Idaho Falls School District 91

Professional Development Mission

Professional Development in School District 91 is designed to meet the needs of all teachers. Our intent is to continually improve the knowledge and skills of D91 professionals with a focus on improving student achievement. Professional development is designed to meet the diverse needs of staff based on grade levels taught, subject matter, and levels of experience.

Who Determines Professional Development Offerings?

District level Professional Development is shaped with a focus on creating a shared understanding of School District 91’s key areas of focus: High Reliability Schools, Professional Learning Communities, and The New Art and Science of Teaching.

High Reliability Schools:

“A high reliability school is a school that takes proactive steps to prevent failure and ensure success. The Marzano High Reliability Schools™ model developed at Marzano Research begins with an organization of factors that correlate with student achievement in a hierarchy of five levels:

• Safe and Collaborative Culture
• Effective Teaching in Every Classroom
• Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum
• Standards-Referenced Reporting
• Competency-Based Education” (Marzano Resources, 2022)

Professional Development Mission

Professional Development in School District 91 is designed to meet the needs of all teachers. Our intent is to continually improve the knowledge and skills of D91 professionals with a focus on improving student achievement. Professional development is designed to meet the diverse needs of staff based on grade levels taught, subject matter, and levels of experience.

The New Art and Science of Teaching:

“The New Art and Science of Teaching is a powerful framework of substantive change…The New Art and Science of Teaching, Marzano identifies ten design areas within three categories of teaching - (1) feedback, (2) content, and (3) context - that form a road map for K-12 teachers' lesson and unit planning.” (Marzano Resources, 2017)

Building level professional development is crafted by building leadership to target their needs. Examples include social and emotional learning, and Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS). Individuals may also select additional professional development based on their strengths and areas of needed growth.

How Professional Development is Provided

• School District 91 has two (2) Professional Development days calendared in October. The district offers various professional development sessions. Teachers may choose sessions that fit their needs. These sessions support the following: The New Art and Science of Teaching; the High Reliability Schools (HRS) model, and The New Art and Science of Teaching.
• School District 91 has four (4) staff development days total. These are calendared in August and January. This professional development supports the following: The New Art and Science of Teaching; the High Reliability Schools (HRS) model, and The New Art and Science of Teaching.
• Schools may schedule a 1-hour faculty meeting each week to offer staff development throughout the year.
• While not part of the strategic professional development design, ad hoc professional development occurs via in-person and virtual conferences and consultation at the building and district level.
• D91 University (D91U) classes are offered regularly for teachers to take on a volunteer basis. These courses are curated by the D91 Curriculum Department. Teachers receive continuing education college credits, which educators need for recertification. These courses are created by D91 staff for D91 staff. This professional development is considered supplemental because classes are not required. Examples include a Trauma-Informed course, MANDT behavior management, and Schoology.