The Department of Professional Learning of Springfield Public Schools recognized that a great responsibility rests on schools to provide focused, purposeful, productive professional learning. Thus Site Professional Learning Systems (SPLS) was created with the purpose of empowering our schools for collaborative work. Through SPLS, sites have support for creating a systematic approach to professional learning that keeps standards high and provides common language for how teachers collaborate. A list of critical components for healthy site professional learning was designed to provide details regarding what a teacher should be able to identify in their personal experience at their site. The Critical Components for SPLS are as follows:
The learning should be:
1. Research-Based
2. Data driven
3. Exhibit Best Practices for Collaboration
4. Have Accountability at the team, site, and district level
5. Portray Leadership
We are pleased that the SPS Board of Education has approved time within our contract for professional learning. We know that it is our responsibility as professionals to use that time effectively. The expectations for professional learning at each site are as follows:
- Teachers use contract time to actively engage in collaboration/learning.
- Data drives each team’s work and classroom instruction.
- Plan and work aligns with SIP and exhibits cycles of improvement.
- Teams document work and monitor outcomes.
- Leader provides written and verbal feedback to collaborative teams and opportunities to make the work public.
In 2011 and 2012 a team from each site has had the opportunity to analyze the degree to which the Critical Components of SPLS and District Expectations for SPLS exist within their school. An explanation of the critical components has been provided and teams have had critical dialogue around choosing focus, aligning to their SIP, and distributing Professional Learning and Professional Work hours within the next school year’s calendar. Our department is committed to providing support to intentional professional learning through our department website and facilitating our annual training. For additional information and support, please contact our office or visit our website at http://springfieldpublicschoolsmo.org/staffdev/Pages/SPLS/Resources.html.