Each school year, Dunlap School District works relentlessly to plan professional development opportunities for staff, understanding the importance of efficacy–that is the belief that a teacher can make an impact on student growth and achievement, regardless of circumstances. Collective efficacy, or the “pooling” of staff knowledge, experience, and expertise, continues to have the greatest impact on student performance. Each year, the Curriculum Department examines student achievement data, staff evaluation data, and feedback from previously offered professional development in order to offer meaningful learning opportunities for our staff that will benefit our student population.
On March 13, 2023, the Curriculum Department hosted an Institute Day titled and themed around “Supporting the Whole Student.” The day began with keynote speaker Jennifer Donaldson speaking on the Neurosequential Model, which is rooted in understanding how the brain regulates and how to best support students so they can be receptive and able to focus on learning.
The Institute Day had both in-district and out-of-district presenters provided 45 sessions for teachers to choose from over four breakout sessions. Session topics included cooperative learning strategies, understanding and supporting students with ADHD, strategies for multilingual learners, standards-based reporting, effective co-teaching models, science of reading comprehension, writing appropriate and meaningful IEP goals, and numerous sessions on utilizing current resources effectively as part of classroom instruction.
Providing effective professional development is an ongoing focus of the Curriculum Department and work to improve what in-district support we are able to provide to teachers. Knowing the effectiveness of quality learning opportunities has driven Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Resources, Matt Andrews, to focus on improving professional development in his doctoral dissertation. Recently receiving approval to perform his study this coming fall, Mr. Andrews will focus on elementary literacy instruction in order to learn what development opportunities impacted their teaching the most. In turn, the qualifies and traits can be applied to advance how we support our dedicated staff.
Institute days, school improvement afternoons, and weekly professional learning communities aftternoons are absolutely essential in order to build the capacity of our staff. We recognize and understand the hardship that the days off of school, half-days, and weekly half-hour-early dismissals place on families, and work to ensure that the time is used effectively. We are thankful for the ability and support to make sure our students and staff all have what is needed to be successful.
