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Professional Development

BELONG to and actively participate in the Achieve community and serve to better our neighborhood, city and society

Staff Development

Learning with a Purpose in Mind

Professional development is important to the success of our teachers and students. Our goal is to create a comprehensive PD plan that is based on best practices including making the activities active and hands-on, achieved through in-depth collaboration and tailored to the needs of our students and our staff.

Our plan for the 2023-2024 school year is built around five main components:

  1. Literacy: We have adopted the Fontess and Pinnell Literacy Framework for grades K-4. (We will add 5-8 during the 2019-2020 School Year.) Initial training was provided during Fall Workshop and consultant, Patti Green is contracted to provide ongoing training during the year.

  2. Culture: Our mission states that we will educate the whole child that values diversity and promotes work cultures, focusing on Hmong and Spanish. Our professional development this year includes providing opportunities for our teachers to visit and study cultural organizations and agencies in St. Paul to bring greater awareness to staff. Additionally, cultural resources are provided to staff throughout the year through an effort by our paraprofessional group to organize and disseminate a variety of materials.

  3. Data and Assessment: Achieve recognizes the value of using assessment to look at the whole child in a variety of areas. Most common is, of course, the Statewide MCAs and the Measures of Academic Progress. We also take PD time to view other data sources such as attendance, socioeconomic status, behavior and classroom academic performance. We fulfill this area of PD in our regular Staff Development Days and, most important, through our PLCs (Professional Learning Communities) that meet regularly.

  4. Restorative Practices: As a part of our overall plan for a positive school climate, building confidence and well-being in our children and staff and to create a safe and positive learning environment, we are providing ongoing training in the area of Restorative Practices. The purpose of Restorative Practices is to build healthy communities, increase social capital, decrease behavioral issues, repair harm and restore relationships.

  5. Technology: As we increase access to technology in our classrooms, we are also implementing the training necessary to use the technology effectively.

Upcoming Events

April 1

Academic Committee

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

April 2

Governance Committee

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

April 2

Finance Committee

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM

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