Professional Learning
Continuing Professional Learning
Core Professional Learning Offerings
Testimonials from Year 1 Teachers:
"I already feel supported as I begin my professional journey here at CFSD."
"This was the best NTO [New Teacher Orientation] I have ever been to, and I've been to at least 5 in my career. The presentations were clearly organized and had a definite forward goal. Everything was presented in such a positive and logical manner. I am so excited to be a part of this district!"
"The instructors... made us feel like their support is genuine and they really care about us and our success as new teachers."
"I feel super supported and excited to not only start the year with my students but to approach the year as a student myself, growing and learning through self-reflection and the amazing support system for me and my professional development."
"I am highly impressed by the level of expertise and professionalism by all presenters. They have inspired me to hold myself to no lesser professional standards."
CFSD invests significant time, planning, and development into the structures and processes through which new teachers are supported. The Great Beginnings: Systems for Success program provides differentiated support for teachers in their first three years in the district. The program includes New Teacher Orientation (NTO), mentoring, instructional coaching, collegial coaching, professional learning seminars, and summer institutes. Teacher input and feedback is used to continually shape and refine topics, structures, and processes that not only reflect current best practices, but the ever-evolving needs and interests of the participants.
Mentoring
All Year 1 teachers in CFSD are matched with a grade level/content-specific Curriculum Mentor at their site to provide ongoing support and assistance for curriculum planning in grade level content areas. Teachers with 0-5 years of prior experience work with their mentor throughout the year, and teachers with 6 or more years of prior experience receive mentor support during the first semester.
Instructional Coaching
All teachers in Year 1 in CFSD work with a district Learning Support Specialist to select an area of their instructional practice that they would like to refine. Coaching cycles include classroom observations and pre- and post-observation conferences to support teachers as they analyze their own practice.
Professional Learning Seminars
Year 1 Summer Institute:
All teachers attend the Year 1 Summer Institute following their first year in CFSD. The Summer Institute emphasizes teacher reflection as a tool for refinement as teachers explore elements of the CFSD instructional model in greater depth.
Differentiated Instruction Summer Institute:
Following Year 2 or 3 in CFSD, teachers attend the Differentiated Instruction Summer Institute to develop tools to differentiate for process, product, and content based on their students’ readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles.
Year 2 Professional Learning Seminars and Coaching:
During their second year in CFSD, teachers with 0-5 years of prior experience attend one after-school professional learning seminar per semester on a topic of their choice, such as productive group work, inquiry-based learning, assessment design, and classroom management. Teachers then participate in at least one follow-up coaching session with the Learning Support Specialist. Teachers with 6 or more years of prior experience choose between participation in a professional learning seminar or collegial coaching, in which they collaborate with a colleague to analyze an aspect of their practice through peer observation.
