Additional Professional Development

The Striving School Zone schools have their own set of unique challenges apart from other MCS schools and teachers need extra training to help prepare them to face those challenges. All teachers in the SSZ have the opportunity to participate in five extra days of professional development during the beginning of the school year. All five of the Saturday professional development sessions are optional and focus on one effective practice or instructional tool. Past topics have focused on Reading Plus literacy curriculum, Explore Learning’s Gizmo curriculum for Math and Science, the new teacher evaluation system and other trainings to ensure that instructional tools are being used to their fullest potential. SSZ teachers also have the opportunity to participate in monthly cluster meetings. The cluster meetings provide an informal forum for SSZ teachers to discuss common issues they face with other teachers and leaders who work in similar environments.