Personalizing+P.D.

Dennis Sparks & Stephanie Hirsh (1997) write: //In a logical progression, results-driven education for students requires results-driven staff development for educators. . . Staff development's success will be judged not by how many teachers and administrators participate in staff development programs or how they perceive its value, but by whether it alters instructional behavior in a way that benefits students.// (p. 5)

Professional Learning Communities at Work //In the struggle between an individual who has acquired greater insight and a system that is unwilling to change, the system will usually win. Furthermore, effective organizations are attentive to developing "group IQ." While a group can be no "smarter" than the sum total of the strengths of individual members, it can be "dumber" if its internal workings do not allow members to share their talents (Goleman, 1995). A learning community requires more than individual knowledge. It requires developing the ability of the group to work together to solve problems and renew its school. An effective staff development program will address this collective capability and enhance the group IQ.// (pg. 262 )

The task at hand...To create a sustainable staff development initiative that will continue to inspire, engage, challenge, and empower teachers to innovate in the classroom.