| |
What is the history of the the Skillful Teaching &
Leading Center?
The Skillful Teaching and Leading Team was created in
response to Our Call to Action: Pursuit of Excellence,
the MCPS strategic plan, in order to support the development
and implementation of the system’s Professional
Growth System for professional staff.
In the late 1990’s, Research for Better Teaching
(RBT), an educational consulting firm, was brought in
to assist MCPS in the revision of the teacher evaluation
system. From that collaboration, a standards-based professional
growth system has evolved for teachers and administrators.
In order to support the provision of rich feedback to
teachers based on sound educational theory and practice,
administrators were required to take two courses, Observing
and Analyzing Teaching (OAT) 1 and 2 , originally
developed and taught by RBT consultants. Since that
inception, MCPS In-District Trainers (ISTs) have been
trained and certified by RBT to teach OAT1. Also, the
course offerings have expanding to include Skillful
Teacher courses for teachers & paraeducators.
To insure a common understanding of concepts, strategies,
and vocabulary, two courses based on the same educational
knowledge base as the OAT courses have been developed
for teachers and other MCPS professional staff. Studying
Skillful Teaching 1 and 2 are taught by MCPS IDTs
who have been trained and certified by RBT. While
these courses are not required, they are highly
recommended for teachers to take as excellent vehicles
to support the expansion of teaching repertoires to meet
the needs of the diverse learners that constitute MCPS.
What services are offered by The Teaching & Leading
Center?
In addition to the delivery of the five courses, IDTs
provide support to current and past participants in the
implementation and refinement of course concepts and
strategies. Team members also provide support and
training to school leadership teams, grade-level teams,
and departments.
What kind of credit can I earn for Skillful
Teaching and Leading courses?
Both of the Studying Skillful Teaching and Observing
and Analyzing Teaching courses may be used in a variety
of ways as “credit.” In Montgomery County
Public Schools, if a course is going to be used for
salary advancement (moving from Masters pay scale
to a Masters + 30 pay scale) the credit must be earned
outside of the duty day in the evenings or on Saturday.
In addition, participants cannot be paid a stipend
for taking the course. Based on these regulations,
Skillful Teaching and Leading coursework can be used
as “credit” in the following ways:
-
If you wish to use the course for
salary advancement, you must take the course for
graduate credit or for Continuing Professional Development
(CPD) credit. Studying Skillful Teaching 1 and Studying
Skillful Teaching 2 are the only course offered
for CPD credit. All Skillful Teaching courses have
a graduate credit option through a partnership with
Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, MA.
-
You must take the course outside
of your duty day, such as in the evening or on
the weekend.
-
You cannot be paid a stipend if
you are taking the course for graduate credit
or CPD credit.
-
-
The current cost for each course
is $225 for three graduate credits from Fitchburg
State College. (2/29/08)
-
A special exemption is made for
Observing and Analyzing Teaching 1 and Observing
and Analyzing Teaching 2 courses regarding graduate
credit. Since the courses are required for instructional
leaders, graduate credit is available but it is
not reimbursed since participants are taking the
course during the duty day and are therefore getting
paid to take the course
- If you already have an advanced professional certificate
(APC) from the Maryland Department of Education (MSDE)
you can use the Skillful Teaching and Leading courses
as credit to renew your MSDE certification. Check
your certificate to determine if you have APC, or
check with your school. Each spring the school receives
a list of staff members’ certification. This
method does not permit you to use the course towards
salary advancement.
Credit information on specific sections of each course
can be found on the Organizational Development registration
page of the Instructional Management System. In addition,
instructors will distribute information at the first
session. If you have questions regarding credit for
a course you are interested in, please call 301-601-4800.
If you have questions and are currently enrolled in
a course, please ask your instructor.
What do I do with my certificate/grade slip
once I have completed a Skillful Teaching and Leading
course?
If you took the course for graduate credit through Fitchburg
State College, send the original grade slip from Fitchburg
State College to Sandra Sengstack, Certification Coordinator,
Metro Park North, Office of Human Resources. Please
retain a copy for your records since the original must
be forwarded from Certification to MSDE.
If you took the course for CPD credit, staff from the
Office of Organizational Development will send a copy
of the CPD credit slip to Sandra Sengstack. Participants
do not need to send their copy of the CPD credit slip
to Sandra Sengstack.
If you are not taking the Skillful Teaching and Leading
course for graduate credit or CPD credit, but wish to
use it renew your MSDE advanced professional certification,
forward a copy of the “Certificate of Completion”,
sent to you by your instructor, to Sandra Sengstack,
Certification Coordinator, Metro Park North, Office
of Human Resources. She will update your file upon receipt.
What do I do if I have not completed my Skillful
Teaching and Leading course?
If you have not completed your Skillful Teaching and
Leading course call your instructor at 301-601-4800.
S/he will know if you are still eligible to complete
the course and what steps must be taken to meet standard.
Course work may be made up within a semester of the
course completion date.
Who
is required to take Observing
and Analyzing Teaching 1 and 2 ?
Observing and Analyzing Teaching (OAT) 1 and 2 are
courses designed to enhance instructional leader
skills in the areas of expert instruction, instructional
leadership, and professional community in order
to support the professional growth of teachers.
OAT 1 and OAT 2 are the two required courses for
principals, assistant principals, secondary
resource teachers, interdisciplinary resource teachers,
resource counselors, and student support specialists related to best teaching practices and
the Professional Growth System.
Who is eligible to take Observing and
Analyzing Teaching?
Enrollment in OAT 1 is also open to aspiring
administrators. Completion of OAT 1 is a requirement for
admission to the AP Promotional Pool. For further
details about the AP Promotional Pool, please call
Moreno Carrasco, Director of Secondary Leadership
Training, at 301-353-0864 or Roni Silverstein, Director
of Elementary Leadership Training, at 301-353- 0862.
Admission to OAT2 classes is limited to those who
have successfully completed OAT1 and who are currently
required to write observations that contribute to staff
evaluations in the Professional Growth System.
When are courses offered?
Courses are generally offered twice yearly: beginning
in the summer, with completion by December; and
beginning in January, with completion by May.
Registration for these classes usually opens on PDO:
March 15th for summer/fall sessions and in October 15th
for winter/spring sessions.
|
|
