AOS 43 uses teacher training time to promote professional development

    LAGRANGE — Superintendent Michael Wright is pleased to announce AOS 43 has teacher training days in the 2014-15 school calendars. SAD 31 and SAD 41, both of whom are in different technical center regions, joined forces to create AOS 43. Together, working around the technical center calendars, the districts creatively designed a professional development calendar. SAD 31 and 41 school board members were very supportive of the idea of the district staffs working together on professional development initiatives.

    Both district calendars have 12 teacher-training afternoons on Tuesdays that will span from 1 to 4 p.m. This time will allow teachers to work together in both grade level and vertical (K-12) teams. This time happens on a more consistent basis than the traditional five in-service days. They will also have time to begin implementing the AOS 43 supervision/evaluation plan that is in the pilot year.
    Wright noted, “It is vital to remember that these are still important learning days for students.” All students will have a full morning of classes and lunch. Dismissal will begin at noon. Students who attend the technical centers will follow the technical center calendar and have full school days. Schools will be tracking attendance carefully on those days. While staff are excited about the time they will have for professional development, they expect those mornings to be devoted to teaching students.
    Teacher training dates are: Sept 23, Oct. 7, Oct. 21, Nov. 4, Dec. 9, Jan. 13, March 10, March 24, April 7, May 5 and May 19.