Manalapan-Englishtown teachers
continue professional development
ENGLISHTOWN — With its aim to improve the quality of education offered to students, the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education has been provided with the latest report indicating plans for professional development for the 2002-03 school year.
Prepared by a committee of teachers that included Barbara Nick, chairwoman, Karen Becker, Joan Brady and Nimfa Szarka, and administrators Dr. Robert Weiner, assistant superintendent, and Robert Williams, principal, "The Professional Development Committee is required by the state (to develop a plan) for the 100 hours of credits," said Weiner. "This (presentation) will be about our application to the state (for the next school year)."
In her presentation to the board, Nick said timelines have already been established.
"When we first came to you, that was the first year of the program," Nick said. "That was a developmental year."
Nick said the committee has a series of meetings which begin in September and during which plans are addressed. The committee members discuss the needs teachers have relating to the 100 hours of professional development. Parents and local business representatives also meet with committee members and then a proposal is prepared.
"The activities and the professional development have to meet with the professional standards board and have to be related to the state’s Core Curriculum Content Standards," Nick explained. "The plan went to the county on Nov. 30 and came back to us with an approval."
The plan lists the district’s professional development needs based on the Core Curriculum Content Standards for each grade, and lists a series of goals to be accomplished.
Those goals include: enhancing teachers’ abilities to meet students’ needs; increasing students’ abilities to interact appropriately with others; kindergarten instructional strategies; developing a safe school program; increasing teacher and student proficiency in technology; enhancing assessment techniques; promoting communication; and the application of the Core Curriculum Content Standards.
Also included is a list of specific activities for implementing the professional development needs, which includes: workshops, professional days, committees, mentoring activities, writing projects, after-school meetings; and specific areas: first aid, substance abuse training, individual educational plan development and others.
Reflecting on the current year, 2001-02, the report noted that Manalapan-Englishtown teachers were involved in workshops in writing and technology; a regional consortium; grants providing for Internet use in science and mathematics; summer professional development in technology; training session regarding staff needs, school needs and student performance; and a variety of other professional development activities that meet the state’s Core Curriculum Standards.