Are WSASCD Professional Development Opportunities Serving You?

Washington State ASCD strives to provide all educators across the state with quality professional development opportunities that are both relevant and timely. It is our hope that all participants walk away from these conferences and workshops feeling that both their time and money were well spent and that what they have learned can have an immediate impact on improving daily practice and increasing student achievement.

The primary sources for determining which learning topics we tackle and provide support for come directly from you. In talking with administrators and teachers across the state, we make every effort to keep informed about what key topics or practices people would most like to explore in greater depth. We seek out both local and nationally renowned experts in these areas of focus and arrange opportunities for people across the state to come together and learn from one another.

During the past two years, we have provided in-service in the following key areas: Professional Learning Communities, differentiated instruction, grading for learning, instructional coaching, Pyramid Response to Intervention, and classroom-based assessment. In addition, we have brought many nationally renowned speakers and experts to the northwest including Dr. Robert Eaker, Mike Mattos, Rick Wormeli, Janel Keating, Michael Gurian, and Dr. Jeanine Butler.

Currently WSASCD is utilizing three primary vehicles for delivery of professional learning: The Annual Conference, regional workshops, and the on-site workshop in school districts. We host the Annual Conference every October. The regional workshops are usually repeated two or three times throughout the state to accommodate different geographic locations. We work hard to ensure that the delivery models for professional development opportunities are accessible and affordable to as many people as possible.

We recognize that during these difficult economic times it is becoming increasingly difficult for districts and schools to send people to outside professional development opportunities. We feel strongly that maintaining quality professional development for educators is absolutely crucial. Therefore, it is more important than ever to ensure that the professional development services we are providing are meeting your needs. We want to hear from you.
What instructional topics or strategies would be most relevant and meaningful to your learning currently?

Do the current models of delivery meet your needs? What changes or modifications to any of these delivery models would you suggest?

Jill Burnes, Principal
Enumclaw High School
jill_burnes@enumclaw.wednet.edu
(360) 802-7685