Making the Most Out of Your Investment in Educators
The Importance of Addressing Academic and Non-Academic Barriers
The most recent NAEP scores show significant declines in reading and math, with the latter experiencing its largest drop since 1990. Beyond academics, non-academic barriers like behavioral challenges and mental health issues are also on the rise, making it crucial for teachers to possess the tools to address these realities effectively.
Three Critical Factors for Success
- Eliminating non-academic challenges
- Enhancing teaching excellence
- Cultivating leadership for meaningful change
Classroom Management Helps Unlock Learning
Behavioral challenges, emotional disorders, and low engagement can disrupt classrooms and hinder learning. Consider these statistics:
- 87% of schools report negative socio-emotional development impacts post-COVID.1
- 66% of students with disabilities spend over 80% of their time in general education classrooms.2
- Only 17% of general education teachers feel well-prepared to teach children with mild to moderate disabilities.3
- Three in five principals cite inadequate training in classroom management as a major issue.4
Proven classroom management strategies can create positive environments where teachers spend less time disciplining and more time teaching. Job-embedded coaching helps educators implement these strategies effectively.
Instructional Excellence Drives Academic Achievement
With declining test scores, empowering teachers with targeted methodologies like Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is vital. Professional development benefits students and enhances teacher retention, as research shows targeted coaching increases the likelihood of teachers staying in their roles.5
For example, Catapult Learning collaborates with the Mississippi Department of Education to provide professional development and coaching, particularly in math. This initiative includes instructional math coaches offering personalized support, co-teaching, and lesson plan development to improve student outcomes.
Leadership for Positive Impact
Leadership development is essential for school success and educator satisfaction. However, only 14% of educators strongly agree they understand how to reach their career goals.6
By integrating leadership development into professional development (PD) strategies, schools can build effective teams, implement change management, and create nurturing environments, ensuring teachers thrive in their current roles and advance in their careers.
Moving Forward
A holistic PD approach addressing classroom management, instructional excellence, and leadership development empowers educators to tackle challenges effectively. This integrated approach supports better student outcomes and school transformation.
Learn more about Catapult Learning’s PD solutions, including job-embedded coaching, workshops, and the on-demand learning platform PDNow. Visit catapultlearning.com/pd for more information.
