The State Department of Education defines professional development education as:

 

 A program of planned activities designed to increase the competencies needed by all certificated personnel in the performance of their professional responsibilities. In this context, “competencies” are defined as knowledge, skills, and attitudes which enable personnel to carry out their tasks with maximum effectiveness.

 

Pre-approved professional development activities can be found online at Sumner County’s SchoolStation link. The SchoolStation Scheduler allows teachers to choose sessions that are appropriate for their grade and teaching assignment and to access information about their own account. Upon completion of the required hours, teachers are encouraged to print a copy of their account for future reference. The deadline for completing professional development hours is April 15. No professional development credit is awarded for activities completed between April 16 and April 30.

 

Teachers who job-share are each required to earn two and one-half (2.5) professional development days. Teachers hired after the beginning of the school year must consult with their principal to determine days required since it is the position that earns professional development credit and not the individual.

 

Below are examples of approved or non-approved activities from the State Department of Education. The list may be helpful in choosing appropriate activities.

 

Approved Activities 

Workshops designed to develop competencies 

*Research at the Teacher Center  

Southern Association Committee meetings 

School Improvement meetings 

New Teacher in-service/Prof. Development 

Care Team training  

Subject area conferences 

Curriculum meetings 

Professional Reflection Group meetings 

Seminars for subject area 

College courses not taken for credit 

State meetings for instructional purposes 

SCEA Training Workshops for instructional purposes 

*School visits (when Sumner County schools are 

not in session) 

*Required prior written approval of Principal  

 documented on Teacher Center form. Credit for 

 research is limited to 6 hours per year. Credit for 

 site visits is limited to 6 hours per five years.

Non-Approved Activities

Scrapbooking

Activities unrelated to subject taught

Paid consultant work

Trips/tours

Activities done during regular school

 hours

Marching or band contests

Concerts

Coaching clinics/camps

Anything for which a teacher is paid a

 supplement

Business meetings for professional

 association

Any activity working with students

Registration/Scheduling of students

Placing students in classes

Creating/working on school/class web page

Creating/working on bulletin boards

Graduate classes taken for credit

 

Professional development activities, held on teacher workdays, must occur outside the regular 7 1/2 hour teacher day and may not exceed three hours.

 

•• Teachers are required by TCA Section 49-6-3004 and the negotiated Sumner County Board of Education Teacher Contract to complete five days of professional development.

 

Six (6) hours equals one (1) day of professional development. You may be asked to provide an agenda of the activity if more than six (6) hours are claimed.

 

Revised 4/23/08