Staff Absences Cause Professional Learning to Become a Chore

Staff Absences Cause Professional Learning to Become a Chore

It is the start of the school year and principal, Gerald, and instruction coach, Rose, have identified using the observational notes of the previous year that most team members needed help setting up their classrooms. The teachers were not able to move freely throughout instruction, and students were not engaged because they could not see the board. They decided they would do school-wide professional learning that can be completed together and after school.  

Gerald schedules the professional learning every Wednesday right after school. Everyone attended the first two sessions, but after that, band and basketball practise were scheduled at the exact same time. Many teachers who coached or volunteered during these times were absent during the professional learning.  

Team members who were consistently absent were asked to make up the content using the practice modules at alternative times. Many were finding they have no time outside of their obligations to participate in professional learning; it is becoming a chore for them and they are not positively engaged.  

Gerald and Rose conducted observations to see how teachers are implementing seating arrangements to assist in their teaching. Teachers who were absent were tasked to complete it individually and have not practised had the most misbehaviours, lowest engagement, and stagnant student growth.