Establish a Risk-Free Environment
A school culture which encourages and celebrates risk taking no matter the results will encourage teachers make those attempts to try new methods.
Lead Learner
Establishing the lead learner in your building creates a culture of learning for all.
Building Staff Capacity
No one individual has all of the answers. Staff should be included in process of planning and presenting professional development. Building capacity across a staff helps everyone.
Revisit Topics
Professional development cannot be once and done. There must be follow up to make sure teachers are comfortable with the new learning, answer questions once the learning is being applied, and revisited to make sure all staff members are applying the new learning.
Celebrate Successes
One of the most crucial aspects of professional development is to celebrate successes. The celebrations may come in many forms: via social media, public celebration at a faculty meeting, a poster on a wall, a comment to a colleague, a high five in the hallway, a mention to the principal, or a variety of other celebrations.
Responsive to Feedback
A good professional development model is not set in stone. Effective structures are flexible in order to meet the needs of a diverse range of teachers over an extended period of time and are also responsive and adaptable in order to meet their changing needs over time. Feedback should be elicited from participants in regular intervals throughout the course of a school year. Then, just as teachers use assessment data in the classroom to plan instruction, the same process should be used in planning professional development opportunities for teachers. Feedback in regard to professional development should be continuous as teachers are constantly learning and growing as professionals.