Current Practice
The Program and Professional Development Category of the Curricular Design Domain is the least developed component of my current professional/teaching practice. Since I came to EPS two years ago, my strategy has been to observe and absorb the school culture and anecdotally identify where the school’s needs and my interests and skills intersect. I am a pragmatic person so I want to offer my own expertise to colleagues only when I feel it will benefit them or the program. Similarly, I want to utilize school resources to gain expertise in new areas only after understanding what would be most beneficial to EPS. As such, I have not done much work in this category and I therefore see it as an area of growth for me.
Below are brief descriptions of the indicators in this category with specific examples of how they fit into my current teaching practice where relevant.
(1) participates actively and constructively in Program Development Day activities
I’ve been present at all Program Development Days scheduled since I started EPS two years ago. I have participated (mostly wholeheartedly) in all scheduled activities. I will continue to do so in the future. I actually look forward to Program Development Days because I enjoy getting out of the classroom to focus on big pictures school-wide goals and (as I noted throughout my writing in the Relational Cultivation domain), I also thoroughly enjoy spending time with colleagues.
(2) presents during Program Development Days and conferences
Other than volunteering to briefly speak about a creative assignment I developed during the Snow Days of 2019, I have not presented during Program Development Days. I also have not spoken at any educational conferences while representing EPS. In previous jobs, I have presented both internally and externally and so foresee engaging with these activities for EPS in the future.
(3) takes advantage of professional development provided by the school
The only professional development provided by the school that I have taken advantage of is the opportunity to prepare this PDP, which admittedly is a pretty big opportunity.
(4) identifies and pursues professional development opportunities appropriate to enhancing effectiveness as an educator
After observing where the school’s needs and my interests and skills intersect for my first year at EPS, I talked with Matt Delaney about possible options for professional development, but have not pursued them further. Now that I’m working on this professional development plan, I think I’d like to take a step back and consider what professional development opportunities will align well with this Professional Development Plan.
Future Practice
I would like to enhance my current professional/teaching practice by doing the following:
- Attend the Northwest Association of Independent Schools Fall Meeting the next time it occurs and attend sessions that will help me meet some of the goals of this Professional Development Plan.
- Over the next year, develop a list of possible presentation topics for either an internal Program Development Day or an external conference.
- After next year, make plans to present at either an internal Program Development Day or an external conference.