Originally presented at the National Staff Development Council (NSDC) conference in 2004. Based upon the experiences in development a nationally-recognized IT staff development plan

1. Collaboration for Successful
Staff Development
Steven M. Baule
Zion-Benton Township High School
BauleS@zbths.org

2. Collaboration
• Macro Models – The School
• Technology Skill Expectation Development
• Reading Strategies Across the Curriculum
• Micro Models – The Classroom
• The Individual Technology Learning Plan
• New Teacher Mentoring Program

3. Developing Technology Skill
Expectations
• Two distinct sets of skill expectations – Certified
staff and Office (classified) staff
• NTHSD decided to invest heavily in technology,
but staff were not given direction as to how to use
technology effectively
• So, it was determined that staff needed direction
• Committees were developed for each staff group
led by the CIO and other administrators
• Each committee included approximately 8 staff

4. Developing Technology Skill
Expectations – Cont.
• The staff groups developed draft expectations
• Those were shared with the district technology
committee for further input
• The union leadership for each staff type were
involved on the committees
• Those were then sent to the department chairs and
administrative teams
• Eventually, the Board of Education approved the
expectations
• The expectations were to be voluntary, but may be
included in merit scale considerations

5. Skill Sets Developed
• Basic computer
troubleshooting skills
• Word processing
• Spreadsheet and
database use
• Internet use
• Presentation hardware
and software
• E-mail, etc.

6. Incentive Program
• The ITLP program was then developed to assist
staff in determining their individual learning needs
in regard to technology
• Staff were assigned an individual mentor (staff
developer) who was to guide staff members in
completing their plan and implementing the skills
in the classroom
• The ITLP was assessed by a portfolio which was
to showcase how the newly acquired skills were
utilized within the staff members classroom or
work environment

7. Staffing for the ITLP
• Staff developers (Mentor)were
assigned on the basis of 10 staff
members per teaching fifth
• Staff developers each taught 10 - 30
minute courses per month per fifth
• Staff developers each met at least
monthly with each staff member
(Mentee)

8. Collaboration among the Staff
Developers
• They met weekly
• Created over 100 mini-course packets and lesson
plans
• All observed and critiqued each others classes
• All new hires taught practice lessons prior to being
hired & staff developers were involved in the
hiring process
• Shared lessons produced by staff members
monthly

9. Further Refinement
• After a majority of the staff had completed the
ITLP program, the staff and administration again
met to modify the program. This led to more direct
collaboration between teachers interested in
learning similar skills.
• Several strands were identified and more work
was done in ½ day workshops instead of 40
minute courses.

10. Mentoring Program
• A collaborative effort among department
chairs, senior teachers, new teachers and
administrators to ensure effective mentoring
for new staff
• Each group had the opportunity to be
involved and have their voice heard in the
development of the program

11. Classroom Collaboration
• Based on the tried and
true model of the
school library media
specialist
• Staff developers were
willing to co-teach
lessons or model
lessons for teachers
based upon what
instructional needs the
teacher had

12. Classroom Collaboration – cont.
• All levels of staff
worked as partners
• Administrators and
support staff, as well
as certified staff
developers, all assisted
in designing and
implementing
technology-rich
lessons in the
classroom

13. For More Information
• ITLP Web Site
• http://www.newtrier.k12.il.us/academics/it/itlp/default.htm
• Staff Technology Skill Sets
• http://www.newtrier.k12.il.us/academics/it/itlp/stafftechskills.h
• Faculty Technology Skill Sets
• http://www.newtrier.k12.il.us/academics/it/itlp/facskills.htm
• Electronic Learning, Jan. 2002