Changes in Professional Learning for the Agency

The process to request funds to support professional learning is changing for the 2010-2011 school year. It is being incorporated into a larger effort to enhance professional learning opportunities for Heartland staff.

Last winter and spring, during Heartland Education Association (HEA) contract negotiations, a group of Heartland staff and leaders led by Nola Bond, Director of Human Resources, and Jude Richardson, Shelter Care Consultant and chief negotiator for the HEA, participated in a Kaizen process to examine the Agency’s current professional learning practices. Initially the focus was on how to request funds for professional learning for certified staff that included travel or fees paid outside the Agency, but it quickly took on a broader effort.

This group made recommendations for an agency-wide committee to be established to develop and guide a process that involves each workgroup more directly in making decisions about professional development needs and how funds are used to support them. The Agency Professional Learning Committee was established with membership decided by the HEA Collaboration Team. The group met for the first time in June and will meet throughout the summer.

In the meantime, we want to update everyone on the status of the $225 Professional Development Allotment. With the recommendation of the Kaizen group, the HEA Agreement for 2010 included new language about professional learning. The $225 allotment to each certified staff member was eliminated and replaced with new language that outlines an allocation process to agency-wide, workgroup and individuals that aligns to the Agency’s needs for professional learning and development.

Requests approved prior to the finalization of the contract were honored. After June 30, 2010 there is no longer an allotment available on an individual basis for certified staff members to request funds to support professional learning. If an individual did not use his or her allotment during the 2009-10 fiscal year, the funds will be incorporated into the Agency budget for professional learning for 2010-11. Part of the work of the Agency Professional Learning Committee will be to work with the Business Office to determine a percentage of the overall budget for professional learning that will be allotted to agency-wide professional learning as well as the amount allotted to each workgroup.

More information will be provided over the next month as the Professional Learning Committee works on the development of a process for the Agency. Here is the group’s projected timeline:

By the end of July:
- Develop common terms and definitions related to the vision and mission for professional learning and leadership.
- Establish roles and responsibilities for workgroup facilitators and supervisors.
- Develop a template and planning process for workgroups.

By the end of August:
- Finalize budget for agency-wide professional development and each workgroup.
- Establish procedures for workgroup and individual requests.
- Provide information at regional meetings for common understanding of new processes.

By the end of September:
- Initial approval of workgroup plans.

The members of the Professional Learning Committee:

• Sharon Kurns, Director of Professional Learning & Leadership
• Nola Bond, Director of Human Resources
• Teresa Bellinghausen, Consultant, Teaching and Learning, Secondary Education
• Sarah Brown, Program Assistant for Internal Professional Development
• Gwen Hoffman, Special Education Clerk
• Rod Howell, Data Processing Operations Manager
• Gilmara Mitchell, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant - Cultural Competence
• John Richardson, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant - Positive Behavior Supports
• Barb Thompson, School Psychologist
• Kristi Upah, Assistant Director of Innovation & Accountability
• Dave Wood, Partnership Director

This is a wonderful opportunity for our agency to improve our professional learning process, align it to the needs of the Agency and increase opportunities for all workgroups to have input into how their professional learning needs are met. Please watch future issues of The Connection for more information.