Together we teach. Forever we learn.

Sandra Squires Staff Development Specialist Education Center Voice: (315) 593-5545 ssquires@fulton.cnyric.org

The Fulton School District's vision of professional development seeks to create a culture that provides effective professional development that will promote best practices, stimulate new approaches to instruction, and expand personal and professional knowledge. We pursue these and the district's goals with the central focus of improving student learning.

Effective professional development practice should:
· Enrich teaching and improve learning for all students. It is an essential link to higher student achievement.
· Support educator development, both as individuals and as educators.
· Be conducted in school settings and linked to other school-wide improvement efforts.
· Reflect best available research and practice in teaching, learning, and leadership.
· Actively involve educators, and other adult learners, in planning, goal setting and activity selection.
· Provide sufficient ongoing support and resources in order to develop expertise in subject content, teaching strategies, uses of technologies, and other essential elements in teaching to high standards.
· Allow for learning experiences that are concrete and include ongoing feedback, supervised trials, and assistance on request.
· Be driven by a coherent long-term plan.
· Be evaluated ultimately on the basis of its impact on educator effectiveness and student learning; and this assessment guides subsequent professional development efforts.

For additional information regarding professional development activities available through the district, please visit my Blackboard site by clicking on the picture. Click the small "Course Catalog," search for "Squires" and then click on "FSD Professional Development."

The Fulton City School District uses the web service My Learning Plan to post, manage and track professional development activities for the professional staff. Click on the text link above to get to the MLP site. For district personnel, log in and to use the service. For visitors, there is a great deal of information available describing the service.

For staff members needing a review of how to use My Learning Plan, click "HERE".

For more information on study groups, please click on one of the following files: Study Group Proposal Template , Study Group Log , or Setting up Study Groups.

If you are interested in posting study group information or requests for participants, contact Sandi Squires.