Guilderland Central School District Professional development

Guilderland staff development opportunities and online resources

District Staff Developer: Nancy Brumer, 456-6200 ext. 3130

 

 

Welcome to the Guilderland Central School District staff development page.  Check here often to find out how to apply for Inservice Credit, learn about upcoming workshops, or  document professional development hours.

Click here for more information to apply for Inservice Credit.

Upcoming Workshops

2009-10 professional development plan* (PDF)
 

Professional Development and Certification - document professional development hours

* Please note the above open in "pdf" format and require the Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to download and print.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat on your computer you can get a free copy from the Adobe web site.

Everyone's Learning

Click on the links* below to download the latest edition of the Staff Development newsletter, Everyone's Learning

* Please note the above open in "pdf" format and require the Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to download and print.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat on your computer you can get a free copy from the Adobe web site.

Meeting the NETS*S: Technology Integration for Elementary Teachers

"Meeting the NETS*S" is a result of GCSD curriculum work during the summer of 2007. Developed and compiled by Kim Harmon, Tod Mell, and Emily Spooner-Smith, the purpose is to acquaint elementary teachers with the NETS Standards and provide models for making them come alive in Guilderland classrooms.

Guilderland High School Study Group Database
Guilderland Teachers Association (GTA)
New York State United Teachers (NYSUT)

New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) offers numerous courses to teachers in our area. Visit the NYSUT Web site for additional information.

Model Schools Training
Child Abuse Prevention Course

A child abuse prevention course is offered by the NYS Nurses' Association. They will mail you the course and test for $30 or you can take it online for $25. For more info call (518) 782-9400, ext. 377 or visit: www.nysna.org.

Important information for teachers on copyright and the use of clip art images

Capital Region BOCES VISTA

The Capital Region VISTA (Valuable Instructional Seminars and Training Activities) program offers numerous staff development opportunities throughout the year.

Upcoming Sign Language courses - Spring 2009 (PDF)

Community resources
Professional Development and Certification

Teachers certified after Feb 2, 2004 must participate in 175 hours of professional development over 5 years to maintain their teaching certificate. Teaching Assistants must participate in 75 hours of professional development over 5 years to maintain their teaching assistant certificate. Below are State Education Department websites that explain documentation procedures, what is eligible for professional development hours, and other questions teachers and teaching assistants may have:

Documenting professional development hours

  • Download the blank Excel file below as a convenient way to organize your staff development hours

    • Blank log - You will need to have the Excel program on your computer to download and save this file.
       

  • View a completed sample log by clicking here. (PDF)*

* Please note the above open in "pdf" format and require the Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to download and print.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat on your computer you can get a free copy from the Adobe web site.

Online resources

Check out helpful online resources for subject areas including: language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, technology, cooperative learning, and more! 

 

Apply for Inservice Credit

Attend a Course/Workshop

Pre-approved courses

All non-district sponsored courses must be approved prior to crediting. Courses offered through the following agencies must meet approval guidelines and are approved for up to 36 hours of credit:

Applicants need only have chit signed at the program and send to committee with a copy of the program and detailed schedule.

All other courses

Courses offered by other agencies need to be considered by the committee prior to participation. An approval form must be completed and signed by supervisor and/or principal prior to attending the course. Download an approval form HERE.* Approval requirements and procedures may be found on page two of the form.

 

If not a workshop, then what?

There are other ways to develop professionally, besides attending a district (or out-of-district) workshop or course. Here are some options to consider:

  • Conduct action research projects

  • Develop material displays, bulletin boards

  • Analyze teaching cases

  • Attend awareness-level seminars

  • Join a cadre of in-house trainers

  • Plan lessons with a teaching colleague

  • Consult an expert

  • Make a field trip

  • Form study or support groups

  • Give presentations at conferences

  • Shadow another person or professional in the field

  • Research on the Internet

  • Lead a school wide committee project

  • Coach a colleague

  • Be a mentor

  • Be mentored
  • Observe model lessons
  • Observe other teachers teach
  • Be observed and receive feedback from a trainer or principal
  • Be coached by a peer
  • Join a professional network
  • Read journals, educational magazines, books
  • Write an article about your work
  • Participate in a study group
  • Keep a reflection log or journal
  • Enroll in a university course
  • View educational videos
  • Listen to video/audio recordings
  • Do a self-assessment
  • Participate in a video conference or conference calls with experts
(Source: The National Staff Development Council Journal of Staff Development, Volume 19, Number 4, Fall 1998, p.10)

Independent Study

Maybe you have a desire to deeply explore a topic and complete a project related to your teaching subject area. Prior to beginning such study, you can submit a proposal to the District Staff Development Team. If it’s accepted, you could receive in-service mini-credits upon completion of your project. Click here* for the proposal guidelines so you can get started! Don’t forget to have your supervisor and/or principal sign the cover sheet.
 
Informal Study Group

Maybe you work better and learn more when you have other people to stimulate discussion or contribute to a project. Perhaps you’d like to form a study group. Examples of successful groups in the past have focused on a particular grade level’s concerns or done a shared reading of a professional book. Choose a contact person, then click here* for the application. Submit this prior to the beginning of the study. If your application is accepted, your District Staff Development Team representative will let you know and provide you with attendance sheets. Don’t forget to collect attendance sheets at each session.
 
Teach a Course

There are many “experts” among us. Why not offer your talents to benefit others, as well as yourself? Cooperative learning research shows that when you teach others, you increase your average retention rate to 90%. If you’d like to capitalize on this finding, click here* to obtain a course offering proposal form. This must be submitted to the District Staff Development Team prior to offering any course. If your proposal is accepted, you will be paid a contractual rate. Course announcements will be distributed through district office.

* Please note the above open in "pdf" format and require the Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to download and print.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat on your computer you can get a free copy from the Adobe web site.

 

Online resources

Click on an area of interest:

Language Arts

Mathematics

Science

Social Studies

Cooperative Learning

Professional Development Opportunities

Teacher Tools

Technology

 

  photo students from various grade levels
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This page is maintained according to Guilderland Central School District web publishing guidelines by Communication Specialist Amy Zurlo on behalf of the Guilderland Central School District.