The large suburban Oregon school district of Salem-Keizer Public Schools implemented the PD 360 platform to provide focused professional development for teachers. With over 25,000 registered users, teachers have accessed over 5,000 minutes of videos and segments to improve in areas like the Common Core, student engagement, and equity. The district coordinator credits PD 360 with helping teachers develop skills that improve student achievement, as evidenced by rising test proficiency scores.

1. PD 360
Case Study
Large, Suburban Oregon District Builds Focused
Differentiated Learning with PD 360
“The most significant approach to student achievement
is through providing high-quality teachers. PD 360 and
Common Core 360 affect our students’ success by
helping us become more focused in our teacher training.”
Rachael Harms, Professional Development Coordinator, Salem-Keizer Public Schools, Oregon
Profile
Focuses
In 1955, Keizer School District #88 (est. 1878) and Salem
Always striving to move forward, Salem-Keizer currently
School District #24CJ (est. 1855) merged to form Salem-
has the following professional focuses:
Keizer Public Schools. Today it is the second-largest
• Common Core
district in Oregon and serves almost 41,000 students in
67 schools. The last 25 years have brought rapid growth
• Student engagement
in student diversity with inherent opportunities for
• Equity and closing the achievement gap
differentiated learning strategies.
• College and career readiness
This is a high-achieving district that is serious about
Solutions
progress as shown by their statistics listed below:
As Salem-Keizer Public Schools Coordinator of Profession• istrict dropout rate fell to 2.63 percent in 2012, a
D
significant decrease from 7.20 percent in 2008.
al Development, Rachael Harms is a dynamic advocate of
student centered learning and individualized teacher progress. A vibrant, hands-on administrator, she understands
• etween 2008 and 2012, student performance on AP
B
the impact of highly effective teachers on student success.
exams had a 17 percent increase, while the number of
students participating increased by 35 percent.
• n 2007, 184 sophomores took the PSAT/NMSQT,
I
and in 2012, the number of students participating
increased to 2,580.
• n 2012, 4,414 students were enrolled in 227 Career
I
Technical Education programs and those who completed
their programs had a 90 percent graduation rate.
Four years ago, Ms. Harms was influential in the addition of
PD 360 to Salem-Keizer’s teacher improvement program
and a case study was created in 2010 that highlighted
her zeal for progress along with the excellent usage and
endorsement of teachers. Now in 2013, this updated study
is being added to observe evolving district needs and how
PD 360 addresses them.

2. Appreciative of PD 360, the district has also included
Professional Development Units (PDU)
Observation 360 and Common Core 360. These three
Salem-Keizer teachers are required to earn 125 PDUs every
components make up School Improvement Network’s
five years for certification renewal and they love drawing
Educator Effectiveness System (EES) and meet each
on PD 360 as a convenient source in which each cycle of
Salem-Keizer focus with the following tools.
“watch, learn, apply, reflect” earns them one PDU.
• ommon Core 360 has over 300 videos with a
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Teachers Who Struggle
comprehensive set of tools that walk teachers through
Teachers who struggle and need further support are
every step of Common Core with aligned lesson guides,
placed on Plans of Assistance and Improvement that
implementation ideas, and lesson plans.
include an extra week of intensive training, including PD
360 with additional time to draw on it.
• D 360 student engagement programs such as Working
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on the Work with Phillip Schlecty, Conscious Classroom
Title IIA Schools
Management with Rick Smith, in addition to webinars
To increase the number of highly qualified teachers,
and interactive communities.
paraprofessionals, and administrators, the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act (ESEA) grants allow Salem-
• D 360 student equity videos like How to Increase
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Minority Student Achievement with Beverly Daniel
Keizer to draw on Title IIA funds to provide all of its
schools PD 360 access to bolster professional learning.
Tatum, Courageous Conversations about Race with
Glenn Singleton, and Equity 101 with Curtis Linton
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
and Michael Fullan.
Although use varies from school to school, many of SalemKeizer needs-based PLCs make use of Common Core 360
• ES is a system encompassing every facet of education
E
and PD 360 in group study and discussions. Additionally,
to sustain leaders and teachers with skills that guide
PD 360 is used with instructional coaches and mentor
students to college and career readiness.
training, as well as a tool for practice and calibration for
Utilization
administrators who are participating in learning walks.
Salem-Keizer is utilizing PD 360 in an assortment of
English Language Learners (ELLs)
practices and to encourage consistency, an icon is installed
Salem-Keizer has a large ELL population with 18.6 percent
on each teacher’s computer for clicking easily to his or her
of its students in ELL classes and 63 different languages
personal PD 360 site without password logins.
spoken in student homes. PD 360 programs illustrating
best practices are helpful in ways such as:
Common Core 360
Ms. Harms feels the district will get a lot of traction with
Common Core 360. A full scale rollout for teachers this
• LL strategies in PD 360 videos are employed in trainings
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by Ms. Harms and many of the content specialists.
year will demonstrate how to best use the resources
within, allow time to explore them, and provide structured
time to understand, practice, and use them.
Focus Folders
Salem-Keizer has given every teacher a focus folder
addressing each item on the district strategic plan,
including student engagement and the available resources
found in PD 360. Teachers are asked to keep the folders on
their desks for easy access and continuous awareness.
www.schoolimprovement.com | 801-572-1153
• eachers look for program segments pertaining to their
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individual needs.
• he district middle school director often sends PD 360
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segments to principals to build ELL awareness.

3. Custom Courses
The School Improvement Innovation Summit
Many teachers are accessing custom courses in Instructional
Each year, Salem-Keizer sends 12 people to SIIS for
Coaching and Equity (Glenn Singleton classes) that Salem-
ground-breaking strategies and tools to prepare every
Keizer has provided for those interested and the feedback
student to be college and career ready. The district
has been overwhelmingly positive. They love the self-pacing
benefits when they return and share their new knowledge
and relevant information.
in teacher groups.
Benefits
Great Usage
LumiBook
The following high numbers confirm that Salem-Keizer
LumiBook is the next step in education as an e-reading
teachers enjoy the flexibility and autonomy of PD 360.
platform that stays current with automatic author updates
and peer participation, joining expert research with the
principles of professional learning communities.
Registered Users
25,254
Conclusion
Improved Proficiency Scores
Salem-Keizer continually strives to increase student
success and as revealed in rising proficiency scores, this
approach has created a practice of consistent growth and
School Improvement Network is proud to be a part of the
development process.
Ms. Harms caught the vision of PD 360 four years ago
and her enthusiasm continues to radiate through the
district. The Educator Effectiveness System is an integral
part of Salem-Keizer Public Schools, empowering teachers
to be responsible for their own growth with the tools
to address focuses and provide students with an
outstanding education.
Salem-Keizer Public Schools, Oregon
11th Grade Student Achievement Results
Basic and Above Proficiency
Reading
“The longer we have PD 360, the more we learn about
its capabilities and the more specific we become in our
Math
2010-11 2011-12
2012-13
2010-11 2010-11
2010-11
81%
84%
67%
73%
83%
5,096
Minutes Viewed
Rachael Harms
Professional Development Coordinator
Salem-Keizer Public Schools, Oregon
2,447
Segments Viewed
interactive platform!”
2,368
Programs Viewed
“LumiBook is Kindle on steroids! We really love its
District
Salem-Keizer Public Schools, Oregon
PD 360 Usage September 2012 – October 2013
65%
Excellent Customer Service and Training Support
Ms. Harms is very pleased with the support Salem-Keizer has
received from the School Improvement Network team who
consistently offer ways to facilitate more effective teachers.
“I tell people that PD 360 isn’t just a system, it’s a partner
in education. Everyone at School Improvement Network
wants to help us reach our goals. Our Strategic Partner
Advisor, Lee Ann Moorman is truly amazing and our
trainer, Karen Wathen is equally remarkable. Both are
fully engaged with our district’s needs.”
Rachael Harms
Professional Development Coordinator
Salem-Keizer Public Schools, Oregon
www.schoolimprovement.com | 801-572-1153
goals and implementation. Through our use of PD 360 and
Common Core 360, we have created a more centered, selfcontained, differentiated process.”
Rachael Harms
Professional Development Coordinator
Salem-Keizer Public Schools, Oregon

4. About School Improvement
Founded in 1991 by teachers, School Improvement
Effectiveness System produce better teachers and,
Network has spent decades researching and documenting
as a result, experience dramatic increases in student
the best practices in education. From this research, School
achievement, driving up student test scores by as much as
Improvement Network has developed the Educator
30 percent in a single year. School Improvement Network
Effectiveness System. This system delivers a process to
works with thousands of schools and districts in every
improve teacher practice, and gives educators a set of
state and around the world and has visited over 3,500
powerful tools to drive the process. Research shows that
classrooms to document best practices in action. Learn
districts and schools that use the tools in the Educator
more at www.schoolimprovement.com
www.schoolimprovement.com | 801-572-1153