Teacher Development Program

Improving Schools provides teacher development and coaching in the following areas:

  • early childhood literacy
  • upper elementary literacy
  • upper elementary literacy
  • classroom culture (creating a positive learning environment)
  • restorative practices
  • culturally relevant pedagogy
  • all subject high-yield instructional strategies (Hattie)

Our development and coaching includes both professional developpement delivered before/after/during school (per school-based decision) and in-classroom coaching (including modelling and co-teaching).

We also provide a Teacher Leadership Development program as described below.

Improving Schools Teacher Development program focuses on developing a core cohort of teachers across grade-levels to become change-makers in the school. Where Lead and/or Master Teacher positions exist, Improving Schools will work with that already-identified cohort to hone their teaching skills, develop high-leverage data-analysis practices, and create high functioning Teacher Team/PLCs. Where these positions are not in existence, our program will either serve to help to create those roles, and/or identify a cohort of high-potential teachers to develop.

Improving Schools Teacher Development Programs will help schools develop and retain great educators, through the development of high-potential teachers, and, as needed, the creation of formal teacher leadership roles and clearly defined career pathways. In addition to developing selected teachers as classroom instructors and coaches, we support developing teachers to play a crucial role on the ILT in order to effectively drive towards school goals at each tier in the school community and to expose them to the next level of school leadership. Our program will:

      • Build a robust pipeline of future leaders
      • Keep strong teachers in the classroom while developing their coaching ability
      • Systematize collaboration and communication between administrators and teachers
      • Increase the frequency and quality of coaching available to all teachers
      • Facilitate the implementation of school structures and practices that raise expectations for students
      • Bring alignment to departments and grade levels

Program Outline

Improving Schools will provide regular coursework and on-site coaching on a monthly basis to Lead Teachers and Master Teachers focused on curricular and instructional best practices, the observation-feedback cycle, design and delivery of PD, and leadership of grade and department teams.

Through a combination of evening training and on-­‐site coaching, participants are taught best practice concepts and skills, which they can apply immediately as they lead teachers and teams, run model classrooms, collaborate with administration, and serve on the instructional leadership team. The Improving School’s coach provides regular real-­‐time feedback on teachers’ work, both in the classroom and out. Because lead and master teachers hold hybrid roles, our curriculum and coaching emphasize building both instructional and leadership skills.