AWRSD Strategic Plan - Universal Academic Goal #2: Professional Development

Theory of Action: If the Ashburnham Westminster Regional School District sets clear, high expectations for student learning; provide uniform curricula, instructional materials and lesson plans; and hold schools accountable for implementation, then student achievement will increase.

SMART Goal: By the end of the 2026-2027 school year we will significantly improve universal instruction across the district as measured by an increase in the number of students who are exceeding expectations on MCAS and Acadience Reading K-5 assessments. 

Strategic Initiative 1.2: Create embedded professional development opportunities for staff. 

Priority Initiatives

Person(s) Responsible

Timeline

Resources

Evidence of Effectiveness

Year 0 (2023-2024)

Form Report Card Revision Team

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, MHS/WES and JRB administration, Educational Support Team

Spring 2023-24 

Time, Local Funds Bridges pacing materials, Ashburnham Westminster Regional School District pacing materials

Revised Math portion of the elementary report card 

Support year two of ELA programs implementation k-5 at Meeting House School and Westminster Elementary through PD from program publishers

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, MHS/WES administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers and Educational Support Team

SY 23-24 (October, December and March)

Local funds, PD time

PD Calendar (writing, assessment and fluency), Exit ticket data

Support year two of ELA programs implementation k-5 at Meeting House School and Westminster Elementary through PD from program publishers

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, MHS/WES administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Rivet Consulting

SY 23-24

HQIM Implementation Grant 

PD Calendar, Walkthrough Data

Year 0 (2023-2024), continued

Support year two of ELA program implementation k-5 at John R Briggs Elementary through targeted professional development

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, MHS/WES administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers and Educational Support Team

SY 23-24 (December, January and April)

Local funds, PD time

PD Calendar, Exit ticket data

Support year four of Bridges in Mathematics program k-5 at MHS, Westminster and JRB Elementary Schools through PD ensuring program alignment across the district

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, MHS/WES and JRB administration, Educational Support Team Curriculum Coordinator and Teachers

SY 23-24 (September and February)

PD Time, Bridges pacing materials, Ashburnham Westminster Regional School District pacing materials

PD Calendar, Exit ticket data

Equity Training for Leadership as it supports curriculum tools (Wit & Wisdom Cross-District Meeting)

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, MHS/WES administration

SY 23-24

HQIM Implementation Grant 

Support launch of i-ready math curriculum in grades 6-8 through PD from program publishers

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Overlook Administration, Overlook Math Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 23-24

Time, PD for teachers, Instructional Coaching

PD Calendar, Walkthrough Data

Support the pilot of using math screener data to identify baseline achievement gaps and form target groups for intervention at Overlook

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, All Building administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

Fall 2023

PD time for teacher teams to meet and establish baseline achievement scores, PD on using data to establish achievement baseline.  

Achievement baselines established for math subject area and assessment

Year 0 (2023-2024), Continued

Support Overlook pilot of ELA curriculum in grades 6-8 through PD from program publishers

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Overlook administration, Overlook ELA Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 23-24

Time, PD for teachers, Regular meetings with pilot teachers, Funds for purchasing selected program

Meeting agendas, PD Calendar, Walkthrough Data

Create and document curriculum scope and sequence for all enrichment courses at Overlook

Building admin, teachers, Director of Teaching and Learning

SY 2023-24

PD Time, template for documenting scope and sequence and pacing

Pacing guides documented that are centrally housed

Create and document common assessments for all course at Oakmont

Building admin, teachers, Director of Teaching and Learning

SY 2023-24

PD Time, many existing common assessments

Common assessments that are centrally housed

Establish Instructional Coaching within the district

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, All Building administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 23-24

Three Instructional Coaches within the district

Create locations for staff to deposit common assessments and systems for verifying common assessments exist for all courses and grade levels

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, All Building administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

Fall 2023

Curriculum files

Common assessments available in all content areas

Year 1 (2024-2025)

Support year three of ELA program implementation k-5 at John R Briggs Elementary through a focus on writing

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Building administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2024-25

Local funding

A professional development calendar that emphasizes writing in ELA

Year 1 (2024-2025), continued

Support year three of ELA programs implementation k-5 at Meeting House School and Westminster Elementary by supporting the inclusion of diverse perspectives in the literacy curriculum

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Building administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2024-25

Consulting Partnership through DESE

A professional development calendar that emphasizes equity in ELA

Wit and Wisdom Coaching Cycle

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, MHS/WES and JRB administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2024-25

Leadership cabinet time and time with teachers in grade level meetings and faculty meetings to ensure engagement with the process

A coaching cycle calendar that supports the growth of all MHS/WES Teachers

Support launch of i-ready math curriculum in grades 6-8 through embedded PD

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Overlook Administration, Overlook Math Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2024-25

Time, PD for teachers, Instructional Coaching

PD Calendar, Walkthrough Data

Continue professional development support of elementary ELA programs

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Elementary Administration, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2024-25

Time, PD for teachers, Instructional Coaching, Coaching Cycle Process

PD Calendar, Walkthrough Data

PD on using screener data to identify baseline achievement gaps and form target groups for intervention

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, All Building administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2024-25

PD time for teacher teams to meet and establish baseline achievement scores, PD on using data to establish achievement baseline.  

Achievement baselines established for math subject area and assessment

Create and document curriculum for all courses at Oakmont

Building admin, teachers, Director of Teaching and Learning

SY 2024-25

PD Time, many existing common assessments

Common assessments that are centrally housed

Year 1 (2024-2025), continued

Formalize Educational Support Team role within the district

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, All Building administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2024-25

Coaching PLC

A selected coaching Model for the Instructional Coaches within the district

Review and update

curriculum maps to

ensure common assessments are being given throughout the district

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Oakmont administration, MHS/WES and JRB administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

Summer 2024

PD time for high school teams to meet and document curriculum, Common PD time for Bridges K-5 alignment

Completed common assessments housed on district drives and accessible to teaching staff.  Pacing guides for ELA K-5, Math K-12, and all HS classes.

Year 2 (2025-2026)

Provide quality professional development to improve instruction on an MTSS model in all elementary schools

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, MHS/WES administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2025-26

Training, finances

PD Calendar that focuses on MTSS in the elementary schools

Provide quality professional development to improve instruction on an MTSS model at Overlook

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, MHS/WES administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2025-26

Training, finances

PD Calendar that focuses on MTSS at Overlook

If Ready…Provide quality professional development to improve instruction on an MTSS model at Oakmont

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, MHS/WES administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2025-26

Training, finances

PD Calendar that focuses on MTSS at Oakmont

Year 2 (2025-2026), continued

Educational Support Team working with teachers to lead trainings within the district

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, All Building administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2025-26

Coaching PLC

Coaches regularly leading professional development with teachers

Year 3 (2026-2027)

Revise processes for student intervention and improve student learning

MTSS Coordinator, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Building administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2026-27

Existing Data Meeting Structures

Revised Data Meeting Calendar, Revised Data Meeting Protocols

Revise processes for student intervention and improve student learning

MTSS Coordinator, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Building administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2026-27

Existing Data Meeting Structures

Revised Data Meeting Calendar, Revised Data Meeting Protocols

Provide quality professional development to improve instruction on the use of data and teaching using an MTSS model at Oakmont

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, MHS/WES administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Elementary Focus Instructional Coach

SY 2026-27

Training, finances

PD Calendar that focuses on MTSS at Oakmont

Embed professional development within the district

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, All Building administration, Curriculum Coordinator, Teachers, Educational Support Team

SY 2026-27

Coaching PLC

Coaching cycles regularly running with teachers