Integrated PD and Centers of Excellence in Teaching - suggestions?

[Elizabeth Falco]

Hi everyone!

I am doing some research on schools with integrated best practice professional development programs and/or Centers for Excellence in Teaching. I am looking for exemplar schools and programs in North America & around the world to inform my research - let me know if you have any suggestions!!

In the meantime, I thought I would share some information I've come across on this topic - did you know that High Tech High in San Diego has its own Graduate School of Education? Check it out here: http://gse.hightechhigh.org/

Thanks for your help!

Liz Falco

[Kate Rizzi]

Hello Liz,

I am coordinator of professional development at an all-girl high school in Maryland.  I would definitely place myself at the "bottom rung of a ladder that I want to climb" i.e., not an exemplar

However, I am committed to shifting the experience of PD for our faculty  from "another thing we have to do" to a shared dialogue.  To that end, I began the "Forum for Teaching and Learning" an open place to exchange ideas.  Every 2 weeks I invite the community to join a discussion around a topic that advances best practices.  I began the year with Atul Gawande's 

[Kate Rizzi]

Liz,

I am coordinator of professional development at an all girls high school in Maryland, and would definitely place myself at "the bottom rung of a ladder that I want to climb."  In other words, I am not offering my school as an exemplar.  However, I would be very interested in following your research.  

One thing I am working on is shifting our faculty's experience of professional development from "another thing they are forced to do" to more of a shared dialogue.  Every 2 weeks I mediate the "Forum for Teaching and Learning" and invite all members of our professional community to discuss a particular topic.  I started this year's Forum with Atul Gawande's New Yorker article, Personal Best (October 3, 2011) which asks one to consider: "Top athletes and singers have coaches.  Should you?" and focuses on the need for teachers to seek coaches.  There are 3 pairs of teachers who are experimenting with the coaching model.  At this weeks Forum we will hear from them. 

We are in the fledgling stage.  I am eager to learn about schools that are farther up the ladder.

Thank you,
Kate Rizzi

[Carla Silver]

Hi, Liz,

You might consider connecting with Hillbrook School.  Aimee Giles is the Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and you can reach her a [e-mail].  They have recently launched the CTE and it is a great model.

Carla Silver