Study Examines Teacher Professional Development
Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, led an interim study examining if Oklahoma's current approach to teacher professional development is producing meaningful results. During her opening remarks, West said she wanted to "peel back all the layers of the onion" to better understand what districts and educators are being asked to do, how they are doing it and whether it works. West, a former school board member, pursued legislation earlier this year to modify teacher professional development requirements. "This study took a close look at every facet of Oklahoma’s teacher professional development system," West said. "The discussion highlighted the importance of making professional development relevant and focused on helping teachers and students succeed. I am grateful to all the educators and administrators who gave up their time to speak on this important topic, and I look forward to continuing the conversation in the coming months." Stephen Walden, a social studies teacher at Tahlequah High School, told the committee professional development is most effective when it is directly connected to the needs of teachers and their students. "The best PD for teachers, in my opinion, is actionable. It's relevant. It knows its audience. It isn't one size fits all. And it allows for follow up and modification," he said . Samantha VanOsdol, an educator and elementary math curriculum coordinator with Putnam City Schools, said as a classroom teacher, said a lack of follow-up can limit the impact of professional development. "Sustained, in-depth professional learning is essential to keep this learning from being one and done and actually impacting what happens in a classroom," VanOsdol said . Dr. Katy Green, executive director of education effectiveness and professional development for Tulsa Public Schools, said simply tracking the number of hours completed doesn't demonstrate whether professional development was effective. She pointed to a framework to evaluate effectiveness, including whether teachers valued the training, whether they changed their classroom practices, whether they developed new knowledge and skills, and whether there are potential connections to student outcomes. "A number of hours completed provides one piece of information, but it doesn't tell us whether that learning was relevant, whether the teacher applied it or whether it improved instruction," she said . Additionally, Green highlighted the need for professional development to reflect local circumstances rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. She said Tulsa Public Schools can reach the state’s 150-hour five-year cap through its normal professional-learning calendar before accounting for any additional training or support. Administrators from Broken Arrow Public Schools described a model built around ongoing learning rather than disconnected professional-development days. The district uses instructional coaching, classroom observation, model classrooms and ongoing support to help teachers apply what they learn. "When we started thinking about how to respond to these challenges, one of the biggest shifts for us was realizing that that teacher development, learning that they're doing, really isn't a one day on the calendar," said Bridget Powell, executive director of instruction. "It needs to be a layered approach to professional learning." Kristin Graves, assistant superintendent of instruction, told lawmakers districts should have greater flexibility in how they use time for professional learning, while remaining accountable for the results. "Districts across the state are just like students in a classroom," Graves said . "There are varying needs from district to district and what teachers need. So the less that is mandated, the more districts have the freedom or flexibility to develop things that meet their specific teachers' needs," later adding, "if that freedom or flexibility was offered, we also believe we should fully be accountable to how we used that time." The study also examined the potential for regional education service centers to provide districts with more accessible professional-development resources. Oklahoma State School Boards Association Executive Director Dr. Sean Hime presented a proposal, developed by a coalition of education organizations, that would establish regional education service centers within roughly 200 miles of every Oklahoma teacher. Lawton Public Schools, he said , had to "pay the Texas regional service center for their teachers to get trained." West said the study confirmed concerns about the current approach and highlighted areas that warrant further examination. "We know it's not working the way anyone intends for it to work, or hoped that it was designed to work," she said . "We've gotten a lot of stuff that I think we can peel back and start having deep conversations about."