What Makes an Effective Teacher Professional Development Program?
Based on the myriad demands for their time and talents, educators and school leaders often turn to professional learning to help solve teaching and learning challenges. But to be truly effective—and to lay a foundation for sustainable school transformation—professional development must take a wider, more holistic view and tackle core issues head-on.
Optimal teaching and learning in classrooms, and beyond, can take place only when the following three critical areas are addressed in an integrated way:
- Eliminating non-academic hurdles
- Enhancing teaching excellence
- Cultivating leadership for meaningful change
Challenge: Eliminating Non-Academic Hurdles
Solution: Classroom Management to Unlock Learning
Teachers face many non-academic obstacles that can hinder both student and educator success. Behavioral challenges, emotional disorders, and low student engagement directly affect learning—and these must be addressed to fully unlock learning in the classroom.
Classroom management strategies, when applied effectively, can mitigate these challenges. With the right support, educators can uncover techniques for student engagement, methodologies to enhance executive function and resilience, and approaches to assist students struggling with behavioral issues.
Challenge: Enhancing Teaching Excellence
Solution: Instructional Excellence for Academic Achievement
Subject-matter mastery is essential for long-term academic success. However, steep declines in math and reading scores in recent years emphasize the need for improved educator efficacy.
High-quality professional development focused on subject-specific instructional practices—not just content knowledge—empowers educators to teach more effectively and improves student outcomes. Research indicates that educators who receive targeted coaching in specific subjects are significantly more likely to continue teaching that subject the following year.
Challenge: Cultivating Leadership for Meaningful Change
Solution: Leadership for Positive Impact
Strong leadership is a vital component of any professional development strategy. Effective leadership enhances educator satisfaction and retention by creating a culture of achievement and fostering team collaboration.
Integrating leadership development into a holistic professional development strategy equips educators with skills for career advancement while also improving their effectiveness in the classroom.
How Can Teachers Be Effectively Coached?
Catapult Learning believes that a holistic approach to professional development is the most effective way to teach and coach educators. By strengthening each educator’s capabilities and building their confidence, meaningful change can be achieved in the classroom.
Our professional development tracks address three key areas:
- Classroom Management: Focuses on behavior strategies, student engagement practices, and building resilience.
- Instructional Excellence: Covers literacy, math, STEAM, assessment, and MTSS frameworks.
- Leadership Development: Emphasizes change management, team building, and fostering an achievement-oriented culture.
Catapult Learning’s Professional Development Bundles
Our PD bundles are designed to address a range of academic challenges, with best practices to optimize classroom management, meet academic goals, and boost leadership skills. Each bundle includes a carefully selected set of courses delivered in a three-day institute by one of our 250+ K-12 expert coaches.
New Teacher Math & Essentials Bundle: This bundle is fueled by ETS Praxis math data and research, addressing key areas of need for new educators, paraprofessionals, and emergency certified teachers. It includes:
- Workshops on geometry, linear equations, classroom management, and more.
- Over 10 hours of asynchronous learning through our PDNow platform.
- Optional job-embedded coaching for personalized mentorship.
To learn more about our professional learning bundles, visit Catapult Learning PD Bundles.
