Teacher Training

During our class a few weeks ago, we briefly discussed how often administrators will—sometimes without warning—require teaching staff to implement new programs. Coming from another field that highly valued professional development and paid for staff to attend trainings and workshops, I think training is very important to prepare teachers in making content meaningful for students. Especially because some programs can be complex and different from previous approaches, trainings and workshops are sometimes necessary. Yet the reality is districts and schools are often hesitant to let teachers take professional leave to further develop their skills.

Fortunately, both my district and my school encourage staff to develop skills. I hear from other teachers working in MCPS that a school’s willingness to let teachers take leave can vary widely. I realize a variety of factors can affect a school’s attitude towards development, including administrator and community perspectives. But I personally find it highly ironic that schools are so reluctant to provide teachers the opportunity to further their professional knowledge. As was mentioned in class, this is part of a larger conversation regarding public perception of teachers are professionals. This discussion inevitably leads to discussions of teacher evaluations, as this article by Bill and Melinda Gates illustrates. Nonetheless, I believe this conservation must continue because teachers need the opportunity to learn, especially in the face of increasingly high standards.