Board Priority
Frisco ISD staff will experience a positive working environment that encourages professional growth, fulfillment, and retention.
Challenge
In its wake, the pandemic left teachers feeling overwhelmed and under supported, resulting in a drop in retention. This challenge exposed the need to increase opportunities to differentiate the content and delivery of professional learning.
District Goal
District leadership will foster employee engagement, retention, and recognition by enhancing communication channels and professional growth opportunities that allow employees to connect, learn, share best practices, and recognize one another.
Strategies
Response
PL Project | Timeline | Format | Platform | Audience |
Cultivate ‘23 (slide 4) | Initial Summer 2023; Ongoing | Face-to-Face Conference | Digital: Google Site & SCHED | Educators |
Hello Learning - Subscription PL (slide 5-6) | Initial 2023-24 School Year; Ongoing | Subscription Professional Learning with Digital Supports | Digital: Google Site | Leaders, Educators, and Support Staff |
First Year Teacher/Mentor Program (slide 7) | Refined 2023-24 School Year; Ongoing | Face-to-Face Sessions and Digital Supports | Digital: Canvas & SMORE | First and Second Year Teachers, Mentors, and Campus Liaisons |
Professional Learning University (PLU) & Adult Learning Sessions (slide 8) | Refined 2023-24 School Year; Ongoing | Website and Face-to-Face Learning and Design Sessions | Digital: Google Site | All Individuals that Design and Facilitate PL |
Our response was not a single project, but a multi-faceted approach to increase personalized support and tailored professional learning experiences with the intended outcome of increasing professional growth and enhancing retention efforts.
Each project was the result of analyzing district data to meet the needs of teachers in a post pandemic landscape. Our projects ranged from large district conferences to individualized learning for not only EC -12 classroom teachers, but instructional leaders, bus drivers, and itinerant staff.
The intended outcomes are to build the capacity of PK-12 educators, leaders, coordinators, and other itinerant staff who impact student achievement, social emotional development, and safety of students by providing comprehensive support. These innovative projects have empowered educators to adapt for changing learning environments in unique ways.
Intended Outcomes
40
Learning Topics
168
Sessions
over 2 days
Timeline
Process
Audience & Interdepartmental Work
Purpose
Allowed classroom teachers, coaches, & coordinators to
present innovative strategies that practitioners could implement within the classroom for student success.
Purpose
Celebrate learning focused on district focus areas by involving fellow educators in an exhibition
of FISD’s innovative and
inspiring educational
opportunities.
Impact
Learning sessions & topics were created
by a team of learning designers
made up of educators across the
district as well as departments.
The audience was teachers.
Learning designers were
selected to create learning
and facilitate the learning over
the 2 dates of the conference.
Input was gathered from district leaders and teachers.
Summer conference
Hello Learning is an on-demand PL
box designed with the purpose of supporting continuous learning. Each unique box contains step-by-step recipes and
fresh learning ingredients designed
to build the capacity of leaders,
teachers, and support staff.
Audience & Interdepartmental Work
Process
By the Numbers- Fall Semester
Hello Learning serves PK-12 educators and
campus leaders. Our department
collaborates with content, ESL, SPED,
and technology departments to
access data to ensure box contents
are timely efficient, and useful.
69 Total Box Requests
32 Campuses
6 Departments
1500+ Teachers & Staff Impacted
After our department receives
district PL data, we decide which
topics can become 15-20 minute bite sized learning in which campus leaders can facilitate with PLC’s. Feedback is taken to improve the box contents and to create new personalized learning.
SO FAR!
The concept created for this PL subscription service was based on Hello Fresh.
Purpose
Impact
hello learning
“I loved the resources and look forward to using the other activities in future learnings with our teachers.”
“I feel as if this learning made the norming process meaningful and efficient. We are planning to use this again next year!”
“I loved being able to connect with people in the same boat as me. It let me know that I'm not alone.”
Impact
Process
Audience & Interdepartmental Work
Purpose
Additional Supports Added for 2023-2024
The program is intended to provide support for new teachers from the district level through their second year of teaching.
The program serves First & Second Year Teachers, as well as their Mentors and Campus Liaisons. The PL Team partners with
departments around the district to design and deliver learning.
Program Components
Learners impacted:
300 First Year Teachers
200 Second Year Teachers
175 Mentors
The program combines campus-based and district-level support. Topics of learning are determined through a needs-assessment and in partnership with district departments.
Session feedback indicates high level of satisfaction with content and structure of the program.
Mentor & FYT program
Purpose
Audience & Interdepartmental Work
Process
Impact
Professional Learning University (PLU) and adult learning sessions were created to serve as mode for educators to access resources, engage in collaboration, and continuously enhance their skills and knowledge.
They provide a comprehensive way
to support professional learning and
foster a culture of lifelong learning
among education professionals.
PLU and adult learning sessions have been developed in partnership with district departments to foster interdepartment collaboration. The resources and professional learning are accessible for all district professionals.
Throughout the year, feedback is collected and analyzed to determine the professional learning needs of the district (District/Campus level). Adult learning sessions are developed/facilitated in response to the identified feedback and adjusted as needed.
Continuous learning is essential for educators in today's dynamic and
ever-evolving educational landscape. PLU and adult learning sessions have allowed district professionals to stay abreast of new pedagogical approaches and adult learning practices, ensuring that their practices remain effective, engaging, and relevant to the needs of the district.
Professional Learning University Includes:
Adult Learning Sessions Content:
“The incorporation of practical applications facilitated a deeper understanding of the subject matter - Highly Engaging!”
Professional & Adult learning
Additional Evidence of Impact
Closing Statement
Next Steps
And More!
The intentional response to creating a positive working environment and personalized learning support via FISD’s PL projects has helped reimagine how we invest in our educators and leaders to ensure we are meeting their personal and professional needs. This, in turn, has paved the way for more team and individual fulfillment and has aided in retention efforts.