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    FEATURE ARTICLE

    When Status Quo Is A No-Go

    Maryland high school redefines its professional learning

    By Learning Forward
    Categories: Learning communities
    June 2015
    There are three types of teachers: ineffective teachers, good teachers, and great teachers, say Todd Whitaker and Annette Breaux (2013). The same is true of professional learning. Four years ago, professional learning at Liberty High School in Eldersburg, Maryland, was ineffective. A majority of professional learning occurred at faculty meetings, and these were characterized by rapid-fire, sit-and-get presentations on a wide array of topics. While there is a place for sit-and-get professional learning, that place is when the information applies to each member of the audience and has a direct application in his or her position. Liberty’s presentations were often policy changes, requests to share a program, or directed mandates. Professional learning was often directed at the entire faculty for the sake of everyone hearing

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    Authors

    Jared C. Wastler and Shannon Zepp

    Jared C. Wastler (jcwastl@carrollk12.org) and Shannon Zepp (slzepp@carrollk12.org) are assistant principals at Liberty High School in Eldersburg, Maryland.

    For more information, visit Liberty High School’s professional learning portal at https://libertyhspd.weebly.com.

    References

    Learning Forward. (2011). Quick reference guide: Standards for Professional Learning. JSD, 32(4), 41-44.

    Whitaker, T. & Breaux, A. (2013). The ten-minute inservice. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.


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    Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.


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