For Staff

Professional Development (24 hour requirement)...

...Outside the Duty Day Guidance

by Randy Rivers

September 16, 2005

TO: Certified Staff

FROM: Randy Rivers

DATE: August 26, 200

SUBJECT: New contractual requirement

The new negotiated contract with certified staff includes an annual requirement in order to be eligible for a step increment on the new salary schedule. What follows is a discussion of the district office's interpretation of this new article.

"Completion of twenty-four (24) hours of professional development activities outside the duty day in the previous school year. A portfolio of professional development activity must be maintained to document this time. Activities designed to improve instructional effectiveness, to provide deeper content knowledge, and or to maintain currency on educational issues, particularly as those issues relate to strategies that will improve student achievement, would be appropriate activities.

The third sentence provides the essence of what is considered "professional development activities" in the first sentence. Sometimes it is also helpful to illustrate what is not considered "professional development activity." Examples would include grading papers, writing lesson plans, attending parent teacher conferences, etc. The spirit of the types of activities intended would be new or deeper understanding of the teaching craft or of the subject matter area.

We should also define "outside the duty day" in the first sentence. The duty day is defined as a regularly scheduled duty day from 7:45 AM to 3:45 PM. Professional development activity, not including college credit coursework, engaged in outside of the 185 contract days or outside of the duty hours on scheduled days are counted. Examples include attending a summer workshop at Greenbush, participating in a book study with colleagues, or doing professional reading, writing or research outside the duty day that leads to new or deeper understandings of pedagogy or content.

The portfolio requirement is somewhat flexible. You must maintain a document, paper or electronic, that provides 1) the date you engaged in the activity; 2) the beginning and ending time; and 3) a paragraph of reflection about the activity and its impact on your pedagogy or content knowledge. Finally, enclosed with this memo is a simple log on which you can list your activities and tally your hours. You will need to maintain your portfolio as an ongoing project and are encouraged to work and complete the documentation throughout the year on these activities. Your portfolio may be reviewed by the administration at any time. Please feel free to review your documentation and claimed activities with the administration at any time for clarification and interpretation. If the administration rejects any activities, the teacher will be provided a reasonable opportunity to amend the portfolio and correct any shortage of time.

When writing contracts each year, we will assume your completion of this requirement

A copy of the activity log will be due to the district office each year when you return your employment contract.

Download this Log (Excel) to Document Your Time