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When teachers are taught

Professional development helps teachers stay up-to-date

News Photo by Julie Goldberg Hinks Elementary School second-grader Parker Hall works with teacher Carey Styma on Dec. 12.

ALPENA — Teachers have to stay up-to-date with teaching methods to provide the best education for their students.

To do so, teachers have to participate in five professional development days each school year, days student stay home and teachers come to work to train.

On those days, also called in-service days, teachers work with colleagues and sometimes a facilitator to continue working on school improvement goals, Meaghan Gauthier, assistant superintendent for instruction for Alpena Public Schools, said.

Gauthier said the teachers spend professional development days digging into curriculum and how to align different subjects. Teachers also work to incorporate technology in classes and examining student achievement data.

“Professional development ranges year-to-year depending on what is accomplished the prior year,” Gauthier said.

The sessions allow teachers the time to ask each other questions, problem-solve, and complete items that cannot be done on a typical school day.

Hinks Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Kaitlin Pitkowicz, in her third year of teaching, said professional development helps her be the best teacher that she can be.

“I’m always up for learning, because I’m so new to this, so it just really makes me feel better about myself, too,” she said. “I know that what I’m teaching is going to be beneficial.”

WHAT IS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT?

The state requires professional development to be relevant, ongoing, and job-embedded, specific to teacher needs, and aligned to school improvement plans. Those goals, focused on state school standards, identify the next steps needed for departments and grade levels to improve student outcomes.

“This work cannot be done during the school day with students,” Gauthier said. “The work during the school day is meeting the students’ needs and teaching curriculum. We need days without students built into our calendar so we can continue to stay on top of current research in order to provide top-notch care.”

Teachers “don’t really get that time to talk about what is successful in their classroom and what is not successful in their classroom,” APS Instructional Coach Jenny Marceau said.

HOW IT HELPS TEACHERS

Teachers are required by the state to complete 150 hours of education-related professional development every five years to keep their teaching certificate.

The 150 hours can be from professional development during the school year, a college credit, or state “continuing education clock hours,” such as trainings, meetings, or conferences, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Gauthier said teachers have to have a growth mindset when it comes to professional development.

“We always need to strive for better outcomes and reflect upon our practice in order to improve — even if it means improving from great to awesome,” Gauthier said.

Hinks second-grade teacher Carey Styma, who’s taught for Alpena schools since 1993, professional development provides opportunities for teachers to look at what they’re doing and how they can improve to help students best.

“Professional development helps us stay with current practices,” Styma said. “Having us look at our information and then looking at the practices that we use with the students, we’re continually analyzing what we’re doing. So, when I go to an in-service and come back, I question my own methods and I say to myself, ‘This might be working for this kid, but maybe if I try to change the stuff for the other student, it will be more beneficial for them.'”

Pitkowicz, the fifth-grade teacher, said getting professional development makes her more aware of the curriculum and how she can help students.

“It’s a great refresher, too,” Pitkowicz said.

The teachers don’t stay in their building all day during professional development days. They have the opportunity to move around to other buildings.

Pitkowicz said she’s able to communicate with fifth-grade teachers at the other elementary schools, which means they’re able to collaborate and share resources and ideas.

Julie Goldberg can be reached at 989-358-5688 or jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jkgoldberg12.

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