Create Time for Professional Development

Purnell and Hill (1991) identify six general approaches to creating time for staff development:

• Promote time outside the classroom during the school day (e.g., use substitutes to free teachers to attend workshops, conferences, observe other classes).

• Refocus the purpose of existing time commitments (e.g., use faculty meetings).

• Reschedule the school day (e.g., adjustments are made in the master schedule).

• Increase the amount of available time (e.g., use of supplemental contracts and stipends for teachers to attend summer trainings, extend participation beyond the usual hours).

• Promote teachers volunteering some of their time (e.g., create conducive conditions such as babysitting services, allocate space for teachers' conference).

• Promote more efficient time use (e.g., make meetings more efficient, use technology).

In addition, Raywid (1993) cites a number of examples for creating professional development time:

• Use part or all of faculty, department, or team meetings for professional development.

• Lengthen the school day for 20 minutes four days per week; use an early release on the fifth day to provide an extended period of time for professional development.

• One morning per week, engage students in alternative activities such as community service that are supervised by parents, community members, or noninstructional staff; use this time for professional development.

• Provide a common scheduled lunch and planning periods for teachers working on joint projects.

References