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A major initiative designed to take Wisconsin’s already excellent teaching standards to an even higher level is building momentum in Wisconsin.
One of the nation’s most highly recognized teacher quality training programs is now under way as a result of a partnership announced last fall between the nationally acclaimed ETS Pathwise program and WEAC’s Professional Development Academy (PDA). School districts are now being encouraged to sign up for these training programs. Discounts are available as a result of the PDA’s participation with Pathwise. The PDA is authorized to ultimately provide training for 13 Pathwise programs. Several trainers already have been certified, and more are currently going through the rigorous training process. At the first state training in February in Turtle Lake, teams of educators from 11 school districts explored research-based strategies for improving the practice of teaching. The training is based on Charlotte Danielson’s book “A Framework for Teaching.” It looks at the practice of teaching as the intersection of four domains: planning and preparation; the classroom environment; instruction; and professional responsibilities. It also provides benchmarks for success. “This is universally recognized nationwide as a high-quality program,” said PDA Director Debra Berndt. “The fact that ETS is WEAC Teaching & Learning Director Char Gearing said the Pathwise training is a key piece of a broader effort to address multiple school improvement factors. The separate KEYS program – currently in place in several school districts – focuses on quality school standards, while the Pathwise training focuses on quality teacher standards, she said. “These and other training programs, when added together, provide comprehensive research-based strategies and tools for turning schools into highly effective learning communities that meet the needs of all children and have the potential to raise achievement across the board,” she said. Menomonie School District Superintendent Jesse Harness, who participated in the February Framework for Teaching training, along with a team of educators from his district, said he believes the training, combined with other components, “can have a huge impact on teaching and learning in our school district.” “We wanted to explore the components of the Charlotte Danielson model as a means to initiate a discussion on good instruction, to standardize our view of what excellent teaching looks like and to be able to communicate in common terms about it, and to begin to utilize a systems approach to evaluation of teaching, leadership, etc.,” Harness said. As a follow-up to the initial training, he said, “Our group will reconvene to discuss what do we like about our current system, what do we not like about our current system, what should change and how we can improve upon it. The PDA also is prepared to deliver a second Pathwise training titled “Framework Observation Program” for anyone responsible for conducting classroom observations. The first of these trainings is scheduled in Whitewater in April. Berndt said that because the PDA is developing its own Wisconsin cadre of trainers, it can offer Pathwise training at a discount of $1,000 off the normal $3,500 cost of a workshop. Materials are extra. The cost is split among participants. School districts, CESAs, teachers, curriculum coordinators, or others interested in participating in a Pathwise training should contact PDA Director Debra Berndt at berndtd@weac.org or at 800-362-8034, extension 294. WEAC Professional Development Academy Posted March 24, 2006 |
