Yearlong Commitment to Professional Growth

Along with the summer workshops, the Severn Professional Development Institute runs programs for its teachers during the 1-hour and 2-hour delayed starts each month and on students’ “days off” throughout the school year. In addition, the Institute also funds grants, conferences, and tuition remission for teachers. Severn sets aside $60-80,000 per year to help its teachers improve their craft.

“This is an exciting time for professional development at Severn. This year 50% of teachers in each division enrolled in the summer workshops, and 24 different teachers offered to be instructors." — Ms. Lise Charlier, Director of Studies and Strategic Initiatives.

In addition, a record number of Severn teachers have participated in local and national conferences this year, both as attendees and presenters. Severn is making a name for itself as a leader in private school professional development.

What Will Our Students Need to Be Lifelong Learners?

The successful growth of the Severn Professional Development Institute can be attributed to the fact that students are at the center of every program. Every workshop, every delayed start program, and every conference connects to the classroom: “What will the students need to be lifelong learners?” Material is purposefully selected for Severn, and is flexible and always changing. Perhaps, the most exciting element is that the teacher-participants become students again, and in that way, can connect even more to those they teach during the year.

A Behind the Scenes Look at Severn Professional Development

When Ms. Lisa Clarke, MS History, started at Severn, she was thrilled with the summer PD offerings. It felt very welcoming to engage with the faculty before the school year even started. She participated in a session called “Design Thinking,” where instructor Kelly Wilson gave her ideas on how to incorporate the Graw Innovation Center (GIC) into her curriculum. As a result of that session, Ms. Clarke now takes her Ancient History students to the GIC to etch cuneiform tablets and “time capsule” picture frames. Her goal is to connect her students to the Ancients through today’s technology. She was so happy with her summer PD experience, she offered to teach a session this summer on “Alternative Assessments.”

Mr. Ron Giddings, US English, teamed up with Mr. Jefferson Brant, US History, to teach a summer workshop titled “The Student-Centered Classroom,” aimed at strategies for engaging classroom discussions. Ron says that he always takes the maximum number of PD sessions allowed each summer because he likes adding strategies and techniques to his teaching repertoire, meeting new faculty members, and sharing ideas.

In addition to summer workshops, Mr. Giddings is attending the National Theater Teachers Conference in New York. Mr. Giddings has also given two PD presentations during the 1-hour delayed starts; he spoke with his US English colleagues about different discussion methods, and he also spoke about the success of the US English seminars.

For Mr. Brant, professional development was the most important factor for choosing to teach at Severn last year. In fact, he said it was the very first question he asked Ms. Fuller in their phone interview. He very much enjoyed the two sessions he took last summer on Research Projects and Technology, and he is excited to co-teach a session this summer.

Love this and want more?

Read the full article in our Summer 2017 Mentors Issue of The Bridge for more behind the scenes snapshots of Severn faculty professional development in action!