South Callaway R-III schools is making an effort to improve professional development in the district.
The school board approved a 5-year professional development plan, which was developed by a district committee last year, at its regular meeting last week. Mary Van Orden, director of curriculum and instruction for the district, told the board that the committee worked throughout the entire year to revise the professional development plan. Until this past school year, the plan had not been revised since 2009.
"It (the revision) was a bit overdue," Van Orden told the board. "We went through it methodically and made sure it was aligned perfectly to the CSIP (Comprehensive School Improvement Plan) that was revised last year."
There is a professional development handbook and a teacher mentoring handbook that goes with the 5-year professional development plan, Van Orden told the board.
Van Orden also updated to board on curriculum and said curriculum work and review continues in the district.
"It's been a big year (for curriculum)," Van Orden told the board.
Students in kindergarten through fifth grade will soon have a new literacy program. Van Orden described the new program as "heavy on digital resources." The district has made technology integration a focus the past few years, adding iPads two years ago and instructional coaches last year.
Teachers will go through a training day related to the new literacy program.
The district is also working to improve its professional development for its athletic coaches as well.
Before looking forward to next year and professional development opportunities, the district's activities director, Tony Brandt, gave the school board an overview of the 2014-15 school year at the board's regular meeting last week.
Brandt said 182 students at the high school participate in sport or activity this past school year. The high school's total enrollment was 265. He described the year as a successful one for the district's activity programs.
As next school year approaches, Brandt said he wants to include a professional development day for coaches. On July 21, the district will host a coaches clinic for its coaching staff. He said the day-long clinic will give the coaches a chance to all meet together at once, which is difficult to arrange during the year.
"It's very hard to get our coaching staff together because of their teaching responsibilities and coaching duties," Brandt said.
During the clinic, Brandt said coaches will take care of beginning of the year items such as first aid training and learning how to use the district's oxygen tanks in case of an emergency. The FCA will present a "3D coaching model" to district coaches. Brandt said the presentation is for coaching coaches and goes over how to coach in a positive way and how to reach student athletes.
"There isn't a lot of professional development available to coaches," Brandt said. "I think this will be a unique opportunity for us."
Superintendent Kevin Hillman applauded Brandt at last week's school board meeting for his efforts to establish a professional development opportunity for coaches. He further told the board he thinks coaches discussing positive coaching techniques will enhance the district's programs for students.
In other news, the district's board of education approved the 2015-16 health benefit package at its board meeting last week. And, Hillman updated the board on facility projects in the district. Hillman said the district got a "jump" on summer projects. Classroom renovations and summer cleaning, he told the board, is ahead of schedule.