The District Professional Learning Team met to get to know each other and establish group norms, core values and beliefs, and goals. Members completed a reflective exercise about themselves and shared in groups. The purpose of the team is to develop highly effective professional learning to support student achievement. Group norms, core values and beliefs were discussed and drafted. Goals include developing professional learning standards, a delivery model based on research, and evaluating professional development.

1. WELCOME DISTRICT
PROFESSIONAL
LEARNING TEAM!
Initial Session
December 11, 2012

2. Reflective Exercise!
On a sheet of paper, complete the following
statement:
I work much like a ___________ (fill in with a
particular animal and that animal’s attributes that best
describe you!)
Example:
I work much like a turtle, slow, steady, thoughtful
and careful!

3. Getting to know those around me!
•Share your…
•Name
•Position & School
•Animal Attribute Statement

4. Our Purpose
The purpose of the District Professional
Learning Team is to develop a system of highly
effective professional learning to support deep
implantation in our schools – so that every
educator can engage in highly effective learning
so every student achieves .

5. Today’s Learning Targets
I will get to know my colleagues on our team.
I will collaboratively develop:
Group Norms
An initial list of Core Values and Beliefs that will guide our work;
and
Goals for our Professional Learning Team

6. Group Norms….Why are they so important?
• So the group can be productive in accomplishing tasks to
achieve goals…..
• So the group dynamics are professional and respectful…..
• So people feel comfortable speaking honestly and can “trust”
the members of the larger group…..
• To develop a way to deal with conflict or differences in
opinion!

7. Establishing Group Norms
• Think about a time when you worked on a “high functioning”
“successful” Team or Group. What made it work so well?
• On sticky notes, write down three group norms that you feel
are critical in establishing a productive and collegial group….
• Share those norms at your table group.
• Record on Chart Paper
• Large group establishment of norms.
How will we as a group hold ourselves accountable to the
established norms?

8. Core Values and Belief Statements
Beliefs Values
• Something that a person accepts • Usefulness or importance.
as true or right. • A strongly held belief.
• The state of being believed.

9. Table Talk…..
At your table, discuss:
Why are belief statements critical in developing goals for a District
Professional Development Team?
• Small group discussion (5 minutes)
• Group share out (5 minutes)

10. What are your current Core Values and Beliefs?
Independently list: (5 Minutes)
1. My Core Values around Professional Development:
2. My Core Beliefs around Professional Development:
Table Share: (10 Minutes)
• Each group member shares Core Values and Beliefs.
• As a group, record the “top,” agreed upon Core Values and Beliefs
on chart paper.
Whole Group: (10 minutes)
• Use dots to go around and select the Core Values and Beliefs that
matter most to you.
• The Team will Adopt a Draft of Core Values and Beliefs.

11. Goals lead the way…
What are the goals of an effective District
Professional Development Team?
What you signed up for…
• Using research to define and publish our beliefs around highly effective
professional learning, including the development of Newington Public Schools
Standards for Professional Learning.
• Develop a professional learning delivery model based on adult learning theory
and brain research.
• Creating and implementing methods for identifying the professional learning
needs of our staff.
• Developing a short-term and long-range professional learning plan based on
the school and district improvement model.
• Developing and implementing a professional learning evaluation and
monitoring system.
What else do we need to consider? (Notecards)
5 minute group discussion
5 minute whole group discussion