Professional Development

About

Vision Statement for Educator Professional Learning

The Barnstable Public School Professional Development Board will serve as a resource for the system so that site-based professional development plans and system professional development plans are organized efficiently and effectively, which enhances the inclusion of staff members as part of the decision making process. It is recognized that staff professional development will be evaluated to demonstrate its success with improved instructional strategies and academic growth for our students.

Professional learning for educators can greatly impact student learning. Quality professional learning has seven key elements. Necessarily, the adult learning experiences are directly tied to school-wide reform efforts, vision for student learning, and goals. The experiences are connected to teacher needs as identified in self-assessment and are differentiated based on faculty members’ knowledge, experience, and/or discipline. These experiences impact student learning when they are directly tied to student outcomes and when participants create a product and/or there are expected outcomes.

We welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions!

Board Members

PD Guidelines

The Professional Development Board Policy of Procedures will adhere to the following guidelines:

Encourage PD proposals and projects to be initiated by BPS staff and administration.
The PDB will be available, upon request, as a resource for school councils and school administrators to help meet school improvement plan objectives.
The PDB will disseminate all professional development opportunities to staff in a timely manner.
The PDB will review and approve all professional development course/workshop/project proposals to ensure compliance with state, district, and/or individual PD objectives, and PDB guidelines.
Develop a system for approval of course reimbursement including approval, processing, and reimbursement.
Develop a mechanism for the evaluation of all PD activities.

Forms

Massachusetts Educator Licensure – Quick Reference Guide

Meeting/Conference Requisition/Expense Claim Form

BPS Meeting/Conference Requisition/Expense Claim Form:

The Meeting/Conference Requisition/Expense Claim Form is used by educators for attendance at workshops, conferences, and out-of-district meetings. Educators should complete Part A of this form PRIOR to going to the event and obtain appropriate signatures- Part B. The Principal/Director shall write in the Budget Code to be charged and forward it to the Assistant Superintendent for approval signature. It is then returned to the sending school for processing of a purchase order and a copy is given to the staff member. After the educator goes to the meeting/conference, they are to complete Part C and back it up with attached receipts, etc. The educator signs it as the “Claimant” and then sends it over to Assistant Superintendent along with the conference report form signed by the principal. It will then be processed for reimbursement.

Request For Conference/Workshop

Request For Conference/Workshop For CEU’s Approval & Reimbursement Costs

Request for Course Approval & Reimbursement of Tuition Costs

Choose one of the online options for submitting a request for course approval:

Droplet – Please use your MYBPS email address to log into Droplet. You will find the course request form in the FORMS tab.
BPS Form – You may fill out the online BPS Form to submit your request.

Course Request Workflow:

Educator submits the course request form prior to the start of the course;
Request form is sent to the building Principal for review;
Request form is sent to Central Office for review and final approval;
Submitter receives confirmation of approval and may begin the course.

Reimbursement Request Workflow:

Submitter completes the course and uploads transcript and proof of payment into their Droplet portal;
Document submission is sent to Central Office for review and approval;
Submitter receives notification that reimbursement is sent for processing.

Travel Expense Reimbursement Claim Form/Non-Overnight

Travel Expense Reimbursement Claim Form/Non-Overnight:

Travel Expense Reimbursement Claim forms will not be processed with any errors or corrections. Mileage must be documented with either Google Maps or Map Quest. The mileage rate changes each year on January 1 and expense reimbursement claim forms with an incorrect mileage rate will be returned for resubmission. A copy of the activity flyer and original receipts for parking, meals, or other expenses must be attached. Date, sign, and submit to the Assistant Superintendent.

Non Overnight Travel

Supervision and Evaluation

5 Step Evaluation Cycle
Educator Evaluation Overview - Introduction to Standard for Success

5 Step Evaluation Cycle

The 5-Step Evaluation Cycle:

Provides a structure for supporting an educator’s growth and development and, ultimately, determining a Summative Performance Rating
Provides educators with a continuous opportunity for professional learning through self-directed analysis and reflection, planning, action steps, and collaboration
Promotes regular, constructive feedback from the evaluator, coupled with opportunities to reflect on and improve practice

Educator Evaluation Overview - Introduction to Standard for Success

In-and-Out of District PD

Droplet - Online Portal

Smart EDU

Administrators

Licensed Educators

Administrative Assistants

Paraprofessionals

Forms: Approvals & Reimbursement

New Educator Orientation

The induction begins once a new educator is hired into the district.

New Employee Orientation is held for three days toward the end of August; during this time, new educators are oriented to the vision and goals of the district; meet their colleagues and mentors; have a tour of our schools, meet our administrators, receive a district issued laptop and learn about our district resources, among other very important information.

New educators are matched with mentors by their school principal and/or their department chair. Professional development points are offered for the mentoring program. The mentoring program is led by mentor facilitators.

Mentoring Steering Committee

DESE License Certification

MA DESE ELAR

Extending an Initial License

Extending an Initial License
(www.doe.mass.edu)
The Initial license is valid for five years of employment and may be extended at the discretion of the Commissioner for an additional five years. Educators who have been employed under an Initial license, are in their fifth (5) year of employment, and have not yet satisfied the requirements for advancing to the Professional license; have the option of applying for an Extension of their Initial license. ‘Under a license’ is defined here as meaning; “employment in the role and at the grade of the license from the date it was issued”. **Note: Initial Administrator licenses cannot be extended. Extension of Initial License Guide and Template

Advancing or Extending a License

(www.doe.mass.edu)

To advance a license from one type to the next type: Provisional to Initial; Initial to Professional; you will need to apply for the new type of license and send in all required documentation verifying that the requirements for the new/advanced license have been met.

To determine the requirements for a particular type of license, please use our Licensure Requirements Tool.

The quickest way to apply for the new/advanced license is through the Educator Licensure And Renewal (ELAR) system.

How to Renew a Professional License

How to Renew a Professional License
(www.doe.mass.edu)
The quickest way to renew your Professional license is through the Educator Licensure And Renewal (ELAR) system. After you log into the ELAR system, select the Apply to renew your professional level license link on your Welcome to ELAR home page. Follow all of the prompts, pay the required fees ($100 for primary license, $25 for additional licenses), and your license(s) will be renewed automatically.

Do not send in any of your supporting documentation (verifying the attainment of the required PDPs) unless you are selected for an audit. If selected for an audit, you will be required to submit documentation in support of the license(s) that you renewed.

Please note that the Office of Educator Licensure no longer sends out hard copies of newly approved or renewed licenses.

Professional development activities shall be identified by the educator and supervisor during the development of, and review of, the Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP)* in order to better support student achievement. Individual professional development plans must include at least 150 PDPs that break down as follows:

At least 15 PDPs in content (subject matter knowledge)
At least 15 PDPs in pedagogy (professional skills and knowledge)
At least 15 PDPs related to Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) or English as a Second Language (ESL)
At least 15 PDPs related to training in strategies for effective schooling for students with disabilities and the instruction of students with diverse learning styles
The remaining required 90 PDPs may be earned through either “elective” activities that address other educational issues and topics that improve student learning, or additional content, and/or pedagogy.

Calendar Years and Years of Employment

Calendar Years (Professional Licenses Only)
(www.doe.mass.edu)
A Professional license is valid for five (5) calendar years. Time elapses regardless of employment status under this license.
Calculation of “Years of Employment” (For Temporary, Provisional, and Initial Licenses):
Time elapses only while actually employed by a school or district (that requires a license in the state of MA) and is used to calculate total years of employment with respect to how long a Temporary, Provisional, or Initial license remains valid. For example, if an educator works under an Initial license (in a MA school requiring that license) for one (1) year and is then released or goes on maternity leave, that educator’s license remains valid for an additional four (4) years upon his/her return to teaching.

In-District Employed Internship

Induction and Mentoring

New Educator Orientation
Mentoring Steering Committee

New Educator Orientation

The induction begins once a new educator is hired into the district. New educators are offered their school-issued laptop and training on the software programs.

New Employee Orientation is held for two days toward the end of August; during this time, new educators are oriented to the vision and goals of the district; meet their colleagues and mentors; have a tour of our schools, meet our administrators, get issued a district laptop and learn about our district resources among other very important information to start off the school year right!

Each new educator works with a mentor over their first year in the district. The goal is to provide new educators with orientation, support, and a problem-solving partner. In general, new educators meet with their mentors weekly. The mentors are all highly qualified educators with professional status and in the same department and school building as the new educator. New educators are matched with mentors by their school principal and/or their department chair. Professional development points are offered for the mentoring program. The mentoring program is led by mentor facilitators.