By: MaryBeth Crissman Date: June 21, 2016
Professional development is a key component of any district, but what takes professional learning to the next level of engagement and effectiveness is being able to differentiate and personalize professional growth for each teacher or administrator. This month we’re continuing our Salon Series: Educator Viewpoints on Personalized Professional Learning with a special webinar in cooperation […]
Categories Uncategorized
By: MaryBeth Crissman Date: June 14, 2016
How many times have you started using a new program only to find yourself throwing your hands up in frustration, grumbling, “This software is so counter-intuitive! Why isn’t it designed better?” Product designers consider this moment of frustration long before it happens and make every effort to make their programs fluid and intuitive because a […]
Categories News
By: MaryBeth Crissman Date: June 07, 2016
The implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) has the potential to change the face of education dramatically. Many of the restrictions and requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) have been eased or eliminated. The transition from NCLB to ESSA will bring about significant changes to student assessment as well as how schools […]
Categories Assessment, Student Achievement
By: MaryBeth Crissman Date: June 01, 2016
In April, we started a conversation about Personalized Professional Learning. We shared stories and insight about the challenges and triumphs of professional learning experiences from educators across the country, and now we’re continuing the conversation! Episode 2 of our Salon Series, Educator Viewpoints on Personalized Professional Learning focuses on practice and process. According to the […]
Categories Salon Series
By: MaryBeth Crissman Date: May 24, 2016
No one expects a college athlete to perform with the same skill, knowledge, and insight as a professional athlete who has been in the big leagues for a few years. Real-world experience is an invaluable step in learning a craft, and it’s not something that can simply be taught. One has to fully experience the […]
Categories Educator Effectiveness, Professional Growth
By: MaryBeth Crissman Date: May 17, 2016
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) may now be a thing of the past as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) comes into effect in late 2017. While NCLB focused on federal and state mandates, rigorous and prescriptive student testing, and difficult to achieve school and district minimum requirements for teachers and students, ESSA shifts the […]
Categories News, Professional Growth, Professional Learning, Uncategorized
By: MaryBeth Crissman Date: May 10, 2016
What do you do when you have 2700 teachers, 1800 educational support professionals, and 700 support professionals spread out over 76 school buildings and your state initiates a new state-wide performance evaluation requirement? Some may panic. That’s an understandable reaction. It’s a daunting task to coordinate that number of professionals into a cohesive and manageable […]
Categories Professional Growth, Professional Learning, Talent Management
By: MaryBeth Crissman Date: May 03, 2016
Teacher training and preparedness is often the focus of most conversations about school quality. When schools are performing well, it is the teachers that are praised for their dedication and effectiveness. And when a school is doing poorly, it is the teachers that bear the brunt of the blame. In reality, a school’s successes or […]
Categories Educator Effectiveness, Leadership, Professional Learning
By: MaryBeth Crissman Date: April 26, 2016
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, and, while our teachers deserve appreciation all year long, there’s no better time to show your district’s educators how much you appreciate their hard work and efforts to improve the lives and performance of their students. Here are some ideas: 1. Improve the atmosphere and air quality in your district classrooms […]
Categories News
By: MaryBeth Crissman Date: April 19, 2016
Micro-credentials. You’ve heard about them but maybe you’re not sure exactly what they are or how they work. Or maybe you haven’t heard of them at all. Either way, micro-credentials are the latest movement in increasing transparency and improving professional growth in the education space. But what exactly are micro-credentials? Micro-credentials are narrowly focused and […]
Categories News, Professional Growth