share knowledge, reflect on beliefs and practices, and problem solve
  • Application of new knowledge, skills, and technology
  • A rigorous and intentional process that starts with data driven decision-making, cycles through the teacher learning process, and results in improved student learning

Overarching Themes, Main Components, Various Activities, and Partnerships:

The overarching themes of the program are: Teacher-to-Teacher Collaboration, Data-Driven Instruction, and Curriculum & Technology Integration.

The program includes four main components:

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FACULTY MEETINGS

Monthly faculty meetings provide professional development aimed to achieve school and district goals. The focus of these meetings is to develop curriculum and instruction, analyze data and student progress, collaborate with grade level and/or department teams, and advance the learning community.

DEPARTMENT/ GRADE LEVEL MEETINGS

Elementary Grade Level meetings are designed to create and implement curriculum. Task forces facilitate workshops to address instructional practices, assessment of student work, data-driven instruction, Massachusetts curriculum standards, and School Improvement Plans.

Secondary and K-12 Department meetings provide designated times for faculty to meet with curriculum coordinators. The focus of these meetings is to improve department plans, district and state assessments, Massachusetts curriculum standards, and content specific material.

LEARNING & LEADERSHIP MEETINGS

Monthly Learning and Leadership meetings are designed to allow teachers to deepen their learning in an area of particular interest by participating in a mini or T-I-P course or joining a task force / leadership council.

Courses are offered for teachers by teachers to provide an opportunity to enhance their knowledge, skills, and expertise. Teachers may choose a course that best addresses their individual professional goals.

Task Force and Leadership Councils are teams of teachers and administrators focused on implementing goals and accomplishing specific program reviews.

Action Teams are groups of teachers working with administrators on specific goals articulated by school improvement plans.

TEAM 21 MEETINGS

Team 21 meetings provide staff with an opportunity to focus on the 21st Century skill of Collaboration. Staff members may select from the Team 21 listings or create their own curriculum project, which will become their professional development focus for the school year. On February 27, the District will host the second annual TEAM 21 SHOWCASE, where project work will be celebrated.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIPS

We have several professional development partnerships that extend and enrich our program, including: EDCO Collaborative, Primary Source, Focus On Math, Teaching American History, November Learning, and Wide World. We use MyLearningPlan to manage our program and ensure that faculty has access to the opportunities that best suit their needs and professional goals.

Contact the Webmaster Updated on: December 26, 2012
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