Professional Development
The Southwest Center for Accelerated Schools is a TEA-approved technical service provider.
Professional Development Services:
- On-site technical assistance by SWCAS staff
- A restructure and redesign process that is systemic to the schools and the district
- On-site staff development to identify and implement research-based solutions
- Guidance for the school in identifying and correcting deficiencies associated with unacceptable or poor performance
- Mentoring of early service teachers
- Intensive coaching and professional development activities to increase and optimize student performance across all demographics
- Powerful Learning instructional strategies that create accelerated learning experiences for all students
- A framework to increase parental involvement
- Innovative ideas and programs that benefit the learning community
- School-wide professional development to build internal leadership capacity that includes all stakeholders
- Opportunities to promote and develop leadership capacity and intra-district communication
- Data gathering and analysis training
- A focus on positive changes in school climate and culture
- Credit toward Gifted/Talented continuing education (CPE) hours
- CPE hours toward teacher certification
- Alignment with NCLB & AYP
- Alignment with State/National standards (examples: Texas-TEKS & STAAR-2011, OK-PASS, AK-SMART, NM-NMAC, AZ-AIMS, DC-DC CAS)
Seminars:
Initial Training for First-Year Schools
This five-day session is for the leadership team of schools beginning their implementation of Accelerated Schools. The Leadership team consists of: principal; internal facilitators (teacher leaders); central office representative; parent (optional).
Focus: Overview of the Accelerated Schools philosophy and principles, Taking Stock, Vision, Setting Priorities, Powerful Learning, Inquiry and Change in the School Culture and Climate.
Powerful Learning for First-Year Schools (PL l)
This two-day session is for schools in their first year of implementation and/or new principals, coaches, and internal facilitators.
Focus: Exploring Powerful Learning and the constructivist classroom.
Powerful Learning Summer Institutes
Powerful Learning for Second-Year Schools (PL ll)
This two-day session is for schools in their second year of implementation and/or new principals, coaches, and internal facilitators.
Focus: Analysis of Powerful Learning for the differentiated classroom.
Powerful Learning for Year 3+ (PL lll)
This two-day session is designed for schools in their third year and beyond.
Focus: This seminar focuses on inquiry in the classroom by using research-based instructional strategies that promote student involvement in the search for understanding. This involvement in learning develops skills and an attitude of inquiry that permits students to seek solutions to questions and issues while they construct new knowledge.
Inquiry
This training is designed for schools in their first year of implementation.
Focus: The governance structure of an Accelerated School, including Setting Priorities and using the Inquiry Process to solve the school’s major challenges to academic success.
Cadre Leader Training (CL)
This training is designed for cadre and strategic action team leaders as well as the school’s leadership team.
Focus: Assist schools with researching solutions, developing action plans, designing evaluations, and monitoring implementation.
Advanced Cadre Leader for Year 3+ Schools (ACL)
This one-day session is designed to help schools continue their development of action plans and designing evaluation/monitoring. This session is for cadre and strategic action team leaders, internal facilitators, principals, and field trainers.
Leadership Capacity-Building Seminars
A session designed to support administrators to facilitate the Accelerated Schools Process, implement powerful learning, and support stakeholders. The seminars involve ongoing professional conversations and activities to ensure leadership capacity is built and sustained within the campus and district.
Field Trainer Meetings
A session designed to help and support field trainers who work directly with schools to facilitate the Accelerated Schools Process, mentor teachers in implementing Powerful Learning, and support the principal.
The Southwest Center for Accelerated Schools is a TEA-approved technical service provider.
Professional Development Services:
- On-site technical assistance by The University of Texas SWCAS staff
- A restructure and redesign process that is systemic to the schools and the district
- On-site staff development to identify and implement research-based solutions
- Guidance for the school in identifying and correcting deficiencies associated with unacceptable or poor performance
- Mentoring of early service teachers
- Intensive coaching and professional development activities to increase and optimize student performance across all demographics
- Powerful Learning instructional strategies that create accelerated learning experiences for all students
- A framework to increase parental involvement
- Innovative ideas and programs that benefit the learning community
- School-wide professional development to build internal leadership capacity that includes all stakeholders
- Opportunities to promote and develop leadership capacity and intra-district communication
- Data gathering and analysis training
- A focus on positive changes in school climate and culture
- Credit toward Gifted/Talented continuing education (CE) hours
- CE hours toward teacher certification
- Alignment with NCLB
- Alignment with State standards (examples: Texas/TEKS, Florida/SSS)
Seminars:
Initial Training for First-Year Schools
This five-day session is for the leadership team of schools beginning their implementation of Accelerated Schools. The Leadership team consists of: principal; internal facilitators (teacher leaders); central office representative; parent (optional).
Focus: Overview of the Accelerated Schools philosophy and principles, Taking Stock, Vision, Setting Priorities, Powerful Learning, Inquiry and Change in the School Culture and Climate.
Powerful Learning for First-Year Schools (PL l)
This two-day session is for schools in their first year of implementation and/or new principals, coaches, and internal facilitators.
Focus: Exploring Powerful Learning and the constructivist classroom.
Powerful Learning Summer Institutes
Powerful Learning for Second-Year Schools (PL ll)
This two-day session is for schools in their second year of implementation and/or new principals, coaches, and internal facilitators.
Focus: Analysis of Powerful Learning for the differentiated classroom.
Powerful Learning for Year 3+ (PL lll)
This two-day session is designed for schools in their third year and beyond.
Focus: This seminar focuses on inquiry in the classroom by using research-based instructional strategies that promote student involvement in the search for understanding. This involvement in learning develops skills and an attitude of inquiry that permits students to seek solutions to questions and issues while they construct new knowledge.
Inquiry
This training is designed for schools in their first year of implementation.
Focus: The governance structure of an Accelerated School, including Setting Priorities and using the Inquiry Process to solve the school’s major challenges to academic success.
Cadre Leader Training (CL)
This training is designed for cadre and strategic action team leaders as well as the school’s leadership team.
Focus: Assist schools with researching solutions, developing action plans, designing evaluations, and monitoring implementation.
Advanced Cadre Leader for Year 3+ Schools (ACL)
This one-day session is designed to help schools continue their development of action plans and designing evaluation/monitoring. This session is for cadre and strategic action team leaders, internal facilitators, principals, and field trainers.
Leadership Capacity-Building Seminars
A session designed to support administrators to facilitate the Accelerated Schools Process, implement powerful learning, and support stakeholders. The seminars involve ongoing professional conversations and activities to ensure leadership capacity is built and sustained within the campus and district.
Field Trainer Meetings
A session designed to help and support field trainers who work directly with schools to facilitate the Accelerated Schools Process, mentor teachers in implementing Powerful Learning, and support the principal.
