Is there a consistent and ongoing system for staff development?
The implementation of staff development programs should be planned carefully to incorporate effective procedures. All staff, including administrators, should be a part of the training efforts. Characteristics to look for include: • Scheduled planning time for staff to specifically plan for individualized instruction. • Professional development that is provided throughout the year on one specific topic. When staff are offered training for a complete year on the same topic it provides the trainer numerous opportunities to teach the concepts in a variety of ways such as with the entire staff, in small focused groups, individual training opportunities, and onsite consultation. This year-long approach benefits all staff learning styles. It gives staff the time to reflect on their practices as well as having the assurance that the consultant will be returning to assist in the learning process. • Training provided to all staff, as well as follow-up consultation with classroom teams and indivi
