Instructional Support and Development is committed to the belief that teachers and instructional personnel with access to new knowledge, enriched professional roles and ongoing collegial work are more effective as they seek to positively impact student achievement.

Our goal is to provide meaningful professional learning which:

• improves student achievement;
• supports national, state, and district goals;
• is job-embedded and related; and
• is designed to increase or change the knowledge, skills and attitude of participants.

With the above commitment in mind, our first Professional Learning Teaching Leader (PLTL) cohort emerged in an effort to build and sustain Shelby County Schools as a place where students learn and perform at high levels. The PLTLs serve as individual school’s professional learning and development point person (and county liaison) throughout the year. These teaching leaders work closely with Laura Link to organize and create professional learning opportunities at both the local school and county levels together, and each is afforded learning experiences that will best equip to lead such efforts. Moreover, with Professional Learning Teaching Leaders at each school, Shelby County Schools can foster unified learning, common language, and an overarching professional learning community among us.

PLTL’s aim to:

• Meet with Laura Link and PLTL counterparts on a monthly basis to learn and develop
• Lead/Organize professional development at his/her school (in collaboration with administration)
• Manage professional development credit for all school peers
• Serve as an ongoing professional learning liaison on behalf of your school
• Embrace leadership and learning beyond the classroom
• Build skill and confidence in others
• Lead and nurture colleagues
• Be skillful in building trust and establishing rapport with other teachers and administrators

Be on the lookout for a 2nd PLTL Cohort beginning with the 2009-2010 school year. If you would like to be considered for this role, please speak with your local school administration and confer with your school’s current PLTL about particulars.

2008-2009 Professional Learning Teaching Leaders:

Teacher Resource Sites

A to Z Teacher Stuff is a teacher-created site designed to help teachers find online resources more quickly and easily. Find lesson plans, thematic units, teacher tips, discussion forums for teachers, downloadable teaching materials & eBooks, printable worksheets and blacklines, emergent reader books, themes, and more.

http://www.atozteacherstuff.com

The Teacher’s Corner is an all-inclusive site designed as a one-stop shop for all our teacher resource needs. Teacher’s Corner includes lesson plan ideas, thematic units, seasonal items, bulletin board ideas, printables, “Teacher’s Lounge” area, and more.

http://www.theteacherscorner.net

PBS.ORG site features original PBS standards-based teacher resources such as PBS in Education, PBS Teacher Line, PBS Kids, PBS Parents, and much more.

http://www.pbs.org/teachers/

Education World site features in-depth resources from their Lesson Plan, Professional Development, Administrator’s Desk, Technology Integration, and School Issues listings. A “lesson plan of the day” is also featured.

http://www.education-world.com

Teacher’s Teach-nology site offers teacher worksheets, downloads, games, rubrics, and an array of teacher tools, which are easy to access. This site is constantly being updated with 250 teacher resources added every week.

http://teachers.teach-nology.com

The Busy Teacher’s Café K-6 site is very easy to use and creative! It offers a host of teacher resources from literacy to classroom management as well as recommended books, free printables, featured top educational site, idea corner, BTC Shop, and BTC Blog.

http://www.busyteacherscafe.com

Yes I Teach site offers general, primary, upper grades, classroom management, and inspirational tips for all teachers.

http://www.yesiteach.org/tips.htm

I Love That Teaching Idea K-6 site is a one stop warehouse for teaching ideas.

http://www.ilovethatteachingidea.com/ideas/subj_teacher_tips.htm

National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

The application process for NBPTS is considered one of the most rewarding forms of professional development experienced by teachers. It is also reported to be one of the most complex and challenging endeavors that a teacher can undertake. Nationally, approximately 64,000 teachers have achieved National Board Certification.

Explore the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) website to gain full understanding of certificate areas, standards and certification requirements. http://www.nbpts.org

The 2008 NBPTS Candidate’s Guide, published by NBPTS, offers insights to candidacy and useful tools for successful completion of the application process. Download the Guide for full information. http://www.nbpts.org/for_candidates

The Tennessee Department of Education will utilize NBPTS Candidate Subsidy funds to support candidates at 50 percent of the certification fee as long as subsidy funds are available. Visit the Tennessee Department of Education’s website for additional information. Requests for 2008-2009 subsidies may be made by from March 21, 2008 – December 31, 2008. http://www.nbpts.org/resources/state_local_information/Tennessee

A Candidate's Guide to National Board Certification 2008-09
Download the 2008-2009 edition of NEA-AFT guide for teachers to National Board Certification. The guide offers tips and hints for NBC candidates. http://www.aft.org/pubs-reports/downloads/teachers/nbpts.pdf

Visit NBPTS Resources, developed by the Florida Department of Education for information on Entry 4 and other helpful ideas. http://teacherweb.com/FL/StonemanDouglasHS/FloridaNBPTS-WLOE/wqr1.stm.

SCS’s National Board Certified teachers: The following are our distinguished personnel that have earned National Board certification:

Cathy Dohmen
Suzanne Henderson
Janey Jackson
Laura Link
Jennifer Prather
Marsha White

These teachers have been immersed in the The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) that aim to improve teaching and student learning. National Board Certified Teachers are highly accomplished educators who meet high and rigorous standards. Like board-certified doctors and accountants, teachers who achieve National Board Certification have met rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment and peer review. NBPTS offers 25 certificates that cover a variety of subject areas and student developmental levels. In a congressionally-mandated study, National Board Certification was recently recognized by the National Research Council as having a positive impact on student achievement, teacher retention, and professional development. Since 1987 nearly 74,000 teachers have achieved National Board Certification. These teachers prepare America’s diverse student population with the skills it needs to compete in the 21st century workplace.

Candidate Support Providers: Shelby County Schools has 17 National Board Candidate Support Providers, or CSPs. Our CSPs earned this accomplishment in December, 2008, and are prepared to support local and nationwide National Board candidates. Moreover, our CSPs are familiar with the Accomplished Teacher standards outlined by the National Board that enriches their own teaching and mentoring for the good of our local schools and greater school community.

If you are a National Board Candidate and would like a CSP to assist you, please contact Laura Link, Professional Learning & Development Specialist at llink@scsk12.org

Candidate Support Providers: