Overview of Professional Development and a Proposed Change for Summer Institute

Hopefully, by now, most of you have taken a look at the EdVantage delivered to all schools at the beginning of this academic year. I call your attention to this brochure and to the criteria is listed on the inside of the front cover. As we pull together all the different resources available throughout the year, our hope is to provide relevant opportunities that are “mission centered, comprehensive, structured and life-long.” I will continue to update the opportunities for teachers, principals and other school leaders.
Teacher Excellence Day – Completed October 3, 2014 Typically, our first professional development opportunity emphasizing and celebrating our shared Catholic identity. We begin our Teacher Excellence Day with Mass, followed by an inspirational keynote. We provide time for break-out sessions and a guided articulation time for all grade-levels. For the break-out sessions, select teachers lead two 50 minute classes on a given topic.
March Regional Curriculum Day – March 23, 2015 Ideally, this professional development opportunity is collaboratively organized by need or common goals at the regional level. Schools coordinate with one another to offer many opportunities at one site or at multiple sites. Currently, the Office for Catholic Schools offers a per school stipend of $300 to help defray the cost.
Educational Leadership Summer Institute – Summer 2015 Sponsored as a joint project with Seattle University, for the past 6 years this three-day institute has been offered on the SU campus mid-June for all schools in the Archdiocese and surrounding dioceses. Participants may take this course for college credit or clock hours. The theme is chosen from the current issues facing schools as identified in the accreditation reports and school-wide action plans. This year, our committee hopes to increase attendance from inside the Archdiocese. We acknowledge competing factors:

• June dates – Some schools are still in sessions
• SU Location – even though central, limits some schools from participating
• Free State Conference – offered at the same time in June
• PGA tournament – event occurs during the same June week, and we already know that this will dominate the hotel availability for out-of-town participants

Proposed 2015 Summer Leadership Institute
Date and Location: This year, we propose the following dates and locations:

• August 18 and 19 – Holy Rosary, Edmonds
• August 19 and 20 – St. Michael, Olympia

Theme: Serving Diverse Learners – For the Good of All Learners
Outcomes:

• Articulate how living our Catholic faith invites all to the table deepening our understanding that inclusion is a cornerstone in our Catholic tradition and beliefs
• Acknowledge challenges, and seek best practices in serving diverse learners
• Access preliminary tools and strategies specific to elementary and high school settings

Speakers:

• Dr. Jim Frabutt, Professor, University of Notre Dame (present on 8.18 at Holy Rosary and 8.19 at St. Michael) Dr. Frabutt will share with us how “Catholic schools have the enviable mission of identifying, supporting, nurturing, and fully revealing the human potential of all students.” He will work to deepen our understanding of foundational Catholic documents that ground us helping all children have a place at the table of Catholic education.
• Hanna Bogen, Speech and Language Pathologist, Oakland CA (present on 8.19 at Holy Rosary and 8.20 at St. Michael) How do we do this? How do we, as educators, work to meet the needs of all children? Hanna offers us hands-on approaches/strategies to engage all learners.

We will continue to offer this through our partnership with Seattle University so your Title II funds can cover part or all of the cost. This year, as a two day event, we anticipate offering the institute at a reduced cost. To better plan for this event and for the proposed changes, we need your input. Follow this link to take the survey now.