Cedar Falls Community School District - Professional Development

1002 West First Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613 • 319-553-3000 • Mr. Mike Wells, Superintendent

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It is the policy of the Cedar Falls Community School District not to illegally discriminate in either: its educational programs on the basis of race, religion, creed, socioeconomic status, color, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or genetic information; or its employment practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ethnic background, age, disability, or genetic information. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district's Equity Coordinator, Dr Adrian Talbot, Director of Human Resources, James L. Robinson Administrative Center, 1002 West First St. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613, 319-553-3000.

During Professional Development staff members have the opportunity to further their learning and work with both the Iowa Core and IDM (Instructional Decision Making), which is a framework to meet the needs of individual learners. The framework includes key pieces:

Data Driven Decisions: They are learning about the importance of data and utilizing it to make instructional decisions to ensure they are meeting individual needs.

Our Kids: The belief that we all share in the responsibility of teaching our students. We believe all kids can learn and do everything possible to make that happen.

Characteristics of Effective Instruction: The IDM principles align with the Iowa Core Characteristics of Effective Instruction, which include: student centered classrooms, teaching for learner differences, assessment for learning, rigorous and relevant curriculum, and teaching for understanding.

Teachers also have the opportunity to reflect on the SMART goals that they created for the 2010-2011 school year. A SMART goal is a goal that is:

S trategic
M easurable
A ttainable
R esults Based
T ime Specific

It is the goal of the Cedar Falls School District to implement PLC's (Professional Learning Communities) for the 2011-2012 school year. More information will be forthcoming about this exciting collaboration!

Reprinted with permission from Mrs. Tara Estep, Principal - Hansen Elementary