Training and Professional Development

POLICY:

The program implements a systematic approach to staff training and professional development.

PROCEDURES:

Staff Training 

The program provides to all new staff, consultants, and volunteers an orientation that focuses on, at a minimum, standards of conduct, the goals and underlying philosophy of the program and on the ways they are implemented.

NOCAC Head Start staff will complete a minimum of 15 clock hours of professional development per year.

The program seeks research-based approaches to professional development for education staff that are focused on effective curricula implementation, knowledge of the content in Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five, partnering with families, supporting children with disabilities and their families, providing effective and nurturing adult-child interactions, supporting dual language learners as appropriate, addressing challenging behaviors, preparing children and families for transitions, and use of data into individualize learning experience to improve outcomes for all children.

Each NOCAC Head Start teacher shall attend high-quality, sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused training in order to have a positive and lasting impact on classroom instruction and the teacher’s performance in the classroom. The teacher will be regularly evaluated by the program for effectiveness.

NOCAC Head Start staff will receive training on methods to handle suspected or known child abuse and neglected cases.

NOCAC Head Start family advocates (FA) will receive training on best practices for implementing family engagement strategies in a systemic way.

Training for FA, and staff that work on health, and disabilities, that builds their knowledge, experience, and competencies to improve child and family outcomes.

Professional Development

All NOCAC Child Development staff is required to complete a “Professional Development Plan” or an “Individual Professional Development Plan” within 30 days of hire and annually, during the month of January.

Teachers 

• Teachers will complete the Professional Development Plan. The teacher will choose an individualized performance goal, a goal based on the results of a formal teacher observation, and a goal based on the results of the Classroom self-assessment. The teacher must write action steps to complete these goals within a timeline. The teacher can make comments on his/her progress throughout the year. These plans will be reviewed with the supervisor during the staff’s annual evaluation.

Teacher Assistants

• Teacher assistants will complete the Professional Development Plan. The teacher assistant will choose an individualized performance goal, a goal based on the results of a formal teacher assistant observation, and a goal based on the results of the Classroom self-assessment. The teacher assistant must write action steps to complete these goals within a timeline. The teacher assistant can make comments on his/her progress throughout the year. These plans will be reviewed with the supervisor during the staff’s annual evaluation.

Child Development Staff (Cooks & Float Assistants)

• Other NOCAC child development staff will complete the NOCAC Individual Professional Development plan. The staff will choose a short term and long term professional goal. Staff will list any new strategies, theories or skills that they would like to obtain. The Individual Professional Development plans are sent to the central office. As trainings arise that pertain to staff’s goals, they can attend theses trainings to enhance their professional development. All staff is evaluated annually on their hire date. Professional development plans are reviewed at this time to see how staff is meeting their goals.

Education/Training Assistance

For NOCAC Head Start non-union staff see the Educational Assistance policy 11.03 in the NOCAC Personnel Policies & Procedures manual.

For NOCAC Head Start union staff see ARTICLE 24 Educational/Training Assistance in the OAPSE Local #169 contract.

Forms and Additional Guidance: