Shawnee Heights values high-quality professional learning that improves educator practice and student results.  Professional learning builds educators’ individual and collective capacities to create successful learning experiences for each child. 

We support several types of professional learning opportunities.

• On-going, Job-Embedded Professional Learning– Each building has a full-time instructional coach. Instructional coaches support teachers through collaboration in lesson creation, implementation, and reflection on learning experiences.  Our instructional coaches help teachers move professional learning directly into their classrooms.  In addition, they work closely with our new staff.
• Shawnee Heights Teacher Academy for Year 1 and Year 2 Teachers – Instructional coaches lead professional learning for all new certified staff to Shawnee Heights. This mentorship helps ensure a successful first year by providing just-in-time instruction on district initiatives and best practices as they navigate their new position. In Year 2, we invite second-year teachers to the profession.  The second year in the Shawnee Heights Teacher Academy focuses on implementing initiatives and best practices to ensure that we are giving our students opportunities to develop their critical thinking skills, discover learning and defend their reasoning.
• Professional Development/Collaboration Time Days – Throughout the school year, scheduled PD/CT days are designed with the individual building’s needs in mind.  The first half of the day is designated for PD and the second half is designated for collaboration (CT).  The general agendas for these days can be found below.  Each building administrator will send out a more specific agenda to the staff before each professional development day. 
• Quantum Learning – For over 10 years our certified staff have received Quantum Learning training within the first two years of employment.  Our staff and students aspire to live by the 8 Keys of Excellence.  Staff will learn about these and so much more in this 5-day training, spread out over the first two years for our new staff.  It focuses on 3 areas.
  • QL Essentials
  • Classroom Culture and Management
  • Design and Delivery for Learning
• ELL Endorsement Coursework – Each semester, the district offers the opportunity for teachers to start coursework through KSU to obtain his/her endorsement for English Language Learners. Upon successfully passing the Praxis and adding the endorsement to their teaching license, the teacher can be reimbursed for the fee of their Praxis test.
• Foss Kit Training for Elementary and Middle School Science Teachers – For grades K-8, we use Foss Kits from Delta Education.  Each year, we offer training for all new staff in those grades or returning staff teaching a new grade to learn how to utilize the Foss Kits assigned to each grade level.
• Mandt Training – A relationship-based program that uses a continuous learning and development approach to prevent, de-escalate, and if necessary, intervene in behavioral interactions that could become aggressive.
• Professional Development from Consultants and Outside Professional Organizations - In addition, we support our staff by encouraging them to obtain professional development outside of the district.  Many of our staff are members of state and national professional organizations that provide a variety of professional learning opportunities. 

How do I request to attend a professional development conference or event?

• Teachers request a new leave request in the PDPtoolbox in advance of the event.  (https://pdptoolbox.org)
• Here is a guidance document to help our staff with the requesting process. Guidance Document