“People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine”.  – Brian Tracy

With that quote in mind, I will advocate the following types of development as I pursue to increase my skills and knowledge on my career path.

Personal Development Plan

Development Goal	Development Need	Rationale	Actions	Development Timetable/Measurements
To increase the test scores of my students to 80%+ meeting or exceeding state standards	Formal Education: Professional Learning Communities	“The powerful collaboration that characterizes professional learning communities is a systematic process in which teachers work together to analyze and improve their classroom practice.  This process, in turn, leads to higher levels of student achievement” (Dufour, 2004).  A professional learning community is one form of a formal education approach to employee development.  “Many formal education programs actively involve the employees in learning” (Noe, 2010, p. 352).  The past few years, my lowest test scores have been in the area of science.  Collaboration will allow me to gain some insight and further teaching strategies for implementing science in my classroom.  Professional learning communities are a great asset to teacher development.	Personal:  *Collaborate with fellow educators of elementary science in on-site and off-site professional learning communities *Read articles relating to teaching science to elementary school students Employer: *Provide planning time to collaborate with coworkers for planning science instruction *Allot time or make arrangements for off-site visits to other schools to observe science implementation	*Quarterly science benchmark test results *Analysis of progress of science CRCT results over a 2 year period *Weekly observations of science instruction
To seek an additional degree in technology	Formal Education: Tuition Reimbursements	“Companies that have evaluated tuition reimbursement programs have found that the programs increase employee retention rates, increase employees’ readiness for promotion, and improve job performance” (Noe, 2010, p. 354).  Implementing a tuition reimbursement program is worth advocating for as part of my professional development plan.  As tuition fees continuously increase, many educators are hesitant about pursuing further educational opportunities.  In turn, many organizations are left scrambling to fill leadership positions with qualified candidates.  Ideally, school systems seek to promote from within.  A tuition reimbursement system would be very beneficial because it would allow potential leaders within the school system to gain the necessary knowledge and educational experience needed to fill those positions.  Having the ability to be reimbursed for tuition fees accrued while gaining the needed education, will motivate me more to seek the experiences I need to move up the career ladder while better serving my organization.  “Employees with more education and training are better able to achieve both their and the organization’s goals, as well” (Cornett, 2010).  Furthermore, implementation of a tuition reimbursement plan for improving job performance would send a message from my employer that they value my contribution to the organization and are willing to invest in my personal development.	Personal: *Research degree programs in the area of technology integration in the classroom *Research tuition costs of each program Employer: *Find funding for tuition reimbursement *Set stipulations and requirements for being reimbursed tuition costs *Advocate further education for employers	*Quarterly meetings after school entrance to share and begin implementing newly acquired knowledge and skills *2 – 2.5 years for degree attainment *3 years to fully implement newly learned skills to enhance organization
To receive coaching from technology trainers that serve our school system	Interpersonal Relationships Shadowing Assignments	“A coach is a peer or manager who works with employees to motivate them, help them develop skills, and provide reinforcement and feedback” (Noe, 2010, p. 375).  “The purpose of shadowing assignments are to provide you with exposure to people who work in particular fields and to give you the opportunity to watch them in their day-to-day setting” (“Shadowing Assignments, 2010).  As we all seek to climb the career ladder, advanced degrees become part of our personal growth plans.  I am an advocate of shadowing assignments, especially for myself and others that are in the process of completing advanced degrees to advance up the career ladder in the very, near future.  All of our local school systems use the Central Savannah Regional Area Regional Educational Service Agency (CSRA RESA), Educational Technology Center for delivering quality technology training for teachers, administrators, and support personnel (http://www.ettcnsc.org/staff.htm).  For professional development, shadowing some of these professionals will allow me to see how I may use and apply what I’I have learned to enhance my organization in the classroom or in another position in the school system.  “By observing how the person interacts with their coworkers, participating in the activities that they face every day, and seeing what it takes to “be that person”, the individual will gain insight into whether that position is something they want to pursue” (“Job Shadowing, n.d.).	Personal: *Shadow technology trainers at the CSRA RESA *Develop relationships with technology trainers *Collaborate with trainers during training sessions in my school system *Keep abreast with technology trends through research and reading current articles *Build a resource file for future use Employer: *Schedule shadow assignments *Allow me to assist trainers in implementing training for our school system *Receive evaluations on my shadowing assignments *Collaborate with me to review my evaluations, providing feedback	*Minimum of one hour of shadowing per week for 1 school year *Quarterly meetings with technology trainers
To mentor protégés in my school	Interpersonal Relationships Mentoring	“Mentoring relationships provide opportunities for mentors to develop their interpersonal skills and increase their feelings of self-esteem and worth to the organization” (Noe, 2010, p. 374).  As part of my professional growth plan, I am advocating for the implementation of a mentoring program.  Over the past four years, I have been moved between three grade levels.  The reason I have been given for the moves is because my teaching strengths have been crucially needed in each of the grades I’ve been moved to, at the specific times I’ve been moved.  To capitalize on my strengths, as well as other competent teachers, I think implementing a group mentoring program will be beneficial.  “One potential advantage of the mentoring group is that protégés can learn from each other as well as from a more experienced senior employee” (Noe, 2010, p. 375).	Personal: *Provide career support for protégés *Provide psychosocial support for protégés *Increase protégés skill development *Increase protégés understanding of and abilities to meet organizational expectations Employer: *Implement mentoring program *Assign protégés to mentors *Provide meeting times for mentors and protégés *Compensate mentors	*Full implementation of mentoring program within 1 school year *Weekly mentor meetings *Biweekly surveys of mentors by protégés *Biweekly evaluations of protégés by mentors *Yearly celebration of mentor program

 

References:

Cornett, J. E.  (2010, November 25).  How does tuition reimbursement benefit a company?  Message posted to eHow, archived at http://www.ehow.com/about_7397458_tuition-reimbursement-benefit-company_.html.

Dufour, R.  (2004, May).  Schools as learning communities.  Educational Leadership, 61(8), 6-11, Retrieved from http://pdonline.ascd.org/pd_online/secondary_reading/el200405_dufour.html.

Job shadowing.  (n.d.).  Benefits of job shadowing.  Indiana Department of Correction.  Retrieved from http://www.indiana.gov/idoc/2820.htm.

Noe, R. A.  (2010).  Employee training and development (5^th ed.).  New York, NY:  McGraw Hill.

Shadowing assignments.  (2010, September 3).  Shadowing assignments.  National Conservation Training Center.  Retrieved from http://training.fws.gov/LED/idp/shadowing.html.