Professional Development and Growth
Continuous learning and professional growth are essential for effective teaching and career advancement. Here are checklists and resources to help you navigate the various professional development opportunities available, create a personalized growth plan, and build learning networks that will support you throughout your career. Taking ownership of your professional development demonstrates commitment to excellence and keeps your practice fresh and effective.
Understanding Professional Development Options
Required Professional Development
- District-mandated training – Usually focused on new initiatives or compliance
- School-based PD – Aligned with school improvement goals
- Certification requirements – State-mandated continuing education
- Safety and compliance – Annual requirements (CPR, mandated reporting, etc.)
Optional Professional Development
- Conference attendance – Subject-specific or general education conferences
- Graduate coursework – Advanced degrees or additional certifications
- Online learning – Webinars, MOOCs, professional learning platforms
- Peer observation – Learning from colleagues in other schools
- Professional reading – Books, journals, research articles
Self-Directed Learning
- Action research – Investigating your own practice
- Reflection and journaling – Regular analysis of teaching effectiveness
- Student feedback – Learning from your students’ perspectives
- Professional learning communities – Collaborative inquiry with colleagues
Creating a Professional Development Plan
Annual PD Planning Template
Professional Goals for This Year: 1. 2. 3.
Learning Priorities:
- High priority: ________________ (will significantly impact students)
- Medium priority: ______________ (would improve practice)
- Low priority: ________________ (interesting but not urgent)
PD Action Plan:
Goal | Learning Activity | Timeline | Resources Needed | Success Measure |
| ||||
Reflection Questions:
- How does this PD align with my students’ needs?
- What support do I need to implement new learning?
- How will I measure the impact of this professional learning?
Maximizing PD Effectiveness
Before Professional Development:
- Set specific learning goals
- Identify how this connects to your current challenges
- Prepare questions you want answered
- Connect with others attending
- Plan for implementation
During Professional Development:
- Take active notes, not passive notes
- Ask questions and participate
- Connect with other participants
- Think about specific applications
- Collect resources and contact information
After Professional Development:
- Reflect on key takeaways within 24 hours
- Share learning with colleagues
- Plan specific implementation steps
- Set timeline for trying new strategies
- Schedule follow-up reflection
Professional Learning Networks
Building Your PLN (Professional Learning Network)
In Your School:
- Grade level or department colleagues
- Mentor teachers
- Instructional coaches
- Administrators who support growth
In Your District:
- Teachers in other schools with similar roles
- District specialists and coordinators
- Professional learning community participants
- Union representatives and leaders
Beyond Your District:
- Conference connections
- Online professional communities
- Social media education groups
- Professional organization members
- Graduate school classmates
Online PLN Development:
- Follow education thought leaders on Twitter/X
- Join Facebook groups for your subject/grade
- Participate in education chats and discussions
- Share your own insights and questions
- Connect virtual learning to real-world application
