Pennsylvania Department of Education

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 333 MARKET STREET HARRISBURG, PA 17126-0333

Professional Education Report

Thursday, August 21, 2008 Entity: Spring-Ford Area SD Address: 199 Bechtel Rd Collegeville, PA 19426-2852 Phone: (610) 705-6000 Contact Name: Marsha Hurda

Professional Education Planning Committee

Name Chris Chrisman Connie Lawson Debbie Eaton Donna Rafuse Doug Kent Dr. Al Coleman Dr. Ed Mackel Dr. Leticia Rodriguez Jeanne Haring Jen McVey Jill Shull Judy Kuhns Margaret D. Wright Maria Kardick Nancy Kodish Patricia McGarry Paula Love Robin Rohrbach Sandra Watkins Shannon Lotz Susan Cunningham Trish Roshelli Virginia Prevost Affiliation Auto Repair Business Sweet Ashley Chocolate SFASD Employee Community Member SFASD Employee Community Representative SFASD Employee Membership Category Business Representative Business Representative Elementary School Teacher Parent Administrator Community Representative Administrator Administrator Administrator Elementary School Teacher Ed Specialist - School Counselor Elementary School Teacher Ed Specialist - Instructional Technology Elementary School Teacher Middle School Teacher Elementary School Teacher Parent Secondary School Teacher Elementary School Teacher Community Representative Parent Elementary School Teacher Secondary School Teacher Parent Ed Specialist - School Counselor Appointed By Board Board Teachers Board Administration Board Administration Administration Administration Teachers Counselors Teachers Administration Teachers Teachers Teachers Board Teachers Teachers Board Administration Teachers Teachers Board School Counselors

Dr. Ken Donahue SFASD Employee SFASD Employee SFASD Employee SFASD Employee SFASD Employee SFASD Employee SFASD Employee SFASD Employee SFASD Employee Community Member SFASD Employee SFASD Employee Community Member Community Member SFASD Employee

Susan Hammond SFASD Employee Community Member SFASD Employee

Needs Assessment
As part of the eStrategic Planning process, the Spring-Ford Area School District has assessed the educational and staff development needs of its students and professional staff. As part of the process, we have reviewed student achievement data (PSSA results) in compliance with the new guidelines. We have also surveyed professional staff, including Induction participants, on their needs and received Professional Education needs from other eStrategic Planning Committees. Review of this data indicates the following professional education needs for the next five years: Topics for Professional Development:

1. Differentiated Instruction, including learning and teaching strategies, cooperative learning strategies, leveled reading 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Writers workshop Guided reading Reading/Writing Across the Curriculum Technology Student needs/emotional issues for at-risk students Basic skills used consistently across each grade

8. Student assessment, including monitoring for at-risk students, building own assessments, using assessments to direct instruction, and developing and using common assessments 9. Data-driven instruction

10. Co-teaching (regular and special education) 11. Responsive Classroom strategies 12. Response to Intervention (RTI) 13. ESL training for ESL Teachers and Regular Teachers 14. Diversity/sensitivity training for all staff, including Disabilities Econonic status Gender bias Cultural difference

15. Non-violent crisis intervention/setting limits for students 16. Assessment analysis using technology 17. For new staff, require training on IEPs, 504 Plans, and Gifted instruction Processes of Professional Development: 1. Explore offering content-specific training on current topics, using cooperative/collaborative groups in the training process, and addressing staff across the district

2. Continue differentiating professional development that addresses staff with different background/experiences 3. 4. 6. 7. Coaches: Explore a support team of coaches Explore non-content-specific coaches Explore more staff attending out of district conferences Explore videoconferencing as a staff development vehicle New hires: Explore opportunities for additional required training for new hires Explore providing additional training in data driven instruction

Survey new teachers at the end of the year to find out specific topics that they need to be addressed in staff development Explore providing a culturation process via monthly gatherings Explore providing additional new teacher training specific to grade level and/or assignment

Continue to provide staff development that considers the experience and assignment of new staff 8. 9. Explore expanded technology training Explore no Flex for 1 and 2
st nd

year professionals

Explore additional support, including literacy and math coaches Peer observation/feedback, including peer walk-through and follow-up conversation Explore use of video tapes for self-improvement Require training on IEP, 504, ESL, Gifted Explore additional professional development opportunities Use Montgomery County Intermediate Unit when possible

10. Explore providing opportunity for staff of the same grade level/content meeting together, especially K-6 11. Explore required training for CPR/First Aid 12. Explore getting in-district CPR/First Aid instructors

13. Make list of suggested presenters 14. Provide additional National Teacher Certification support opportunity 15. Further develop and expand the menu format for inservice, so that staff are provided options from which to choose 16. Continue to survey staff as workshop and course presenters (tap our own resources) 17. Contact department chairs to gather information for inservice topics 18. Explore Community Education Program to provide some professional education opportunities 19. Explore a required list of professional development topics 20. Explore providing rovide staff development sessions that address different learning styles, including using break-out/sharing sessions 21. Survey staff and parents for nominations of presenters of best practices 22. Explore the process of 2-3 teachers walking through peers classes and holding following-up conferences (new teacher requirement) 23. Review/Revise course and workshop feedback questions to include: a. Impact on student learning/achievement data, student demonstrated outcome, student attendance and graduation, b. Impact on strategy implementation of research-based best practices, should we repeat topic/presenter c. d. What other information is helpful? What is next step? Provide link: for further information Encourage people to respond to survey Get feedback from principals' observations for future topics to address

24. Technology: . Explore series of events opportunities for technology courses (different levels of same course topic) Continue to explore use of inservice days for technology training Explore use of conference days for technology training

25. Explore hiring a core group of substitute teachers to be used for staff development

Further assessment of professional staff and student needs will be conducted via annual review of professional staff surveys, including Induction participants, and student achievement data.

Professional Education Action Plan

Goal: CAREER AND COLLEGE SUCCESS Description: Students will graduate from Spring-Ford Area High School prepared for career and college success. Strategy: Ensure staff skills to integrate technology into the educational process. Description: Ensure that staff attains the skills and is provided the means to integrate technology as part of the educational process. Activities: Activity "Series of Events" Opportunity for Technology Courses Person Responsible Leslie Morrill Description Explore providing different levels of the same technology course topic. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity

Description

Use of Inservice Days for Technology Continue to explore the use of inservice days for Courses technology courses. Person Responsible Leslie Morrill Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Goal: MEET OR EXCEED PROFICIENCY STANDARDS Description: By 2014, all Spring-Ford students will meet or exceed proficiency standards on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessments. Strategy: Time and Curricular Structures Description: Investigate the time and curricular structures necessary at each level to optimize student achievement. Research time structures that optimize opportunities for teaching and learning, including co-teaching and co-planning. The district will explore options that focus on maintaining and improving class size. A challenging curriculum, effective instruction and rigorous academic standards are essential to optimize student achievement. Activities: Activity Description

Community Education Explore the Community Education Program as a source of providing Program some professional education opportunities. Person Responsible Leslie Morrill Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Content Area Training for New Programs, K-6 Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Continue to explore providing content area training for new programs, especially K-6. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Content-specific conversations across the district Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Promote cross-grade articulation of content by providing opportunities for teachers to have content-specific conversations across the district. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity

Description

Course and Inservice Explore various ways to get names of presenters, including surveying staff Presenters and parents and keeping a list of suggested presenters. Person Responsible Leslie Morrill Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity

Description

Grade Level Sharing Expand opportunities for teachers in grade levels within and between Sessions schools, with grade levels devising their own training. Person Responsible Leslie Morrill Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

National Teacher Certification Provide opportunities to support National Teacher Certification

Activity Peer walk-throughs with feedback conferences Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Explore the process of teachers walking through peers' classes, followed by sharing feedback sessions. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Professional Development Opportunities: Core group of stubstitutes Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Explore the hiring of a core group of substitute teachers to be used for staff development sessions. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Professional Development Opportunities: Districtwide Inservice Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Explore ways to increase professional development opportunities for district-wide inservice. Also provide menu-selection for inservice days. Finally, provide sharing opportunities as part of inservice agendas. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Professional Development Opportunities: Diversity training Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Provide professional staff with diversity/sensitivity training, including disabilities, group homes/economic differences, gender bias, and cultural difference. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Professional Development Opportunities: New Hires

Description Explore expanding staff development for new hires, including opportunties for training of required programs, data-driven instruction, training specific to grade level and assignment (special education, speech, regular education, guidance counselors, etc.), assessment analysis using technology, expanded technology offerings, required training on IEPs, 504 plans, and gifted students, offering no FLEX days for the first two years, use of literacy and math coaches for new hires, and using peer observation/feedback (including peer "walk throughs" and follow-up conversation). Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Activity Professional Development Opportunities: New Professional

Description Explore ways to extend New Professional Orientation beyond two days prior to the beginning of the school year.

Orientation Person Responsible Leslie Morrill Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Professional Development Opportunities: Nonviolent crisis intervention training Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Continue to provide training on non-violent crisis intervention. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Professional Development Opportunities: Required CPR/First Aid training Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Explore required training in CPR/First Aid. Also explore expanding the use of in-district CPR/First Aid instructors Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Professional Development Opportunities: Series of events of technology courses Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Explore providing "series of event" opportunities for technology courses (providing different levels of the same course topic). Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Professional Development Opportunities: Use of Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Provide staff development using MCIU when possible. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Professional Development Opportunities: Use of video tape for self-improvement Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Explore the use of video taping for the purpose of self-improvement. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Professional Development Opportunities: Video conferencing Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Explore providing staff development opportunities using video conferencing as the vehicle. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Professional Development Opportunities: Differentiated staff development Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Expand staff development opportunities that consider the different background/experiences of staff. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Professional Development Topics Determination Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description To determine professional development topics, survey staff, talk with PDE (higher education), and department chairs. Also explore the development of a required list of professional development topics, being careful not to alienate staff. In determining topics, promote best practices in increasing student learning. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Professional Learning Communities Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Explore expanding resources for professional learning community opportunities, including book studies, elementary grade level meetings, and department meetings. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Revised course and inservice feedback forms

Description Revise course and inservice feedback forms to address impact on student learning and implementation of best practices. When possible, provide a link for further information. Also encourage people to respond to feedback surveys. Get feedback from principals based on their observations and walkthroughs.

Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Timeline for Implementation Ongoing

Resources $0.00

Activity Staff Meeting Together in Grade Level/Content Groups Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Explore opportunities for staff to meet together in grade level/content groups. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Activity Support Team of Coaches Person Responsible Leslie Morrill

Description Explore providing a team of coaches to support teachers in their implementation of best practices of instructional strategies. Timeline for Implementation Ongoing Resources $0.00

Annual Review Process

The Professional Education Committee will annually meet in the Spring to review the progress made on the Professional Education Plan. The Committee will also suggest alterations to the Professional Education Plan.

APPENDIX B ENTITY INFORMATION PAGE

Entity: Spring-Ford Area SD Address: 199 Bechtel Rd Collegeville, PA 19426-2852

Superintendent or Chief Administrative Officer: Marsha R. Hurda E-mail: mhurd@spring-ford.net Telephone: 610-705-6219 Fax: 610-705-6244

Professional Education Committee Chairperson: Leslie T. Morrill E-mail: lmorr@spring-ford.net Telephone: 610-705-6118 Fax: 610-705-6238

Act 48 Reporting Contact: Leslie T. Morrill E-mail: lmorr@spring-ford.net Telephone: 610-705-6118 Fax: 610-705-6238

APPENDIX C PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION REPORT ASSURANCES

We affirm that this Professional Education Report focuses on the learning needs of each staff member to ensure all staff members meet or exceed high academic standards in each of the core subject areas.

____________________________________________________________________________ Signature Professional Education Committee Chairperson Date

I affirm that this Professional Education Report provides staff learning that improves the learning of all students as outlined in the National Staff Development Councils Standards for Staff Learning.

____________________________________________________________________________ Signature Superintendent or Chief Administrative Officer Date

We affirm that his Professional Education Report has been developed in accordance with the laws, regulations and guidelines for the development, implementation and evaluation of the Professional Education Report as designated in Chapter 4 of the Regulations of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education.

____________________________________________________________________________ Signature President of the Board of School Directors Date