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Professional learning and development is at the core of school improvement in the Spring Lake Park Schools. All learning is aligned with the district strategic framework and school continuous improvement priorities. Professional learning and development takes place at three levels: a) District-level; b) School-level and PLCs; and c) Individually. Our goal is that the majority of professional learning is embedded within the day to day work of staff. This occurs through activities such as ongoing teacher participation in collaborative teams (each school has set time aside each week, at a minimum, for teachers to participate in professional learning communities), work with instructional coaches, study groups, and curriculum development.

 

The design of Spring Lake Park professional development at the district-level is based on student learning needs, curriculum development and implementation schedules, emerging best practices, and information gathered from staff. Staff and administrative leaders involved on the Teaching, Learning, and Accountability (TLA) Advisory Council play a critical role in determining the effectiveness of improvement and professional development initiatives. They work together to plan and assess professional development, and to provide embedded, structured time to ensure effective professional development takes place.

 

At the school-level, principals and teachers develop continuous improvement plans which identify improvement needs and adaptive and/or learning work projects to meet address these needs. Professional learning is aligned to these needs. In addition, all teachers participate in collaborative teams, or professional learning communities, on a weekly basis at minimum. This provides staff with time to engage in collective, embedded professional learning that includes activities such as goal setting, instructional alignment of curriculum, and development and study of common, formative student assessment data.

 

 

 

Dr. Matt Burns, a professor at the University of Minnesota and an acknowledged expert around leading, developing, and implementing a system of interventions, made these comments after visiting our schools.

 

"The middle school could very well have one of the best models I’ve ever seen at that level."   “The alternative education school is fantastic."   I’ve never seen an alternative education conceptualize their service as a model so well."   "The K-3, 4-5, and middle school buildings are really doing great things."   "The high school has a ways to go, but they are farther along with this than almost any high school I have worked with."   "This is a great district. Your teachers, administrators, and staff are clearly impressive."

 

 

Dr. Jennifer York-Barr, professor at the University of Minnesota.
She is considered one of the leading experts around teacher leadership, school improvement, and professional learning. She speaks and consults with schools and districts across the country.

 

 

Dr. Chad Schmidt is an assessment coordinator and data coach in the Edina Public Schools, after observing PLC Teams meet in our schools.