Professional Development
A school is only as good as the people who teach in it. At Edison Schools, we are committed to providing educators with the time, resources, training and support they need to effectively meet the daily challenges of the classroom.
What Edison teaches its teachers is grounded in what they need to teach their students. Edison believes:
- Great teachers are also great students.
- Teachers learn best what they need to know.
- Teachers learn by doing and reflecting.
- Teachers learn together and they learn alone.
Edison’s professional development system offers growth opportunities for all educators. Highlights include:
- on-site training
- ongoing support throughout the year
- national and regional conferences
- on-line and teleconference training sessions and discussion groups
PRE-SERVICE CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL TRAINING FOR STAFF
All new professional staff attend the Edison Teaching Academy, intensive curriculum training at regional sites around the nation. Throughout their first year at an Edison school, new teachers are provided with practical support in instruction, classroom management, and other key elements of each program through monthly professional development opportunities delivered at the site by the regional support team.
ONGOING PD AND SUPPORT
Staff at Edison schools receive regular support visits from achievement advisors and curriculum specialists, and are encouraged to attend national curriculum and leadership conferences. They also have the opportunity to share best practices and professional concerns through online discussion groups and The Common, Edison's systemwide intranet.
INTENSIVE LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Edison offers several key initiatives that focus on leadership in the context of school and program improvement. This includes the Instructional Leadership Conference (ILC) which focuses on the following areas:
- Understanding your leadership style
- Leading Peers
- Peer coaching and observations
- Professional Learning Communities
For experience leaders, Edison offers the Edison Leadership Development Academy (ELDA). This ambitious program includes:
- an annual leadership conference
- mentoring and cohort groups
- ongoing support throughout the year
Principals from Edison Charter Schools, Edison District Partnerships, Edison Alliance, and Tungsten Learning are active in these leadership programs.
CREATING NEW LEADERS
Edison also sponsors the Aspiring Leaders program which was created for Edison Academy Directors and other school leaders to prepare them to become a principal or academy director of an Edison School.