Nancy Minicozzi created a professional development plan from January 2012 to June 2013 to continue growing as a teacher. She identified 4 goals: 1) learn strategies for gifted students, 2) increase knowledge of teaching English learners, 3) improve skills in student self-assessment, and 4) expand knowledge of educational technology. Her plan details methods for each goal like attending conferences, reading research, and observing other teachers. She will share what she learns with colleagues and potential employers by discussing strategies at meetings and uploading her portfolio online.

1. Professional Development Plan
Nancy Minicozzi
January 2012
Target completion date: June 2013

2. “Who dares to teach must never cease to
learn.” – John Cotton Dana
I firmly believe that as teachers we must not allow ourselves to be stagnant
beings; we must continually grow, learn, and add to our skills. To that end, I
have identified several areas in which I would like to expand my knowledge
or increase my skills in order to become a more professional educator, and I
have created this professional development plan so that I can share my
goals, methods, and future results with those who may be interested.

3. Rationale
 Although I am graduating this month, it is important to continue developing my skills and
practices. It demonstrates a commitment to being the best teacher I can be. People viewing my
professional development portfolio will see that I have set specific, observable, verifiable “goals
for short- and long-term professional growth,” (Costantino, De Lorenzo, & Tirrell-Corbin, 2009, p.
18).
 By creating a standards-based professional development plan, I am able to determine those
areas on which I would like to focus my efforts. Wong and Wong (2009) state, “The effective
teacher is always thinking, dreaming, and planning. Your future happiness and career success
depend on your ability to implement techniques and your capacity to grow with new ideas” (p.
300). I want everyone to know that I am that person, an effective, professional educator.

4. GATE: Goal 1
 Learn new ways to work with gifted and talented students and other
advanced learners.
 Domain: D
 TPE 8, 9: Learning about Students, Instructional Planning

5. GATE: Goal 1
 Possible methods for achieving this goal:
 Join California Association for the Gifted; take advantage of professional
development resources and publications.
 Read scholarly literature.
 Observe master teacher modeling strategies.
 Attend a seminar or conference. Possibilities include:
 LVUSD GATE Conference, Jan. 2012
 UCI GATE Webinars, Feb. 2012
 CAG Conference, March 2012, Palm Springs

6. ELL: Goal 2
 Increase my knowledge of SDAIE and other strategies that can be used with
ELLs.
 Domain: C
 TPE 7: Teaching English Learners

7. ELL: Goal 2
 Possible methods for achieving this goal:
 Read literature.
 Engagement, Language, and Learning: Reinterpreting Software's Role in ELL
Classrooms
 Observe master teachers modeling strategies.
 Take a course or workshop.
 Leadership and Learning Center: Accelerating Academic Achievement for
English Language Learners seminar, Nov. 2012

8. Assessment: Goal 3
 Increase my ability to help younger students assess their own learning.
 Domain: B
 TPE 3: Interpretation and Use of Assessments

9. Assessment: Goal 3
 Possible methods for achieving this goal:
 Read literature.
 Educational Leadership, Nov. 2005 issue, dedicated to assessment
 Other scholarly articles
 Attend a course or workshop.
 Professional development opportunities offered by the Assessment Training
Institute
 Interview experienced teachers about their practices and experiences.

10. Educational Technology: Goal 4
 Increase knowledge of educational technology.
 Domain: D
 TPE 9: Instructional planning

11. Educational Technology: Long Term Goal 4
 Possible methods for achieving this goal:
 Subscribe to newsletters or other publications.
 eClassroom News, Leading and Learning with Technology, THE Journal, Creative
Educator
 Attend a conference or seminar.
 CUE conference, March 2012
 ISTE conference, June 2012
 Discussion with experts.
 Join professional association(s).
 CUE and/or ISTE, possibly others

12. Artifacts Demonstrating Goal Achievement
 Goal 1: Gifted students
 Binder containing lesson plans, ideas, and reference materials; handouts from
conferences or seminars.
 Goal 2: ELL
 Binder containing lesson plans, strategies, research articles; certificate of
completion of workshop or class.

13. Artifacts Demonstrating Goal Achievement
 Goal 3: Assessment
 Lesson plan demonstrating how younger students self-assess, materials from
conferences or workshops.
 Goal 4: Educational Technology
 Newsletter or bulletin subscriptions, conference materials, proof of membership
in professional associations, websites I have created, lesson plans incorporating
technology.

14. Reflection on Sharing Strategies
 It is important for teachers to collaborate with each other and share what
they learn. I will share the information I gather with the other members of
my school site by discussing it at a staff or grade level meeting. By uploading
this plan to my ePortfolio, I will be able to share it with potential employers
or other interested parties.
 One thing that I would like to do would be to provide a series of drop-in
afternoons for other teachers where I could help them work on
incorporating educational technologies into their practices.

15. Next Steps
 Register for UCI GATE webinars.
 Get information about upcoming conferences (CUE and CAG), and decide if
attendance at one or both is possible.
 Get a new unofficial transcript upon final grade issuance for TED 690 and
upload to ePortfolio. This will show that I have completed all requirements
for my Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in educational
technology.

16. References
Costantino, P., De Lorenzo, M., & Tirrell-Corbin, C. (2009). Developing a
professional teaching portfolio: A guide to success (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson.
Wong, H. & Wong, R. (2009). The first days of school: How to be an effective
teacher. Mountain View, CA: Harry K. Wong Publications.