Editorial “PD Day”
T
hose words on the school calendar may create a pretty broad range of feelings. Scheduled professional development can be a welcome break from the classroom, a chance to catch our breath in the middle of a busy school year. It can give us a chance to develop practical skills or focus on important big-picture work. But it can also feel like an interruption to meaningful work in the classroom—or just more work being heaped on our already full plates. Looking around the room by the early afternoon of even a good professional development day may reinforce how varied our attitudes about them are. Some of us are still leaning forward in our seats, following every word. At the same table, someone else is slyly glancing at their phone. Someone in the back may actually be grading papers. Despite the range of attitudes we sometimes feel about professional development, there’s no question that it’s important. Studies consistently show that high-quality teachers matter more to student achievement than any other aspect of schooling, and professional development expands our understanding of effective practices; allows us to respond to the changing landscape of issues and needs that we need to address in working with students, families, and communities; and assures that we’re aware of changes in standards or graduation requirements. In Christian schools, professional development also plays an important role in the development of the Christian community that we share with our colleagues, as well as the one that we’re trying to build for our students. How can we make sure that the time we spend working to grow as Christian professionals is meaningful and engaging? This issue examines some answers to that question. After a broad look at trends in professional development as they impact Christian schools, we’ll consider how to build a culture of unity, growth, and collegiality from a variety of perspectives. We’ll end with a note of encouragement for new teachers—and anyone who feels like a new teacher once in a while. This issue, we’ll each share one of our best PD takeaways. At one of the first “PD” days I went to in my first year of teaching, the presenter began by projecting this image on the screen: Which of these is your school?
Christian Educators Journal
February 2022
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