Professional Development You Won’t Want to End (Seriously) How one Oklahoma district is using CCOSA’s Winning Strategies Playbook series to benefit student learning.

By Diane Tillery, Assistant Superintendent of Poteau Public Schools

We have all probably heard the quote, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” Coaches don’t leave games to chance; they spend hours working on their playbooks as they prepare for athletic competitions. Our work in education is far too important for us to leave to chance. While it may seem daunting for a district to develop a “playbook” that would help ensure success for our teachers and students, CCOSA has stepped in with a professional development opportunity that allows districts to do just that.

In July 2023, Poteau Public Schools began participating in CCOSA’s Winning Strategies Playbook training. This four-part professional development series brings instructional leaders from several districts together, where they are able to use a “playbook resource” developed by CCOSA to learn from one another. From day one, we knew this professional development would be relevant and impactful. We were given a “playbook resource” that was filled with information and examples that we have been using regularly to help us coach our teachers on strategies that improve teaching methods and increase student learning. In Session 1, we learned the importance of aligning our standards and curriculum to meet students’ needs. After this session, we realized we needed to revisit our curriculum maps and pacing guides. In October, our district held PD sessions that helped us focus on what we were doing well and where we needed to make adjustments in order to improve instruction and maximize student learning. During site PLC time, all core content teachers worked on establishing power standards (the academic standards that are most critical for students to master at each grade level). Moving into next school year, our teachers will continue to collaborate to prioritize standards into three categories: those that are a must, those that will be beneficial, and those that would be helpful to know but are not necessarily crucial.

As participants in CCOSA’s Winning Strategies Playbook professional development, leaders from Poteau Public Schools have learned classroom strategies to improve student learning. All photos in this article feature Poteau students and educators.

Session 2 involved us “studying game film and stat sheets,” otherwise known as examining and interpreting our data. Schools can be known for being “data rich but action poor,” so we have been focusing on what quality data looks like, how much data we need in order to evaluate our progress effectively, and then what we need to actually do with that data.

During Session 3, we learned ways to respond when our students aren’t meeting their learning goals. When we aren’t getting the results we expect, our students need us to intervene quickly. This session has helped us hone in on our multi-tiered system of supports plan and eliminate strategies that aren’t effective.

Our final session covered how to develop instructional leaders and effective professional development plans. We had already been moving away from district-wide PD to focus on the needs of our staff at each site, and the information gleaned from this session has helped us be more responsive to the individual growth opportunities our teachers need as well as the importance of having teachers who are instructional leaders.

We had six staff members –including two principals, three instructional coaches, and the assistant superintendent – attend this professional development, and all of us looked forward to the training each session. It has been something we are able to use daily, and it truly has helped us concentrate on what really matters. We were grateful for the insight other school leaders were able to share with us during these sessions. I think it speaks volumes when we don’t want PD to end! ■

Diane Tillery has been an educator for 26 years, working as an elementary and middle school teacher before moving into various district leadership roles. She currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Poteau Public Schools, where she is blessed to work with the best team of administrators, faculty, and staff as they strive to make learning relevant and enjoyable for their students. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her seven grandkids.

CCOSA offers the Winning Strategies Playbook: How to Lead Student Learning series annually in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Click on ccosa.org’s Professional Learning tab for FY 2025 dates.