Systemic Sustainability: 1.2 Professional Development
Since the goal of the AACPS Environmental Literacy Plan is to implement a unique and engaging curriculum that entails project-based learning to develop the students into stewards of the environment, SPMS believes it’s crucial that all staff have a strong understanding of this endeavour, to strengthen and prepare them to achieve it. An accessible and all-inclusive approach to professional development in this area has enabled SPMS to be successful.
Stewardship: “The responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving.”;
The SPMS Green School Program itself requires and is deserving of stewardship. Professional development is integral to that end. As part of achieving the Maryland Green School award, a mandate was established that at a minimum, all staff will participate in an annual green school professional development session, delivered on site, to be coordinated through the efforts of the SPMS green school committee.
Since 2014, EVERY classroom teacher has participated in the annual green school professional development presentation. From 2014-2016, there was a whole staff, hour long session. Since 2016, the format shifted to hour long sessions with approximately a third of the staff participating in each consecutive professional development session. This has fostered more group discussion, planning/project coordination, and sharing of best practices. Professional Development has fostered a collective commitment to the SPMS green school program, and had prepared and inspired several staff to take a greater role in the program, promoting it further with their students and engaging them in the process.
Stewardship: “The responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving.”;
The SPMS Green School Program itself requires and is deserving of stewardship. Professional development is integral to that end. As part of achieving the Maryland Green School award, a mandate was established that at a minimum, all staff will participate in an annual green school professional development session, delivered on site, to be coordinated through the efforts of the SPMS green school committee.
Since 2014, EVERY classroom teacher has participated in the annual green school professional development presentation. From 2014-2016, there was a whole staff, hour long session. Since 2016, the format shifted to hour long sessions with approximately a third of the staff participating in each consecutive professional development session. This has fostered more group discussion, planning/project coordination, and sharing of best practices. Professional Development has fostered a collective commitment to the SPMS green school program, and had prepared and inspired several staff to take a greater role in the program, promoting it further with their students and engaging them in the process.
