The Professional Growth Process provides teachers with comprehensive information which may be included in the annual Professional Development Plan (PDP) required by Florida State statute to enhance student achievement.

The Professional Growth Process is facilitated by a Professional Growth Team (PGT) established in accordance with the following selection process:

• Annual Contract (AC 1, 2, 3) teachers each year;

• Annual Contract (AC4 and above) on a case by case basis; and

• Professional Service Contracts (PSC) and Continuing Contract (CC) teachers not meeting standards.

Composition of the Professional Growth Team is as follows:

• One Colleague Teacher selected by the teacher;

• A second Colleague Teacher selected by the principal; and

• An optional third Colleague Teacher by mutual agreement of the teacher and principal.

Members of the PGT should be classroom teachers but may include instructional support personnel school support/resource personnel (i.e., counselor, media specialist).

PACES Procedures for Professional Growth Process for School Support/Resource Personnel (SSRP)

The Professional Growth Process provides school support/resource personnel with comprehensive information which may be referenced in the plan for school improvement/excellence or district goals.

The Professional Growth Process is facilitated by a Professional Growth Team (PGT) established in accordance with the following selection process:

•                     Annual Contract (AC 1, 2, 3) employees each year;

•                     Annual Contract (AC4 and above) on a case by case basis; and

•                     Professional Service Contracts (PSC) and Continuing Contract (CC) employees not meeting standards.

Composition of the Professional Growth Team is as follows:

¨                    One Colleague selected by the employee;

¨                    A second Colleague selected by the principal or supervising administrator; and

¨                    An optional third Colleague by mutual agreement of the employee and principal or supervising administrator.

The PACES Professional Growth Process is implemented as follows:

1a.       Instructional Personnel 

Once during the fall and once during the spring semesters, the AC teacher prepares a Plan for Teaching and Learning (PLAN) using Domain I Indicators in the PACES Teaching and Learning Professional Growth Manual.  The PLAN 

• is an original, written document with attachments as needed;
• must address the Required Indicators of teaching and learning in Domain I;
• encompasses a period of approximately 7-10 days of teaching and learning for a specific subject selected by the teacher to be delivered to the same learners;
• must be consistent with the M-DCPS Competency Based Curriculum/Sunshine State Standards;
• may be derived from existing subject area/department or grade level plans where these exist; and
• may be prepared through consultation with one or more colleagues.

 1b.       School Support/Resource Personnel

Once during the fall and once during the spring semesters, the AC employee initiates Preparation and Planning (PLAN) using Domain I Indicators in the PACES Professional Growth and Evaluation Manual for School Support/Resource Personnel (SSRP).  The PLAN  

• is an original, written document with attachments as needed;
• must address the Required Indicators in Domain I;
• encompasses a period of approximately 7-10 days for a specific activity selected by the employee;
• must be consistent with professional work activities relative to the particular M-DCPS job description;

• must be consistent with professional work activities relative to the particular M-DCPS job description;

• may be prepared through consultation with one or more colleagues.

 2.                  The PLAN is submitted to members of the PGT for review. 

3.                  Each member of the PGT reviews the PLAN using Indicators in PACES Domain I.

4.                  After the written PLAN is reviewed, the team meets to discuss the written document and to prepare for a pre-observation meeting with the AC teacher employee. 

5.                  The PGT members and the AC teacher meet to discuss the PLAN and to prepare for subsequent classroom observations of   teaching and learning.

 6.         On separate occasions, during the 7-10 days specified in the PLAN, each member of the PGT completes an independent observation of teaching and learning.  Each classroom observation        

·                    is arranged with the AC teacher employee;

·                    is preceded by a review with the AC teacher employee of the  teaching and learning activities to be observed;

 ·                    must begin at the initiation of the lesson; and must be for the full period of the lesson for instructional personnel;

 ·                    must be for the full period of a lesson.

 ·                    must begin at the initiation of an activity and must be for the duration of the activity observed for school support/resource personnel.

 7.                  Each member of the PGT reflects upon the teaching and learning observed for teachers or the activity observed for school support/resource personnel using the Indicators in PACES Domains II-VI and completes the PACES Professional Growth Discussion Guide.  See Section II-Forms for instructional personnel and for school support/resource personnel.

8.                  The PGT members meet to discuss their observations relative to the PACES Indicators to establish priorities to be discussed with the teacher employee.  The focus of the Professional Growth Process is on practices designed to promote student learning and/or academic performance of schools.

9.                  The teacher employee and members of the PGT participate in a professional growth meeting in a timely manner to discuss observations.

10.             The teacher’s employee’s participation in the PACES Professional Growth meeting should be included for reference in the annual PDP plan for school improvement/excellence or district goals.

11.             The teacher’s employee’s professional growth plan should incorporate the observations and reflections of the PGT discussion.

12.             All participants in the Professional Growth Process are eligible for Master Plan Points towards certificate renewal.

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