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. The Professional Development Program is for Faculty in Units A, B, and C.

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:

  • Department/ Grade Level, (Content-based)
  • District/School, (Student-centered)
  • Technology-In-Practice, (Pedagogy-focused)
  • Other Professional Development Formats

The program incorporates opportunities of varying formats for faculty to participate in:  five full-day and two half-day professional days; workshops/seminars, task forces, collaborative action research, curriculum planning, lesson study, department professional development meetings, an Induction and Mentoring program, outside conferences, and graduate courses with tuition reimbursement.

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.

Professional Development Council 2008-2010

Katie DiNardo, High School Assistant Housemaster

Kimo Carter, Middle School Principal

Elizabeth Kaplan, Grade 7 Science

Mena Ciarlone, Cunniff Grade 5 Classroom Teacher (PD Coordinator)

Lidia Dileso, Cunniff Grade 4 Classroom Teacher

Jill Fantasia, Hosmer Special Education Teacher

Bill McCarthy, Hosmer Co-Principal

Bethan Nazzaro, Lowell Grade 5 Classroom Teacher

Sara Patashnick, Hosmer Music Teacher

Rob Stergis, ELL Curriculum Coordinator (PD Coordinator)

Jean Fitzgerald , Assistant Superintendent

Ann Koufman-Frederick, Superintendent


The Professional Development Handbook 2009-2010

Professional Development Handbook 2009-2010 (pdf)

The Professional Development Handbook describes the specifics of the program. Please read it online (and save paper). You also have access to all the current professional development activities in MyLearningPlan. Visit both our district website and MLP frequently to remain up to date with opportunities for your professional growth.