1. CLASS Project January 17, 2013

2. Our Current Situation One size fits all Large group meetings No time to collaborate Top down No choice

3. Survey of Current Situation Strengths - Welcome Back Rally - Building specific - Not whole district Areas for Improvement - Considerations for specialists - Time to implement learning - Choices for topics

4. What does research say? The best professional development is: - In-depth - Yearlong - Focused on one topic - Peer led

5. Our Goal: Differentiation Choices Time Collaboration

6. Introducing… Professional Development Cohorts (PDCs) Differentiation Choices Time Collaboration PDCs Differentiation Choice Time Collaboration

7. Professional Development Cohorts are: Yearlong Half days Monthly Organized teacher cohorts

8. Professional Development Cohorts are: Teacher led: Teachers apply to be cohort leaders Leader chooses topic for cohort Leader organizes and plans development for the school year Leader is compensated for leading cohort

9. Professional Development Cohorts provide: Cohort Pathways: Pathway topics are sourced from teachers, based on data, interest, goals and district initiatives. Multiple topics to select from: Grade, School, Content Area, Specialist Area, etc. Examples of pathways: New Teachers, SPED Legalities, Autism Spectrum, Behavior Management, etc.

10. Professional Development Cohorts have: Individual choices: September Sampling – Welcome Back Day Teachers choose their cohort pathway for the year Choices can be based on interest, school need, student data, goals or evaluation. Teachers can register for a cohort from a menu of options at the end of September.

11. Professional Development Cohorts (PDCs) Differentiation Choices Time Collaboration PDCs Differentiation Choice Time Collaboration

12. Questions…. Do monthly half days work? How many pathways should be offered? How do we recruit cohort leaders? How do you become a cohort leader?