What are Professional Development Days?

What are Professional Development Days and why do they occur throughout the year?

Just as other professionals, such as doctors and pharmacist, must continue their education in order to practice their profession so too must teachers continue their education in order to remain certified in the state of Michigan. Some Professional Development days provide teachers with the opportunity to earn credit toward their continuing education. However, more important to the children in the district, Professional Development provides teachers with the opportunity to work with their colleagues to improve instruction at their school or across an entire grade level. Professional Development days can be used to learn new methods of instruction, work on School Improvement Plans, or train staff on the use of new technology. Professional Development occurs through out the school year so that programs or lessons learned at the beginning of the year can be evaluated and if needed adjusted as the year progresses.