Summer Professional Development: Choice or Requirement?
Throughout the Summer I was able to facilitate professional development (PD) for the county's science department. The experience was amazing, as I was able to present in front of many teachers and leaders throughout the county. One of the reoccurring themes during this time was the ability of some teachers to "choose" to attend and others being "required" to attend the professional development. This option was given to the local school leaders to decide versus being a county mandate. The science department rolled out many changes in what will be taught as well as when it will be taught for the new school year. I often wondered if I were the school's principal or an assistant principal, would I allow the teachers to choose or should it be a requirement.
As I wondered whether an administrator should give the teachers choice in this situation I looked at both options. The first option I looked at was giving teachers a choice. For some professional development, teachers are given a stipend to attend. For this particular PD, teachers were not given a stipend. Should money be the determining factor if a teacher should attend or not? Unfortunately, I believe that money did play a role this summer. There were many teachers that signed up but did not attend. When giving teachers a choice, we have to think of the positive outcomes. Teachers can become more rested during the summer months and "recharge their batteries" for the upcoming school year. Leaders can also improve the school climate and culture by giving teachers a choice. Teachers tend to be more willing to go to extra development, and to learn more, when they feel as though they have a choice not to attend.
The second option would be to require that teachers attend the development. Some of the positive outcomes for requiring teachers, or at least one for each grade-level, to attend is having someone at the school to complete the redelivery to the staff as the school year begins. You automatically have someone at the school level that can communicate any new information or changes during school level PD or even during the collaborative planning meeting. During my time this summer, many teachers came to me to get additional notes or resources as they explained that they would be in charge of redelivering the information to their colleagues. I can see how requiring individuals in the school to attend different PD that they find interesting would allow for everyone to do "something" but no one has to do "everything".
Of course, there are negatives that go along with each side as well. I believe that Mr. Render, one of my interview candidates for the summer, said it best when he stated, "And then, it all depends on what we decide as a community. If we decide, all of our teachers are going to this; it’s non-negotiable, they go ahead and go. And that’s a leadership decision that you decide, and you say, ‘I know this is going to be best for our teachers and our school, so everyone is going.’” It should always be about what's not only best for teachers, but we have to remember that as educators we should always strive to do what's best for students.
As I wondered whether an administrator should give the teachers choice in this situation I looked at both options. The first option I looked at was giving teachers a choice. For some professional development, teachers are given a stipend to attend. For this particular PD, teachers were not given a stipend. Should money be the determining factor if a teacher should attend or not? Unfortunately, I believe that money did play a role this summer. There were many teachers that signed up but did not attend. When giving teachers a choice, we have to think of the positive outcomes. Teachers can become more rested during the summer months and "recharge their batteries" for the upcoming school year. Leaders can also improve the school climate and culture by giving teachers a choice. Teachers tend to be more willing to go to extra development, and to learn more, when they feel as though they have a choice not to attend.
The second option would be to require that teachers attend the development. Some of the positive outcomes for requiring teachers, or at least one for each grade-level, to attend is having someone at the school to complete the redelivery to the staff as the school year begins. You automatically have someone at the school level that can communicate any new information or changes during school level PD or even during the collaborative planning meeting. During my time this summer, many teachers came to me to get additional notes or resources as they explained that they would be in charge of redelivering the information to their colleagues. I can see how requiring individuals in the school to attend different PD that they find interesting would allow for everyone to do "something" but no one has to do "everything".
Of course, there are negatives that go along with each side as well. I believe that Mr. Render, one of my interview candidates for the summer, said it best when he stated, "And then, it all depends on what we decide as a community. If we decide, all of our teachers are going to this; it’s non-negotiable, they go ahead and go. And that’s a leadership decision that you decide, and you say, ‘I know this is going to be best for our teachers and our school, so everyone is going.’” It should always be about what's not only best for teachers, but we have to remember that as educators we should always strive to do what's best for students.
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