Teacher Professional Development
Attending professional development training is a requirement for teachers to renew their teaching certificates every five years.
Even though it is still summer break, teachers are already either attending professional development over the summer. Or they are already planning for their professional development in the upcoming year during pre-planning or during the designated district PD Days.
I have noticed a trend in social media posts that are lashing out about trainers or mentors for professional development who have not been in the classroom in recent years.
I can read the frustration and resentment between the lines of these posts and totally understand and respect them.
In fact, much of the overwhelming negativity that comes from teachers I can understand and respect. I get human nature and the life of teaching, no matter what decade we are talking about.
HOWEVER, as some teachers become more and more aggressive about voicing these frustrations, I am compelled to offer a different perspective.
For some teachers, their Ego tells them: “I already know everything I need to know and no one else is going to tell me how to teach.”
For some teachers, their anxiety tells them: “I have so much to do and am barely keeping up with what I already know how to do. I can’t take on another new trick or another new thing on my plate.”
For some teachers, their resentment tells them: “Not many professions require employees to spend their time seeking professional development in order to keep their license and/or credentials, so why should I?’
For some teachers, their anger tells them: “You don’t know me or the kids I teach, so you can’t offer anything that is going to help. You are just wasting my time.”
I could go on, but you get the picture.
So, what could possibly be a perspective that would help allay the negativity that is associated with attending a professional development day/session, especially one led by a teacher who has not been in the classroom in the last several years?
First of all, teachers tend to think of themselves as the “experts” on given topics, strategies, methods, etc. as a result of their study, education and confirmation via a (usually higher) degree.
This means that they have “expertise”, right?
The etymology of the word expertise is from Latin experitus meaning “tried, proved and known by experience”.
There is an old saying that “experience is the best teacher”, so if a teacher has years and years of experience that they are bringing to a day of professional development, then that is valuable, right?
Sometimes teachers are looking for the “perfect” lesson plan that will be the “little purple pill” that will cure all that is (F)ailing in the classroom.
Or they may be looking for the latest video, technology or “hat trick” to enhance their teaching and hook the kids more into the content.
Teachers who have not been in the classroom for a few years may not know nor have used some of these latest tips or tricks.
I will also acknowledge here that I have attended professional development sessions as a teacher in which I walked away not really knowing more or feeling like I had gained a whole lot of new, useful knowledge.
HOWEVER, I can say that I have ALWAYS learned from the relationships I have developed from interacting with others at the PD (professional development) day, including the presenter!
Sharing and caring have always been the most valuable experiences
that I have gleaned from PD days.
Being able to reach out to someone who understands what I am going through and who can listen with empathy, validation and support = priceless.
Listening to the stories of others, albeit colleagues and/or the presenter/trainer, and know that I am not alone or the only one on the “Struggle Bus” = priceless.
Sharing successes, lessons and ideas with others and receiving the same to add to my “Teacher Treasure Box” for future inspiration and a boost of encouragement = priceless.
Then, there are the all the lessons I taught, students/parents/admin with whom I have interacted and the lessons I have learned from all of those experiences that have guided me to become a better teacher and human being.
Whether we agree with mandatory professional development or not, there is ALWAYS something to learn from our experiences and interactions with others.
We are ALL both teachers and learners on this journey we call life, both in and out of the classroom.
I have not met a perfect human being who is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.
Last I checked, those qualities are reserved for God or gods or a Higher Power.
A context of connection and community provide us with powerful opportunities to learn and to also help encourage, inspire and support others.
So, instead of entering a professional development day/session with dread and a negative bias, try to reframe it as an opportunity to be a teacher and a learner…to be human.
The person leading the training is not an expert nor god-like.
Be humble enough to realize that neither are you, even though in front of a classroom of students, teachers may feel like they are experts and god-like.
Be human, open, vulnerable and willing to share and care.
Someday YOU will be that teacher with a lot of experience and years of teaching practice (practice being the key word and not perfection!). And if you still have a heart and love for the profession, you will want to share with others the lessons you have learned both as a teacher and as a student in life.
Be kind, respectful, receptive and all those qualities you would want in a student sitting in front of you!
Image credit:
“Teachers” by goldberg is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
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