[Photo] ECS staff at their Professional Development in September at Point Mugu State Park.
ECS recognizes that the most important factor for student success is the quality of their teachers. Determined to improve how our teaching best practices are implemented, last summer we established a task force of ECS teachers and administrators, which examined each ECS teaching best practice, articulated exactly what it means to implement the practice at a high level and identified resources to help every ECS teacher grow their practice. At the same time, ECS provided rater-training for administrators and teacher leaders, ensuring teachers are receiving consistent feedback from their peers and administrators. New software enables us to share ratings and feedback immediately and to provide teachers with information about each best practice– linking teachers to research validating the practice, professional development offerings to bolster the practice and videos and texts exemplifying the practice at proficient and advanced levels.
Analyzing the feedback and ratings enables us to improve teacher effectiveness and maximize organization-wide expertise through cross-campus professional development that meets teachers’ interests, celebrates success and expands their repertoire of teaching tools to meet the needs of all students. Teachers want to grow, especially when new strategies can make an immediate impact on their students' success. Our ECS Teaching Best Practices, outlined below, provide teachers with a range of opportunities for growth.
- Small Learning Communities
- Interdisciplinary Curriculum & Authentic Assessment
- Relevant & Engaging Instruction
- Environmental & Experiential Learning
- Collaborating with Community Partners.
Our teachers are always developing professionally to better serve our students!
