2010/2011 Professional Development Days

In March 2010, Bruce Thomas and I met with John Gaiptman, ChrisHarvey, Kevin Luchies and John Bird to discuss the 2010/2011 Professional Development Days. We tentatively agreed to the following dates:

April 23, 2010 – School-based Professional Development Day.  Teachers will participate in a school-based or self-directed professional development activity.  If asked, teachers will inform the principal of their plans for the day.  There is no requirement for a written report.

May 21, 2010 – School-based Professional Development Day.  Teachers shall participate in a school-based professional development activity.  In the circumstance where a teacher wishes to undertake a self-directed professional development activity, there must be mutual agreement between the teacher and the principal.

September 20, 2010 – School-based Professional Development Day.  Teachers shall participate in a school-based professional development activity.  In the circumstance where a teacher wishes to undertake a self-directed professional development activity, there must be mutual agreement between the teacher and the principal. 

October 22, 2010 – Provincial and District Day.  Teachers choose to participate in an activity organized by the District, GVTA or provincial or regional organizations such as PSA’s or LSA’s or choose a self-directed activity.  This is an autonomous day and no sharing of information is required. 

November 26, 2010 – School-based Professional Development Day.  Teachers will participate in a school-based or self-directed professional development activity.  If asked, teachers will inform the principal of their plans for the day.  There is no requirement for a written report.

February 18, 2011 – Tri-District Day.  

May 20, 2011 – School-based Professional Development Day.  Teachers will participate in a school-based or self-directed professional development activity.  If asked, teachers will inform the principal of their plans for the day.  There is no requirement for a written report.

School determined date - School-based Professional Development Day.  Teachers will participate in a school-based or self-directed professional development activity.  If asked, teachers will inform the principal of their plans for the day.  There is no requirement for a written report.

Additional Information - In any given school-year, the above-dates must be set in the spring of the previous year for posting on the upcoming school calendar.   Attendance at professional development days outside of the official bookends of the school year is strictly voluntary.  In other words, teachers are not obligated to attend summer professional development.

Pro-D Funding and Forms You Will Need

All members of the GVTA (contract teachers and TOCs alike) are entitled to access funds from the Joint GVTA/GVSD Pro-D Fund. Before applying, please read the Pro-D Q & A Pamphlet.

How do I apply? How much funding is available? What may I use it for?

Answers to these and other questions are found in the...

 Pro-D Q & A Pamphlet 47.53 Kb

Apply for funds for conferences using the... 

 Pro-D Funding Application (Conference) 13.91 Kb

... which you are urged to read completely, as the form contains important information about processing times for your application and reimbursement, along with directions about sending original receipts after you've attended your event.

Financial Assistance is also available for Professional Development activities organized by Local Specialist Associations (LSAs) and at school sites.

 LSA or School Grant Professional Development Application Form

Each GVTA member who wishes to pursue Teacher As Researcher, Teacher Helping Teacher or Professional Book Club activities may apply.  To do so, fill out the regular Pro-D application form and one of the forms linked below.  For more information, please see the ProD Funding Q&A Brochure linked above.

 Teacher As Researcher Form 10.20 Kb

 Teacher Helping Teacher Form 10.25 Kb

 Professional Book Club Form 10.36 Kb

Information you need to know about Summer Pro-D:

Any applications you submit for July and August are considered Pro-D for the new school year.  Please keep this in mind, as you cannot apply for funds twice in the same school year. See Pro-D Q & A Pamphlet, or call the GVTA office (595-0181), for more details.

Pro-D Opportunities

• BCTF Professional Development Calendar 
• University of Victoria Continuing Studies 
  

Provincial Specialist Associations

The BCTF includes 33 provincial specialist associations (PSAs). PSAs are channels for members to exchange ideas on research, teaching strategies, curriculum development, and other shared interests.

Quality teaching

• Peer Support Service brochure 
• Program for Quality Teaching
  • Action Research 
  • Teacher Collaboration
• Teacher Action research
  • Teaching for Social Justice
  • Teacher Research in the Backyard

Self-Directed Pro-D

• Tools for self-directed PD
• PD Log 

Resources

• Professional journals online pilot project
• PD Services Book 
• Online journals
• BCTLA Book Reviews

Professional Development funding update

 Pro-D Funding Update 74.42 Kb  

Professional Development Letter of Agreement accepted "in principle" by GVTA membership at General Meeting

This agreement between the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association and the Greater Victoria School District (#61) is made without prejudice or precedence in this or any other School District.
 
The Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association and the Greater Victoria School District (#61) will make a joint effort to ensure that this becomes part of a mid-contract modification.  In the event that the mid-contract modification is not accepted by the BC Public School Employers’ Association or the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, the agreement shall remain in effect and will only be reviewed upon agreement of the Board and the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association.
 
The actual dates for the non-instructional days will be determined each year in accordance with article F.2.1.

 Letter of Agreement

Provincial and District Professional Development Days
 
The professional development days in October and February referred to in Articles F.2.1 and F.2.2 of the Collective Agreement will be planned as specified.  The October day is considered to be a Provincial Specialist Association day and the February day is considered to be a District Local Specialist Association day for a District Conference.

School based Professional Development Days
 
The three days referred to in F.2.3¹ and the Ministry non-instructional day as per the School Act, School Calendar Regulation 9(1), will be planned by the schools in accordance with A.12.  All teachers will have the opportunity to be involved in the planning for these days. It is agreed that no dispute shall arise so long as all days are planned in accordance with A.12.
 
Prior to May 31st of the previous year, the Board, in consultation with the GVTA, will determine which two of the school based four days are days in which teachers will participate in a school-based professional development activity or a self-directed professional development activity.  If asked, teachers will inform their principal of their plans for the day.
 
The remaining two school based days are days in which teachers shall participate in a school-based professional development activity.  If a teacher wishes to undertake a self-directed professional development activity, there must be agreement between the teacher and the principal. One of these two days shall be the Ministry non-instructional day.
 
If a particular school wishes to change the dates of which two days require agreement between the teacher and principal, the school administration and school staff committee shall agree on alternate dates, subject to the approval of the Superintendent.
 
The parties shall have a joint committee that will meet at least once annually to discuss issues relevant to Professional Development.
 
For the 2007-2008 school year, prior to September 17th, 2007, the Superintendent, in consultation with the GVTA, shall determine which two professional development days are days on which a teacher and principal must agree for teachers wishing to do self-directed professional development activities.
 
During the force of this agreement the GVTA Pro-D action plan of September 2007, related to this agreement will cease.  Teachers will be advised of the Letter of Agreement.  Any violations of this letter of agreement will be subject to the grievance procedure as outlined in Article A.6 of the Collective Agreement.  

2006/07 Letter of Agreement regarding Pro-D days

The rights and responsibilities of the teachers and the School District on Pro-D days are currently in dispute between the GVTA and the GVSD. A Letter of Agreement defines these rights and responsibilities for the eight Pro-D days occuring between March 2006 to June 2007.

 Letter of Agreement

Principles and History of Our Professional Development 

The following documents discuss the history and importance of teacher professional development:

• Teachers Take Charge of Their Learning, report published by the National Foundation for the Improvement of Education.
• Professional Development Days: Historical Perspective (1972-1996)
• BCTF Professional Development Policies and Procedures (reprinted from the Members' Guide to the BCTF)