NACOL Standards as a Framework for a Staff Development Program

1. NACOL Standards as a Framework for a Staff Development Program VSS 2008

2. Your Presenters • Dr. Linda Boone Director of Institutional Effectiveness Introduction, Faculty Evaluation, Conclusion • Vanessa Leon Manager of Learning and Professional Development Initial Training • Andrew Ordover Director of Academics Professional Development

3. Kaplan Virtual Education - KVE • Part of Kaplan, Inc., owned by the Washington Post Company • Launched in 2007 in Kaplan Higher Education division • Manage 15 schools and/or district partnerships • Serve grades 6-12

4. Where we were… • Began in 2007 with one private school • Recognized need for a formal program • Focus on consistency • Focus on opportunity • Focus on results • Focus on quality

5. Methodology • Looked to KHE structures • Economies of scale • Consistency • Looked to past practice in existing school • Results • Looked best practice across market • Looked to NACOL • Quality standards for teachers • Opportunity

6. NACOL Standards: Major Themes • Professionalism • Leadership • Rigor • Sensitivity • Flexibility • Accountability http://www.nacol.org/nationalstandards/NACOL%20Standards%20Quality%20Online%20Teaching.pdf

7. Staff Lifecycle

8. Onboarding & Initial Training

9. Onboarding Process

10. Onboarding / Initial Training • All new teachers • 12-15 hours • Completed within the first 2 weeks • Initial student assignments delayed • Ecollege platform • Asynchronous and live

11. Onboarding / Initial Training

12. Onboarding / Initial Training • Goals: • Instructional model • High quality learning experience for students • Highly qualified teachers • Transition teachers from classroom • Acclimating to Kaplan family • Understanding procedures

13. Onboarding / Initial Training • Alignment of lessons with NACOL standards

14. NACOL Connection Understands and is responsive to students with special needs Creates/implements assessments, projects & assignments & measures student achievement Promotes student success through regular feedback, prompt response and clear expectations Plans, designs & incorporates strategies to encourage active learning, interaction, participation & collaboration in the online environment • General subject areas covered: • All About Kaplan • (Mission, Vision, Structure) • Understanding our Students • (Individual Needs, Special Education, Pacing, Motivation, Goals) • Online Instruction • (Daily Tasks, Partners, Communication, Grading, Working with our Systems)

15. NACOL Connection Models, guides and encourages legal, ethical, safe and healthy behavior related to technology use Arranges media and content to help… transfer knowledge most effectively Has prerequisite technology skills • General subject areas covered: • Dealing with Issues • (Plagiarism, Course Updates) • Technology • (Webcams, Class Live)

16. Onboarding / Initial Training • Pre and Post Testing • Leadership Training • Skillport through KHE • Compliance Training • Ongoing Learning Opportunities NACOL Connection Complete self- and pre-assessments

17. Onboarding / Initial Training • Resources provide: • Central place for forms, information • Can be updated easily • Continued access to learning NACOL Connection Has experienced learning from perspective of student

18. Onboarding / Initial Training • Completion tracking • Leadership support • Environment of continuous learning

19. Onboarding / Initial Training • Ongoing support: • Mentoring • Discussion threads • Center for Teaching & Learning • Workshops • Support documentation NACOL Connection Teacher collaborates with colleagues

20. The KVE Professional Development Plan

21. Professional Development Plan All full-time school staff members are required to develop an annual Professional Development Plan that identifies areas of development that will lead to professional growth and improved instruction.

22. KVE The Worlds of the Online Teacher The World of Online Teaching KVE-Wide Department School School-LevelDepartment

23. What you propose Why you choose it Workshops Conferences Graduate level coursework Accreditation Steering Committees Curriculum Review Committees Handbook Review Committee. Professional Development Committee Action research Presentations Providing voluntary service

24. Faculty Evaluation/Performance Review

25. Faculty Evaluation / Performance Review Updated for 2008-09 • Includes reference to individual plan • Links to specific NACOL standards • Results are tabulated for feedback into Initial Training Program

26. Structure of Evaluations • Section 1 – Effective Teaching Methods & Practices • References to select NACOL standards • Section 2 – Professional Development 2008 • Goals • Section 3 – Overall Evaluation & Comments

27. Faculty Evaluation / Performance Review Challenges – • Review occurs at end of fiscal year, rather than academic year • New teachers Expectations of performance will be different Level of accountability is different

28. Conclusion KVE’s ongoing staff development program consistently ties back to NACOL standards for teacher quality • Consistency • Opportunity • Results • Quality

29. Questions and Answers VSS 2008