The District supports professional development of its certificated staff through the maintenance of a professional development committee as well as assistance programs for new teachers and resource programs for experienced teachers.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Responsibilities

The professional development committee shall work with beginning teachers and experienced teachers in identifying instructional concerns and remedies; assist beginning teachers with implementation of their professional development plan; serve as confidential consultant upon a teacher's request; (see note); arrange training programs for mentors; assess faculty needs; develop in-service opportunities for school staff; and present the coordinator of professional development activities with faculty suggestions, ideas and recommendations pertaining to classroom instruction within the District.

Note: Matters discussed by a teacher and the professional development committee will be held in confidence, but would not be considered "privileged information," if someone is called upon to testify in court. Only doctors, lawyers and clergy have a legal right to privileged information.

Structure

The committee shall have no more than nine (9) members with membership on the committee spread across disciplines and attendance centers.

Committee members shall be certificated staff members with at least three (3) years of teaching experience and at least two (2) years in the Hallsville R-IV School District. Professional development committee members will be selected for three (3) year terms. Terms shall be staggered so that approximately one-third of the committee will be new each year. New members shall be selected no later than January 31st annually, training will be during the spring and service will begin at that time.

Committee members shall be selected by the classroom teachers, librarians and counselors of the District. Administrators may be selected to serve on the committee but may not participate in the selection process.