Professional Development Day promotes growth and success
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 18, 2013 (SKNIS): The Seventh Day Adventist Primary School recently held a staff professional development day under the theme “Inspired to Serve”.
The school holds regular staff development sessions that help to identify their strengths and weaknesses. The sessions engage staff in ways that will lead to professional growth of teachers and enhance student performance.
Dr. Eulalie Daley-Semper, Education Director for the South Leeward Mission of SDA also believes that “high quality professional development is ongoing and therefore staff should consistently engage in activities [such as these] to build morale and improve learning.”
She added that regular professional development sessions contribute to the successes of a school that is measured by student performance.
“Team based professional learning that is blended with the core processes of teaching is crucial for school success,” she explained. “For the most part improving schools is ultimately about improving student performance. Professional development is not effective unless it causes teachers to improve their instructions or causes administrators to become better school leaders.”
Marva Bradshaw, Education Officer of the Ministry of Education stated that the Ministry similarly advocates professional development and commended the school for taking the initiative to hold the sessions. She added that the focus topics which included building leadership capacity, classroom management and student achievement and differentiated instruction and classroom learning, showed that their attention was focused not only on the growth of the teachers but also the success of the children.
“The [focus topics] indicate that thought has been placed on the effective use of practical aspects of teaching and learning,” she expressed.”They indicate that you have given thought to what is needed for the development of our nation’s children.”
The Seventh Day Adventist Primary School strives to fulfill its motto “Nothing but the Best” as it seeks to foster growth and motivate children and teachers.