Professional Development

Goals and Structure of the Teacher Professional Development Program

The Teacher Development Program seeks to support teachers at Archbishop Mitty in their growth as Catholic school educators. The goals of the program include the following:

to continuously develop the knowledge of each teacher in his or her academic discipline;

to continuously develop the teaching expertise of each teacher in his or her academic discipline;

to nourish the community of the teaching faculty as a collegial group of educators;

to support the teacher’s role as an adult who takes every opportunity to foster the moral, spiritual, and intellectual development of the individual student;

to foster an inclusive and welcoming spirit within the school community;

to develop the teacher’s spiritual life as a member of a Catholic school faculty

Teacher Education is an important component of the Teacher Professional Development Program. The school supports and fosters the continual education of each individual teacher. In-service opportunities throughout the year are provided for the entire faculty as well as opportunities to attend conferences and workshops on an individual or group basis. Teachers receive stipends for attending workshops and conferences, which are also funded by Archbishop Mitty.

Teacher Professional Development Plans

Each teacher is asked to set goals for the year as an integral part of the teacher’s ongoing professional development.

The teacher’s goals directly address:

academic growth as a professional educator

growth in the ministry of teaching and in the knowledge of the Catholic faith

extracurricular goals

Academic Council

The Academic Council is comprised of administrators and academic department chairs who exercise leadership roles in the academic program at AMHS.

The work of Academic Council includes:

providing leadership in developing school-wide academic policies;

giving input to the Principal and Associate Principal regarding academic policy decisions;

coordinating academic programs such as student placement, award programs, registration, and cross-curricular educational programs;

supporting the efforts of department chairs in teacher supervision and curriculum development

The Academic Council goals for 2004-2005 include:

supporting the academic integrity project;

examining means to support students with academic challenges;

completing cross-curricular designs;

updating curriculum maps

New Teacher/Mentor Program

Mentors are faculty members who have a positive and enduring impact on the personal or professional life of a new faculty member. Mentors don't need to be experts and have all the answers; rather, they can work collaboratively with new teachers and guide them to their own solutions to problems. Mentors provide compassion with a critical eye:

Compassion-- because they are working with human beings who have a strong commitment to teaching but may be having a difficult time starting out.

Critical Eye-- because they have the knowledge and expertise to point out issues and to ask the right questions.

Goals of the Program:

To assist first-year teachers: The first year of teaching is trying, even traumatic, for many new teachers. The term often used is reality shock. Beginning teachers often are afraid to reveal uncertainties about their practice and are reluctant to ask for assistance for fear of appearing inadequate. The Mentor Program will provide them with someone to whom they can voice their concerns, share their joys and frustrations, and get help in dealing with their problems.

To assist teachers new to the school: Even if a teacher has had previous teaching experience, being in a new environment often provides challenges and fuels anxieties that need to be relieved. The Mentor Program will work in conjunction with the New Teacher Program to provide personal and professional support and encouragement to these individuals.

New Teacher Program

The New Teacher Program works in conjunction with the Mentor Program to provide personal and professional support to new teachers.

The New Teacher Program includes:

New Teacher Orientation in August to acquaint teachers with procedures, people, services, and the mission of Archbishop Mitty;

Monthly meetings to foster professional development, provide support, and assist new teachers in their first year teaching at Mitty;

A supportive environment that fosters community and camaraderie among new and veteran teachers.