Professional Development

Ernest Kettenring

 

The new professional development requirement went into effect July 1, 2003.  In addition to completing a year of longevity (734 hours), teachers must also complete thirty hours of professional development activities in order to advance a step on the Teacher Hourly Rate (THR) salary table.

 

The district gained this requirement in the 2000-2001 contract negotiations.  AOEC officers negotiated the details over the past year, reaching agreement with the Division in December 2002 over what activities would be acceptable.  We agreed that implementation would be delayed until July 2003 (Teachers who worked 734 hours during the 2002-03 school year advanced on July 1 without this requirement).

 

Teachers must complete thirty hours of approved activities before moving up the salary table.  They can compete these activities using either the one or two year option for achieving the required 734 hours of pay (including sub hours, excluding summer school).  Many of the activities are compatible with credential renewal requirements, including classes taken to clear a credential.  Other activities include peer observation and presentations at conferences.

 

UTLA AOEC worked with DACE to include meaningful activities that would help individuals develop their skills as teachers.  There is sufficient flexibility that all should be able to find activities that, while perhaps not fun and exciting, are at least not irrelevant and onerous.  DACE has prepared a manual of instructions and relevant forms, available at school sites (and on-line at http://adultinstruction.org/personnel/guides/stepadvancecomplete.pdf).

 

Unfortunately, the new requirement does not apply to the majority of DACE teachers.  Lacking upper steps on our salary table, most of us are at the top of a short ladder with nowhere to go.  If DACE really wants to develop its teacher corps, it needs to provide a positive incentive for the majority of us to participate.