AIS-R's Professional Learning Plan

K-12 Learning Opportunities

• -School Initiatives, Task Forces and Curriculum Review
• -Individual and School Goals
• -Professional Feedback and Appraisals
• -Formal and Informal Learning

Learning and Growth Model (LGM)

Individual Learning and Growth Plan (ILGP)
School Goals 2011-2012

1. Accreditation

Continued Learning

1. Framework for Teaching
2. Technology and Blended Learning
3. Assessment
4. Curriculum & Programs

Appraisal Feedback and Support System

• -Clinical Observation Procedures
• -Walkthroughs
• -Conferences
• -Professional Expectations

K-12 Overarching Goal:  Accreditation

By the end of the 2011-2012 school year, AIS-R teachers will learn about the strengths and challenges of the school in all areas by collaborating with a learning cohort to collect, evaluate and analyze evidence that supports each standard related to the CIS/NEASC Accreditation Self-Study.

Teacher Expectations:

• -All teachers will collaborate with a learning cohort on two Sections of the CIS/NEASC Accreditation Self-Study
• -All learning cohorts will meet according to the Accreditation timeline
• -All cohort members will actively contribute to the collection, evaluation and analysis of evidence for their Sections, participate in the discussions and debates to build consensus on the rating of a Sections

K-12 Continued Learning:

Framework for Teaching

A school committed to the improvement of learning just be equally committed to improving the quality of teaching.
". . .[E]valuation systems designed to support teacher growth and development through an emphasis on formative evaluation techniques produce[s] higher levels of satisfaction and more thoughtful and reflective practice while still being able to satisfy accountability demand.  The framework for teaching identifies those aspects of a teacher's responsibilities and seeks to define what teachers should know and be able to do in the exercise of their profession" (Danielson, 2007).

Teacher Expectations:

• -All teachers will participate in AIS-R's Learning and Growth Model (LGM)

Blended Learning with Technology

According to our mission, we want our students to be " . . . ethical world citizens with the skills and passion to think creatively, reason critically, communicate effectively and learn continuously."  Participating in online learning networks and using online communication and collaboration tools are some of the ways that people connect and act at a global level as well as pursue personal learning and growth.  We need to help our students learn to use these online tools in a safe and supportive environment before they are required to use them for work and post-secondary schooling.

Assessment

According to the AIS-R Assessment Core Beliefs, "the primary purpose of assessment is to improve learning."  The use of formative assessment allows students to receive timely, meaningful feedback that helps them prepare for summative assessments

• -All teachers will collaborate with their colleagues to develop common summative assessments.

Description of the Learning and Growth Model

AIS-R's Learning and Growth Model (LGM) supports The Framework for Teaching (FfT) that assists all teachers with their professional growth.  In addition, the LGM assists supervisors with teacher appraisal.  The LGM allocates two tracks for teachers, with an additional track to be effective for the 2012-2013 school year.

• -Track 1:  Teachers new to AIS-R (2011-2012)
• -Track 2:  Teachers returning to AIS-R (2011-2012)
• -Track 3:  Veteran teachers returning to AIS-R (effective 2012-2013)

Each track supports AIS-R school-wide continued learning initiatives and divisional initiatives, and includes elements that support teachers' professional growth such as:

• -using The Framework for Teaching webtool (ePortfolio)
• -completing self-assessments and self-reflections, and
• -developing an Individual Learning and Growth Plan (ILGP) that supports an individual or team learning SMART goal

Each track includes elements that support teacher appraisal by supervisors such as:

• -90-day Clinical Observations that include a pre-observation conference, classroom observation, post-observation conference and Clinical Observation summary (Track 1 only)
• -observational walk-throughs with shared follow-up checklists (Track 1 and Track 2)
• -overall evaluations and summary of  growth based on the ILGP, AIS-R's professional expectations, and The Framework for Teaching.