Teachers as Leaders: Creating Professional Development Programs. Classes held on Tuesday, July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

In order to provide effective professional development, schools need to tap into the knowledge and experience of their teachers. Collectively, teachers can provide wisdom and support within their own buildings with the advantage of addressing the local needs of the school far more effectively than external providers who may know nothing about the school, the teachers, the families and the students. Unfortunately, teachers are reluctant to take on that role. Teachers tend to discount what they know and/or are uncertain about how to create a program for adult professionals. However, teachers can and should share what they do in the classroom with others. What they lack is a forum for safely developing rigorous professional development programs.

In these sessions, teachers will develop, practice and seek feedback on professional development presentations they would like to offer. Educators will address content areas of interest to them and their schools.

In this course, educators will tie their professional development to the CPS Framework for Teaching. This course creates a professional community of teachers that will: explore instructional challenges present in their schools, share solutions to those problems, develop presentations, practice their presentation skills, and add rigor to their programs before going live.