Westwood Teachers Continue Learning Process

We’ve all heard the age-old adage that learning is a lifelong process. At Westwood Public Schools that is true not only for students, but for teachers as well. Throughout the year, teachers take part in what are known as Professional Development Days (PDD) which are a mix of full and half days. Westwood’s new Assistant Superintendent of Schools Caitlin Ahern is one of the people planning these programs and lessons.

“I have the amazing opportunity to help shape what Westwood’s professional development looks like,” said Ahern. “These are programs and lessons that as a district we want teachers to be learning, aligned with our strategic plan. Some are big picture goals, while others might be focused on new curriculum resources, or changes in standards, for example the new performance-based assessments in science.”

A number of professional development afternoons are included in the teachers’ contract. Ahern works with the Professional Learning Committee, as well as central office administrators, to lay out the PDD for the year. Some sessions are designed to get an entire grade level team together for collaborative planning. Other days are focused on professional growth. There’s also content learning where research in their particular field is presented.

“Then there’s the instructional piece,” said Ahern. “A teacher may know their content area through-and-through, but can we help them learn new instructional strategies and “teacher moves” to help reach all students?”

PDD are held after school on every other Wednesday and for a full day on Nov. 5, when students are off for election day.

Ahern says she is “excited about the trajectory” of this year’s PDD. Last year much of Westwood’s PDD focused on whether students felt a sense of belonging in their classrooms and, if not, how could teachers cultivate that sense of belonging?

“We have sessions planned in October and November where we are focused on continuing and deepening last year’s work, on belonging,” said Ahern. “This is something I’ve encountered everywhere I have previously worked – the PDD is one shot, and you never talk about it again. We are changing that here in Westwood.”

Teachers will learn specific strategies for increasing student belonging and engagement, which Ahern says will increase achievement in classrooms. Ahern is also excited about teacher-run sessions coming up in November.

“We are going to have about 10 to 15 different sessions educators can choose from where they are taught by their colleagues,” said Ahern. “It lands differently when it comes from a colleague. Teachers consistently say learning from their colleagues is very powerful.”

Ahern hopes parents and guardians understand how invaluable PDD is to the growth of not only the teacher, but to students as well.

“This is really valuable time that honors teachers as professionals and impacts student learning,” said Ahern. “It helps make Westwood a place where people want to teach, and they want to stay because we are invested in them. Students reap the benefits of teachers who are consistently learning and growing.”

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