1. WELCOME DISTRICT
PROFESSIONAL
LEARNING TEAM!
Initial Session
December 11, 2012

2. Reflective Exercise!
On a sheet of paper, complete the following
statement:
I work much like a ___________ (fill in with a
particular animal and that animal’s attributes that best
describe you!)
Example:
I work much like a turtle, slow, steady, thoughtful
and careful!

3. Getting to know those around me!
•Share your…
•Name
•Position & School
•Animal Attribute Statement

4. Our Purpose
The purpose of the District Professional
Learning Team is to develop a system of highly
effective professional learning to support deep
implantation in our schools – so that every
educator can engage in highly effective learning
so every student achieves .

5. Today’s Learning Targets
I will get to know my colleagues on our team.
I will collaboratively develop:
Group Norms
An initial list of Core Values and Beliefs that will guide our work;
and
Goals for our Professional Learning Team

6. Group Norms….Why are they so important?
• So the group can be productive in accomplishing tasks to
achieve goals…..
• So the group dynamics are professional and respectful…..
• So people feel comfortable speaking honestly and can “trust”
the members of the larger group…..
• To develop a way to deal with conflict or differences in
opinion!

7. Establishing Group Norms
• Think about a time when you worked on a “high functioning”
“successful” Team or Group. What made it work so well?
• On sticky notes, write down three group norms that you feel
are critical in establishing a productive and collegial group….
• Share those norms at your table group.
• Record on Chart Paper
• Large group establishment of norms.
How will we as a group hold ourselves accountable to the
established norms?

8. Core Values and Belief Statements
Beliefs Values
• Something that a person accepts • Usefulness or importance.
as true or right. • A strongly held belief.
• The state of being believed.

9. Table Talk…..
At your table, discuss:
Why are belief statements critical in developing goals for a District
Professional Development Team?
• Small group discussion (5 minutes)
• Group share out (5 minutes)

10. What are your current Core Values and Beliefs?
Independently list: (5 Minutes)
1. My Core Values around Professional Development:
2. My Core Beliefs around Professional Development:
Table Share: (10 Minutes)
• Each group member shares Core Values and Beliefs.
• As a group, record the “top,” agreed upon Core Values and Beliefs
on chart paper.
Whole Group: (10 minutes)
• Use dots to go around and select the Core Values and Beliefs that
matter most to you.
• The Team will Adopt a Draft of Core Values and Beliefs.

11. Goals lead the way…
What are the goals of an effective District
Professional Development Team?
What you signed up for…
• Using research to define and publish our beliefs around highly effective
professional learning, including the development of Newington Public Schools
Standards for Professional Learning.
• Develop a professional learning delivery model based on adult learning theory
and brain research.
• Creating and implementing methods for identifying the professional learning
needs of our staff.
• Developing a short-term and long-range professional learning plan based on
the school and district improvement model.
• Developing and implementing a professional learning evaluation and
monitoring system.
What else do we need to consider? (Notecards)
5 minute group discussion
5 minute whole group discussion