Orange Windsor Supervisory Union

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Orange Windsor Supervisory Union participates in a number of professional development initiatives. Here is a sampling of those in progress this year.

Early Education
OWSU is sponsoring “Three Views from the Same Place” a 4-day training opportunity for parents, care providers, teachers and others interested in early education. It consists of 3 Saturdays in SY2008 and one in August 2008. It features 3 Place-Based Learning Views (Montessori, Reggio Emilio and Waldorf) and by the 4 seasons with information about philosophies, circle time, dinner routines, outside playtimes, etc. In previous years, OWSU has funded Brain Gym and other trainings.

Mentoring
Employ teacher leader to develop district-wide mentoring program with and for teachers new to the district.

Reading Recovery
The Reading Recovery program requires ongoing professional development called “continuing contact” for qualified Reading Recovery teachers. Program includes meetings and training through the year. All our Title 1 schools participate in this program.

Job Alike Professional Development
Professional development is more efficiently delivered to groups with common interests and goals. These funds are reserved for groups of teachers by grade level or subject area to meet and discuss mutual problems and goals and to set an agenda for common professional development courses.

Paraprofessionals
The process of helping our 40+ paraprofessionals is ongoing and we want to provide opportunity to help them achieve the NCLB goals as well as further their personal growth goals. This also funds testing paraprofessionals so that they can prove that they meet the NCLB “highly qualified” criteria.

Literacy
OWSU employs literacy consultant to provide seminars on effective practices for teaching writing and to model and coach these techniques within our classrooms. This approach provides for theory, classroom practice, and analysis of outcomes within a single approach to professional development.

Professional Development for Administrators and Principals
The administrative teams (principals, teachers and central office administrators) are working together to improve student learning and developing assessments to measure student learning. Activities include semi-monthly meetings and attendance at conferences and independent study.

Response to Intervention Training (RTI)
Support work with Response To Intervention approach to early intervention with children exhibiting difficulty learning to read.

Green Mountain Forest Collaborative
OWSU is working with four other supervisory unions to sponsor “job alike” meetings and other joint events to give teachers and administrators the opportunity to share instructional and other professional expertise.

	PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The Orange Windsor Supervisory Union participates in a number of professional development initiatives. Here is a sampling of those in progress this year. Early Education OWSU is sponsoring “Three Views from the Same Place” a 4-day training opportunity for parents, care providers, teachers and others interested in early education. It consists of 3 Saturdays in SY2008 and one in August 2008. It features 3 Place-Based Learning Views (Montessori, Reggio Emilio and Waldorf) and by the 4 seasons with information about philosophies, circle time, dinner routines, outside playtimes, etc. In previous years, OWSU has funded Brain Gym and other trainings. Mentoring Employ teacher leader to develop district-wide mentoring program with and for teachers new to the district. Reading Recovery The Reading Recovery program requires ongoing professional development called “continuing contact” for qualified Reading Recovery teachers. Program includes meetings and training through the year. All our Title 1 schools participate in this program. Job Alike Professional Development Professional development is more efficiently delivered to groups with common interests and goals. These funds are reserved for groups of teachers by grade level or subject area to meet and discuss mutual problems and goals and to set an agenda for common professional development courses. Paraprofessionals The process of helping our 40+ paraprofessionals is ongoing and we want to provide opportunity to help them achieve the NCLB goals as well as further their personal growth goals. This also funds testing paraprofessionals so that they can prove that they meet the NCLB “highly qualified” criteria. Literacy OWSU employs literacy consultant to provide seminars on effective practices for teaching writing and to model and coach these techniques within our classrooms. This approach provides for theory, classroom practice, and analysis of outcomes within a single approach to professional development. Professional Development for Administrators and Principals The administrative teams (principals, teachers and central office administrators) are working together to improve student learning and developing assessments to measure student learning. Activities include semi-monthly meetings and attendance at conferences and independent study. Response to Intervention Training (RTI) Support work with Response To Intervention approach to early intervention with children exhibiting difficulty learning to read. Green Mountain Forest Collaborative OWSU is working with four other supervisory unions to sponsor “job alike” meetings and other joint events to give teachers and administrators the opportunity to share instructional and other professional expertise.