On Professional Development

Several issues ago VP Michelle Bodden invited readers to share good things that were happening during their 100-minute professional development sessions. In our December issue she noted that we had yet to receive even one example of the time being put to good use. Before concluding that the 100-minute sessions were not being put to good use, Bodden decided to reach out once more for reader feedback and she’s glad that she did. She did finally receive a few examples of what readers felt met the standard for good PD.
Bodden said the response reprinted below is one of her favorites. At the same time, given the newsletter’s readership — approximately 40,000 members working in close to 700 elementary schools —this hardly constitutes a vote of support for this year’s PD.

Michelle, I was so disheartened to read in the latest issue of Elementary Matters that not one UFT member contacted you in regard to this year’s PD being meaningful. In my school I feel that, most of the time, we are discussing issues that are current to our teaching. We are serviced by Teachers College, and lots of our time has been spent going over curriculum and helping us with any questions that we may have.

In our school we have also been hit with some hardships. Two of our students passed away this year, both tragically — one, a student who graduated last year and one [who was] in 2nd grade. We were given time to focus on how best to handle this in the classroom and in our own lives.

Both our principal and assistant principal have been helping us with curriculum issues and questions that arise during the PD time. Our coaches are always giving workshops during this time to help us with the most current strategies that are there for us to use. I have to say that my PD time has been worthwhile.

Thanks to Rina Walter of PS 165 Queens in District 25/Region 3 for taking the time to write about her school’s use of PD time.