Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Education
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Needs Assessment
Reflections
Additionally, the 5th Grade will be returning to the elementary level in September of
2009. As part of this realignment, the 5th grade language arts curriculum has been
mapped and is being revised to reflect differences in delivery systems and instructional
practices between the Elementary and Middle Level programs.
Additional resources that were considered in designing the Professional Development Plan were
the following:
The Northwestern Lehigh School District maintains the philosophy that teachers and
administrators need to learn side-by-side so that both groups can strive for improved student
learning. While teachers are applying their knowledge and skill to the classroom environment,
administrators can more effectively supervise and support teacher professional growth. District
administrators must also continue their own professional growth in the areas of supervision, legal
issues, policy development, data-driven decision-making, personnel, program evaluation,
curriculum mapping, leadership, and facility planning.
Through this comprehensive analysis the following specific areas for professional development
will be addressed by this plan. Teachers, administrators, and pupil services staff are expected to
attend these sessions. Support staff such as teacher aides, secretaries, and substitute teachers
are also invited to attend.
Pedagogical Development
Grading Practices/ Purposes K-12
Differentiated Instruction workshops and training for K-12
Writer’s Workshop for grades K-8
Guided Reading for grades K-5
Advanced Placement teaching techniques for grades 9-12
Principles of Coaching K-12
ESL and Gifted Training K-12
Curriculum, Standards, and Assessment Anchors K-12
Literacy Interventions and fidelity in administering Assessments K-5
Data-driven instructional decisions K-12
Curriculum Mapping K-12
Benchmark Assessment Training K-12
Response to Intervention methods and techniques, K-5
New Teachers
Crisis Prevention Intervention
CPR, AED, and First Aid
Technology Usage at Northwestern Lehigh
Curriculum, Standards, and Assessment Anchors
Professional Code of Conduct
Gifted, ESL, and Special Education Training
Curriculum Mapping
Differentiated Instruction
Description: All students will be proficient in all core subject areas (reading, math, science, and
social studies) leading to successful academic transitions from elementary to middle to high
school and beyond.
Description: District instructional staff will align all planned coures to the PA Academic
Standards and Assessment Anchors.
Description: District instructional staff will use benchmark assessments in all core subject areas
aligned to the PA Academic Standards and Assessment Anchors.
Description: All teaching staff in grades 2-12 and District administration will be trained in using
the selected benchmark assessment tool.
Description: District staff will revise the curriculum cycle to incorporate subject area integration,
utilize curriculum mapping database software as a curriculum analysis tool, and allow for annual
review of curriuclum.
Description: District administrators, building principals, department and curriculum chairs will be
trained in Heidi Hayes Jacobs' approach to curriculum mapping.
Description: All District instructional staff will utilize the Internet and community portal to
communicate academic and performance data on a regular basis to parents.
Activity: All staff will learn how to utilize the web site to post weekly
assignments.
Description: Staff will be required to communicate lessons via the web as part of their
professional responsibilities.
• Instructs the
leader in
managing
resources for
effective results.
Description: Staff will utilize appropriate data for comprehensive analysis of academic
performance data. All instructional staff will be trained on the use of a data warehouse or a
comparable solution as with the Sapphire Suites. Staff will analyze benchmark assessment data
against other variables such as PSSA data, grades, and demographic data.
Activity: Training
Description: Instructional and adminstrative staff will receive training on effective data analysis.
Description: All students will learn from highly qualified and effective teachers.
Description: A comprehensive staff development plan for instructional and administrative staff
will include a focus on differentiating instruction and technology for the next three years.
Description: A team of teacher leaders and administrators from each building will work to
develop a detailed action plan for rolling out D.I. training to all of our teaching staff over the next
three years.
• Empowers leaders to
create a culture of
teaching and
learning, with an
emphasis on
learning.
• Empowers leaders to
create a culture of
teaching and
learning, with an
emphasis on
learning.
Description: Staff will be offered training opportunities related to technology including, but not
limited to web-based software such as First in Math, Study Island; data analysis; Sapphire
Grading Program and Community Portal; Classroom Performance System; Discovery Educator
Tools; Microsoft Office; Web Site pages; Integration of Technology.
The Professional Development Council uses an evaluation tool for each professional
development event. The evaluation tool contains standard items requesting feedback with a
numeric rubric for the following items:
• course objectives
• organization of the course
• quality of the content
• relevant learning experiences to master the content
• relevancy to the participant's assignment
• ability of the participant to turn-key the learnings
• quality of the instructor
• effectiveness of the instructor's teaching strategies
• knowledge and preparedness of the instructor
The remainder of the evaluation tool is developed specifically with the course content in mind.
Examples of this type of feedback are:
• list the three ways in which the participant will apply the specific knowledge
• how did the specific activity contribute to your professional growth
• how will you share this knowledge with your grade level partners or colleagues in your
department
• what other learnings are now essential as a result of this session
The Professional Development Council reviews all of the course evaluations annually to
determine a course of action based on this feedback.
Supporting Documents
Contact Information
Appendix B
Address:
6493 Route 309
New Tripoli, PA 18066-2038