ST1.9
STEM teachers and leaders participate in a continuous program of STEM-specific professional learning.
School-based leaders provide LSHS teachers with the tools and the confidence they need as they implement exemplary practices in their classrooms; practices that are defined and developed through professional learning opportunities. For STEM teachers, these practices are exemplified through lessons that are engaging and relevant, cross-curricular, focus on 21st century skills, differentiate learning, incorporate non-fiction reading and writing, and provide an authentic assessment of their students understanding.
As a state certified STEM program, our teachers are continuously provided opportunities to participate in STEM-specific professional learning. The coordinator receives quarterly correspondence from the state STEM supervisor, Gilda Lyon, which includes a comprehensive list of upcoming professional development opportunities. Additionally, there is a designated section on the STEMgeorgia webpage which lists upcoming professional development opportunities as well as potential funding resources.
In 2015, Douglas County School System purchased a license giving all teachers access to DefinedSTEM, which has provided various opportunities for teachers to engage in professional learning. All teachers underwent an intensive training on how to use DefinedSTEM to create interdisciplinary units of study. Through the DefinedSTEM Professional Development Center, teachers have been trained on a wide variety of topics, including: 21st Century Skills, Project Based Learning, Teaching with Performance Tasks, Teaching with Literacy Tasks, Simulations, Understanding by Design, The Integration of NextGen Standards, ELA Product connections, Tasks linking STEM and Social Studies, and Tasks connected with C3 Modules.
Currently, most STEM Academy teachers are afforded regular opportunities for STEM professional learning. One area we would like to improve in particularly is in transitioning from most STEM teachers to all STEM teachers being afforded these opportunities for STEM professional learning. By focusing on those teachers with a desire to further their practice and those in underrepresented fields within the Academy, we hope to provide all of our teachers with an abundance of opportunities to further their professional knowledge with regards to not only STEM, but best educational practices as well.
As a state certified STEM program, our teachers are continuously provided opportunities to participate in STEM-specific professional learning. The coordinator receives quarterly correspondence from the state STEM supervisor, Gilda Lyon, which includes a comprehensive list of upcoming professional development opportunities. Additionally, there is a designated section on the STEMgeorgia webpage which lists upcoming professional development opportunities as well as potential funding resources.
In 2015, Douglas County School System purchased a license giving all teachers access to DefinedSTEM, which has provided various opportunities for teachers to engage in professional learning. All teachers underwent an intensive training on how to use DefinedSTEM to create interdisciplinary units of study. Through the DefinedSTEM Professional Development Center, teachers have been trained on a wide variety of topics, including: 21st Century Skills, Project Based Learning, Teaching with Performance Tasks, Teaching with Literacy Tasks, Simulations, Understanding by Design, The Integration of NextGen Standards, ELA Product connections, Tasks linking STEM and Social Studies, and Tasks connected with C3 Modules.
Currently, most STEM Academy teachers are afforded regular opportunities for STEM professional learning. One area we would like to improve in particularly is in transitioning from most STEM teachers to all STEM teachers being afforded these opportunities for STEM professional learning. By focusing on those teachers with a desire to further their practice and those in underrepresented fields within the Academy, we hope to provide all of our teachers with an abundance of opportunities to further their professional knowledge with regards to not only STEM, but best educational practices as well.
Professional Development Opportunities: Teachers are afforded opportunities to attend many different STEM-related conferences and seminars throughout the year. In addition, many of our teachers have pursued Advanced Placement certification to enrich,supplement, and support our students as well as their colleagues.
Survey of STEM Teachers' Professional Development Needs: Lithia Springs offers its STEM students a qualified, confident staff with a diverse and deep background in various skills. The staff has received a great deal of STEM-specific and other content area training, and teachers actively seek to enhance their skills through continuous professional development. The teacher professional development (PD) survey was administered to determine how our STEM teachers perceive their current level of, as well as opportunities for, further STEM-specific training.
LSHS Professional Learning Plan (pgs. 9-12): This excerpt from the LSHS School Improvement Plan outlines LSHS's commitment to professional development for its entire staff.