Looking Forward- Professional Development

Andrew Lopez
National University

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for

TED 690- Capstone Course
Professor Clifton Johnson
May 2016

Abstract
In this paper I will explain what professional development means. I will explain
why it is important for teacher to continue to develop professionally. I will explain why
teachers should create a professional development plan to help them become more
effective and grow as educators. Finally, I will identify my goal for professional growth
and provide a five-year plan that outlines the courses and certifications that will allow me
to achieve my professional growth goals.

Looking Forward- Professional Development

Professional Development Planning
According to the Glossary of Education Reform, the term professional
development is used to reference a wide variety of specialized training, formal
education, or advanced professional learning intended to help administrators, teachers,
and other educators improve their professional knowledge, competence, skill, and
effectiveness (Hidden Curriculum).
Education is a continuous process. As students are expected to grow as learners,
teachers need to continue to develop as educators. Teachers need to be able to self-assess
their effectiveness and create a plan to grow professionally in their areas of weakness. It
is critical for veteran teachers to have ongoing and regular opportunities to learn from
each other. Ongoing professional development keeps teachers up-to-date on new research
on how children learn, emerging technology tools for the classroom, new curriculum
resources, and more. I believe that not just veteran teachers, but all teachers need to stay
up to date with the times. Strategies that worked for teachers in the past, may be
ineffective today. Teachers need to evolve with the times in order to provide their
students with effective instruction. In todays day and age, Technology is rapidly
advancing. Teachers need to learn how to implement technology into their teaching to
prepare students for their future. Teachers that dont are doing their students a disservice
and depriving them of an opportunity to be successful.
In order for teacher to participate in professional development, they must
determine their areas of weakness in their teaching. Once they know the areas they want

to improve in, teachers can create a professional development plan. In a Professional

Development Plan teachers can create a timeline for goals that they wan to achieve.
My Professional Development Plan- The Content
I have been working in education for several years. While I was a long-term
substitute I had the privilege to participate in many professional development activities.
These activities helped me realize how powerful professional developments are in
helping teachers learn how to teach their students better. I was able to learn strategies on
how to teach English Learner, how to implement technology in the classroom, and how to
use certain interactive programs such as, Achieve 3000 and Keyboarding without tears.
Now that I am close to finishing my Masters in Educational Technology and
Multiple Subject Credential program, its important that I create a professional
development plan for when I begin teaching.
My first professional goal is to clear my Multiple Subject Credential. In order to
clear my credential I will need to complete the Beginning Teacher Support and
Assessment Induction program (BTSA).
My second professional goal is to continue to learn new ways to implement
technology into the classroom. I want to stay up to date with the latest technology and
find ways to give my student the opportunity to use it as they learn. After assessing my
teaching, I identified my ability to implement technology into the classroom as one of my
strengths. In order to continue to be effective in this are, I plan on attending the CUE
National Conference. This conference
My self-assessment also informed that one of my weaknesses is assessing and
teaching reading. As a teacher, my goal is to teach my students to the best of my abilities.

Since I feel that Reading is an area of weakness, I plan on completing a professional

development course on Interventions for Students with Dyslexia and Other Reading
Differences. I believe that I will be able to learn effective strategies that I can implement
into my instruction in order to help my struggling readers. I choose to do this in my
second year because I want to address areas that I feel I struggle to teach right away.
My third professional goal is to learn new strategies for teaching history, literacy,
and civics in your classroom. As a student, I was always intrigued with history. Now that
I will be a teacher, I want my students to be as intrigued as I was. I think by going to
professional development such as Colonial Williamsburg I will be more enthusiastic
about teaching history. I will also be able to show my students artifacts such as pictures
and videos to give them a better understanding. At Colonial Williamsburg Teacher
Institute, teachers are given the opportunity to learn from historians and watch character
interpreters. Teachers learn interactive teaching techniques and develop instructional
materials that will allow them to bring history to life in the classroom.
Since implementing technology is my biggest strength, I want to make sure that I
am constantly learning more way to implement it effectively. In order to continue
growing in this area, I will complete an advanced professional development course on
Essential Classroom Technology for Teachers.
My fourth professional goal is to complete the National Board Certification
(NBCT). As a teacher, I never want to get complacent. I want to continue to improve my
craft. The National Boards are a great way to do that because they require teachers to
assess their teaching skills and develop them in order to provide their students with the
best teaching practices possible. The National Board Certification is based on the Five

Core Propositions. The Five Core Propositions represent what all accomplished teachers
share in their expertise and dedication to advance student achievement.
1) Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
2) Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to
students.
3) Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
4) Teachers think systematically about their practice and learn from experience.
5) Teachers are members of learning communities.
By completing National Board Certification it will classify you as an
accomplished, effective teacher who has met the highest standards in the profession.
My fifth professional goal is to attend SDE National Conference on Reading,
Writing, Math, and More. Every year, I want to improve my teaching in all concept areas.
This conference will allow me to learn new strategies to teach reading, writing, and math
effectively. I also want to complete the Designing and Implementing Quality STEM
Instruction advanced course. I want to learn how to incorporate technology into my
science lessons.

Timeline
2016
(Years 1-2)

Professional Goal
Complete the Beginning Teacher Support
and Assessment (BTSA) induction

program.
Attend the CUE 2017 National Conference.
March 15, 2017-Marrch 18, 2017
Palm Springs, CA
2017
(Year 2)

Complete a professional development

course on Interventions for Students with
Dyslexia and Other Reading Differences.
2017
Los Angeles, CA
Attend Colonial Williamsburg Teacher
Institute.
June or July 2018
Williamsburg, VA

2018
(Year 3)

2019
(Year 4)

2020
(Year 5)

Complete Essential Classroom Technology

for Teachers course
2018
Los Angeles, CA
Complete the National Board Certification
(NBCT).
Attend the SDE National Conference on
Reading, Writing, Math, and More!
July 2020
Chicago, IL
Complete Designing and Implementing
Quality STEM Instruction advanced
course.
2020
Los Angeles, CA

References

Hidden curriculum (2014, August 26). In S. Abbott (Ed.), The glossary of education
reform. Retrieved from http://edglossary.org/hidden-curriculum