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Keene School Administrative Unit (S.A.U.) #29
Keene, NH
School Type: Public
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School Setting: Suburban
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Level: K-12
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School Design: Traditional
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Content Presented By:
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The Education Alliance at Brown University
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Design and Implementation
- The planning and design of this professional development program was completed by a K-12
technology team made up of S.A.U. teachers, administrators, parents, and board members. The team
conducted a technology needs assessment by surveying the more than 600 staff members and teaching
faculty of S.A.U. #29. The response rate to the survey was about 85%, and the technology team
learned that staff and faculty desired ongoing professional development, conducted by well-prepared
trainers, and with peer support provided on-site as a follow up. To implement such a plan, the
technology team considered a "train-the-trainers" model whereby a certain number of teachers from
each school were trained to work with others and to provide on-site support.
- Trainers' contracts stipulated that they would participate in training; attend all training
sessions; and, once trained, agree to teach at least two classes and to work as a resource in their
schools for teachers in need of help.
- For teachers going through the professional development program, their training could be used in two ways:
as S.A.U.-required contract days and as clock hours for staff development (New Hampshire law requires
that teachers obtain 50 clock hours of staff development every three years to be recertified). By
providing on-site training which meets teachers' needs and allows them to fulfill other requirements, this model has helped to keep teachers in the district for their
professional development; worked to keep trainers motivated to learn more; and cut costs
substantially, since the S.A.U. no longer has to pay as much in travel costs associated with teachers
attending out-of-district professional development events.
- Trainers design the curriculum, and training takes place in the summer (although during 2000 the
S.A.U. will experiment with courses offered during the school year, at night, and on weekends).
Workshops range from 4 to 15 hours each, and they are offered in a wide range of subject areas.
The program is limited to 30 trainers (trainers are replaced as they leave), and the
curriculum is consistently updated.
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