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Professional learning continues at LISD
By Laura Madison, Lewisville ISD
Professional Learning is a year-round endeavor in Lewisville ISD. During the school year, dedicated educators teach 52,000 students. However, learning continues during the summer break and throughout the year, where the Office of Professional Learning offers hundreds of courses for teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals.
These courses offer enrichment in areas from curriculum development to leadership. Professional learning affords teachers the opportunity to share new resources and ideas about student success, lessons on how to be better teachers, and ideas to revolutionize their classroom. Even though Texas requires teachers to complete hours to maintain their license, LISD staff members go above and beyond, earning 21,938 hours in 153 sessions in June alone.
“Their willingness to engage in even more learning speaks to their exceptional caliber,” said Dr. Beth Brockman, executive director for professional learning.
“This summer, our fine arts staff will learn CPR. This is something our band directors need in order to ensure students’ health, while they practice outdoors in August,” Brockman said.
Since Brockman joined the department five years ago, she has also witnessed a culture shift.
“I love seeing a willingness to embrace a new definition of professional learning. Many people used to envision it solely as workshops, classes, or seminars. Now, people are aware that meeting during a planning period or over the summer to discuss engaging lessons can constitute professional learning. Even though they’re not in a formal setting, they are sharing ideas, asking good questions, and developing strong lessons for our students,” Brockman said.
As teachers embrace the district’s Strategic Design initiatives of heightening student engagement, Professional Learning has responded. The Strategic Design process cultivated input from thousands of community members to develop a revolutionary framework for educating students. Among the district’s main goals in the classroom are engaging learners through the use of technology and inspiring students through meaningful, varied assessments, as well as making instruction relevant to students. These goals will have a direct impact on how teachers teach and how students learn, so offering a broad network of resources for educators is essential.
“Because so many LISD staff members are interested in Strategic Design, we’re offering an online six-hour course. So far, 300 people, from teachers to paraprofessionals, have signed up,” Brockman said.
The course will offer an overview of the Strategic Design process and outcomes of the district’s work during the last year. Participants are also given opportunities to reflect on elements of the Strategic Design and how it impacts work.
Strategic Design affects every element of how LISD educates students and is integral to professional learning.
“As we reframe what education should look like, we need to equip teachers to make that happen in their classrooms,” Brockman said.
At the recent EdCampLewi, 375 teachers from LISD and districts across north Texas shared information to enhance lessons in a variety of subjects. More than three dozen sessions helped teachers improve their skills on everything from middle school literature to utilizing Google Earth technology to help students master latitude and longitude.
In a session called “Science Smackdown”, participants shared websites and mobile apps they have used to enhance learning in their classroom. Sharing these cutting-edge lessons will benefit students as soon as they come back to school in August.
Brad Nicholson, who teaches science at Huffines Middle School, was wowed at the presentations.
“EdCampLewi was outstanding. I had no idea what to expect. The atmosphere was relaxed. All the presentations I attended were so beneficial. Being in that environment where other teachers shared what helped their students succeed made me realize I can do the same thing. I walked out of there saying to myself, ‘I am going to present next year’,” he said.
Nicholson is just one of LISD’s 6,000 staff members who benefit from Professional Learning each year. Those staff members share their newfound knowledge with the district’s students on everything from developing a love of reading to “flipping a classroom.”
On top of the structured online sessions or workshops, teachers participate in book studies, sit in on interviews, and learn how to be leaders.
“We started offering leadership development about five years ago. Initially, it was for principals and assistant principals. Now, many of them have gone through it and they recommend their teachers participate,” Brockman said, which, in turn, has a positive ripple effect in the classroom.
“That is my favorite part,” Brockman said. “Sharing a new concept and watching it go all throughout the staff and ultimately, benefit the kids.”
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