Another professional development day! What an inconvenience!” This Comment rings across kitchen tables, through grocery store aisles, on the side-lines at soccer games, and in the breakrooms in local businesses. Parents expect their children to be in school and rely on schools not only for educating them, but also for providing a safe and dependable place for Students to be each day.
Families and even employers are inconvenienced on In-service days or when the school day starts late or ends early to Provide time for teacher professional development. For business and community leaders, the quality of a community’s education system relates directly to the economic success of the community. School success translates into tax revenues, real estate values, and community satisfaction. When asked what they want for their children, parents, and community members overwhelmingly agree that they want the best teacher possible in every classroom. Research confirms that the most important factor contributing to a student’s success in school is the quality of teaching. While parents may not be familiar with the research, they are united in their desire to ensure great teaching for every child every day.
Professional development is the most effective strategy schools and school Districts have to meet this expectation. Professional development is the strategy schools and school districts use to ensure that educators continue to strengthen their practice throughout their career. The most eff active professional development engages teams of teachers to focus on the needs of their students. 102
They learn and problem solve together in order to ensure all students achieve success. School systems use a variety of schedules to provide this collaborative learning and work time for teachers. When time set aside for professional development is used effectively and parents receive reports about student results, they realize the benefits to teachers and their students far outweigh the scheduling inconvenience. When communities see their schools making steady upward progress, they applaud the role of effective professional development. Policymakers, community leaders, and parents have a responsibility to ensure that educators within their schools engage in continuous professional learning and apply that learning to increase student achievement. Learning forward offers a clear definition and standards for measuring the quality of professional development occurring within schools. By advocating for educator professional learning that meets these standards, policymakers, parents, and community members can do their part to ensure a successful education experience for every child in their community.
John Dewey reminds us about the importance of this role: “What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must the community want for all of its children.”