Professional Development

  WMPER has adopted a model for effective professional    development that embraces research-based strategies for elements of effective adult learning (Sparks, 2001)             

 In recognizing that “professional development must be an ongoing, continuous activity, and not consist of ‘one shot’ workshops or lectures the model will include 1) Theory: understanding the underlying research and rationale for any new instructional strategy, skill or concept being introduced;  2) Demonstration: this step provides the teacher with opportunity to observe a model of what is being taught; 3) Practice and Feedback:  Participants have the opportunity to practice the strategy and get immediate feedback; 4) Coaching and Feedback:  This step includes observations within the setting and feedback helping teachers to internalize what has been learned.  This may also lead back to more theory, more demonstration and/or more practice and feedback

· Missoula County Public Schools

· Missoula County Curriculum Consortium

· UM Department of Education

· Northwest MT Educational Cooperative

· Western MT/ NW MT Association of School Superintendents

· Montana Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

· Montana Small Schools Alliance

· The Montana Office of Public Instruction

· PLUK– Parents Let’s Unite for Kids

· CDC– Child Development Center

· Flathead Community College

· Salish-Kootenai College

· Regional Special Educ Cooperatives

· Regional Curriculum Consortiums

· TIC TOC Grant

· Private schools

A Montana Educational Regional Service Area

Member of AESA

(Association of Education Service Agencies)