Professional Learning

Janis Parrish, Professional Learning Director

Bremen City Schools System Professional Learning Committee

2006-07

Janis Parrish, Chair Pam Sewell Karen Brock

Donna Patterson Jennifer McGukin Mike Campbell

Janet Sabo Karen Bar Christa Smith

Carla Pollard Lynda Wheeler Duane McManus

Bremen City Schools Professional Learning Goals

2006-07

Implement the Georgia Performance Standards according to the implementation cycle
Continue to implement best practices such as Learning-Focused Schools strategies to address academic achievement
Provide training and support on research-based strategies and practices for closing the achievement gap in the designated student categories:

Socioeconomic, disabilities, race and gender, limited English deficiencies

Achieve highly qualified and certified status for all teachers
Focus on improvement efforts in the core area of writing
Provide an effective induction program for new teachers at the system and school levels
Provide training for teachers and administrators in the effective use

of technology in the classroom and for efficiency / effectiveness in their jobs

Each year, schools assess their professional growth needs by examining achievement data and other student needs. The system professional learning needs assessment, which is submitted to RESA, derives from school needs and is the impetus for system planning. The Bremen City Schools System Professional Learning Committee meets to review the needs that each school has cited and derive at system professional learning goals. This group then votes on the job-embedded professional learning opportunities that are granted professional learning unit credit by Bremen City Schools. This applies to certified staff and the coursework can be specific to each school. Each year, Bremen City has 20 clock hours of professional learning that is required of all certified employees and are a part of their regular contracted work calendar.

Beginning in 2006-07 school year, paraprofessionals are involved in at least 1 PLU credit that is job-embedded. The goal of this professional learning opportunity is to train the paraprofessionals to feel competent and knowledgeable of medical issues that they might encounter with students that they work with. Paraprofessionals must also be recertified every five years, as the certified staff members. They must also accumulate 10 PLU credits over this period of time. The school system funds the professional learning of our paraprofessionals.

Paraprofessionals with one year or less experience are asked to take at least two of the following courses at Northwest Georgia RESA during the first school year as they can be scheduled:

Rights and Responsibilities of the Paraprofessional (1 PLU)
Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (1 PLU)
Classroom Management (1 PLU)

In Bremen City Schools, teachers and paraprofessionals have a wide variety of professional learning opportunities in addition to the job-embedded opportunities. These opportunities may be through NW Georgia RESA, area colleges, regional workshops, and professional conferences. Professional learning credit at workshops and professional conferences must be pre-approved by the Director of Professional Learning. Paperwork to verify attendance where credit is granted should be submitted to the director upon return from the professional learning opportunity.

RESA Registration Information

In order to register for a RESA class or workshop, the employee must register on-line at www.nwgaresa.com , the RESA website. If needed, training is available from the professional learning director. This request is automatically forwarded to the building level principal for approval and then to the professional learning director for approval. After the request is processed at RESA, the employee, the building principal, and the professional learning director, are notified by e-mail that the individual is registered for the class. After one week of submitting a registration on-line, please contact the professional learning director if you have not received confirmation that you have been added to the class.

If an employee cannot attend a RESA class or workshop for which he/ she is registered, it is the employee’s responsibility to call RESA to cancel at least one week ahead of time except for emergencies. If the employee does not cancel and does not attend, he / she must pay the no-show fee.

Travel Reimbursement Guidelines

The system will reimburse an employee for travel, following these guidelines:

The expenses must be requested and approved by the professional learning director prior to the date of the activity. The Bremen City Employee Expense Statement, which is available from the school secretary, should be used.
Mileage is $.445 per mile. Odometer readings must be given.
Meals will be reimbursed up to $6.00 for breakfast, $7.00 for lunch, and $15.00 for dinner. Request only the amount actually spent, however no receipts are necessary. Indicate times of departure and arrival to destination to claim meal reimbursement.
Lodging is reimbursed excluding state sales tax. Attach hotel receipt to form. Submit tax exempt form to hotel at check in to be exempt from state sales tax.

This can not be reimbursed even if you are charged for state sales tax.

Teacher Certification Renewal

Employment as a professional educator or a paraprofessional at Bremen City Schools depends on possession of proper certification or license. Certification renewal is each employee’s personal responsibility. Although Mrs. Gail Crews from the Professional Learning Office notifies employees when certificates or licenses are nearing expiration, the system is not obligated to do so. The employee has the responsibility of earning renewal credit, sending appropriate documentation to Mrs. Crews and filling out necessary paperwork for the state’s Professional Standards Commission before the expiration deadline. Anyone who does not know the certification or licensing requirements for his / her job should talk to Mrs. Gail Crews or Mrs. Janis Parrish at the BOE Annex Building.