l To improve operations of

school programs by applying technology to curricular and administrative

functions.

l To improve instruction through

the application of how children learn research and multiple intelligence

research.

l To improve instruction by

training staff for specialized programmatic needs.

The delivery of the staff development

programs come in many forms. The two most common are the school-based

classes and workshops or district-level initiatives and certification

requirements.

Each school is provided with

a staff development budget. The allocation of money per school is based

on the number of certified people who are assigned to that building. This

money is used to support training identified by the school's leadership

team under the direction of the building-level principal. The focus of

school-level staff development often reflects system-level goals and improved

student achievement.

District-level staff development

focuses on training that meets the needs of a broader group of employees.

Our first goal is to provide opportunities for teachers in the area of

teacher certification. Secondly, the curriculum coordinators in the areas

of language arts, math, reading, science, social studies, fine arts, health,

physical education, foreign language and special education determine training

needs for each of the subject areas and offers training to meet these

needs. Textbook adoption years often drive much of the funding for training.

Whenever a new program, textbook or initiative is adopted, then the training

component is not far behind.

Technology training has become

a strong focus in Georgia and Fayette County has met the challenge of

providing hands-on, job-related training for many employees in the area

of technology. InTech, a course designed by the Ga. Department of Education,

has become our training model for teachers to learn how to effectively

integrate technology in a one-computer classroom.

Although some of our teachers

have traveled to locations around the state to receive the 50 hours of

training required for InTech, many have had the opportunity to be trained

in the system training lab or in their own buildings.

House Bill 1187 indicates that

all teachers must be trained in InTech or an approved course by July of

2006 and Fayette County is well on its way of providing this training

to all teachers. We will open a satellite training center under the direction

of the State University of West Georgia Educational Technology Training

Center in October of 2001 and the school system will have a full-time

instructional technology trainer to assist with the demand. In addition

to InTech training, the county offers introductory technology classes

in programs such as Word, Power Point, Excel and Access.

Classified employees have also

received job-related technology training. A secretarial academy is sponsored

in the fall of the year to provide both county- and school-level secretaries

and clerks with updated training based on a needs assessment conducted

through the staff development department each year.

Paraprofessionals are required

to take 50 hours of job related training during the first year of employment

in order to receive a license from the state of Georgia. This training

is provided through the school system, and they also receive introductory-level

technology training as well as other job-related classes. In addition

to regularly scheduled safety meetings, the bus drivers are offered additional

training through the staff development department. This year they will

receive ongoing training on a discipline program being implemented for

all bus drivers in the system.

Leadership personnel have several

opportunities to participate in staff development at the school and county

level. There is an administrative intern program during which teachers

who desire to be building-level administrators get on-the-job training

our school district.

They also participate in a

rigorous program, sponsored through the Griffin Regional Educational Service

Agency, which helps them identify strengths and weaknesses in the area

of administration. The system then provides support to the interns who

wish to participate in training to improve identified weaknesses.

Technology training is also

popular among administrators. InTech, Word, e-mail, Excel and Power Point

are among the favorites as indicated through participation. Attendance

at conferences and workshops outside of Fayette County are often an option

that our system- and building-level administrators use to keep current

on trends and research in education.

The staff development department

organizes and keeps record of all training completed through Fayette County.

Each November employees who participate in training in Fayette County

receive a transcript indicating the courses completed and the number of

units acquired. Although a great deal of training is held in the summer,

there continues to be a growing need for training throughout the school

year.

New Teacher Induction and the

mentoring program are also functions of the staff development department.

Although new teachers to Fayette County are provided with training for

five days in the summer, this support continues throughout the school

year. First-year teachers are assigned trained mentors at their buildings

who provide support throughout the year. There is also a county-level

mentor assigned to all first-year teachers to assist with training needs.

These mentors provide support, training and feedback for the first three

years that a teacher teaches in Fayette County. Experienced teachers who

are hired in Fayette County are assigned a "buddy" to help them

acclimate to the curriculum and the way the system operates.

National Board Certification

is supported through the staff development department. The system hires

teachers who have successfully completed national certification to help

teachers who are presently going through the process. This is a yearlong

process which includes completing many tasks, documentation and a written

exam. The staff development department provides support for the teachers

involved in the process.

Staff development is an integral

part of the Fayette County school system. Outside consultants are sometimes

hired to help with specialized training needs; however, many of our own

teachers develop and deliver training needed to enhance our instructional

programs.

Input from teachers, instructional

leaders and other employees help identify training needs and the training

is organized and delivered through the staff development department. The

only way to effectively make change in any aspect of the school system

is through the implementation and follow-up of effective training programs

designed to address the change.

[Terri Gaspierik heads the

staff development department in the Fayette County school system.]