As educators we may be a little biased, but we truly believe that choosing to teach is one of the most noble professions a person can pursue. Without talented, motivated educators, some of the world’s most innovative and brilliant minds might not have had the skills they needed to articulate their ideas or bring their inventions to life.
Far too often, however, educational institutions assume that because teachers earned a degree and completed in-classroom training for their chosen specialty, they have all the skills they need to create a successful career–for themselves and their students. This isn’t the case, of course. Like all careers, teaching requires constant professional development in order to put educators on the path to success.
The Professional Development Center at Glendale Community College in Montrose is dedicated to helping teachers find and take advantage of opportunities to build new skills and gain knowledge that will advance their careers. Keep reading to learn more or contact us today!
Professional Development Is Important For Educators Because…
Learning Is A Lifelong Journey
This applies to every career path, but it’s even more important for educators because, well, they’re the ones tasked with teaching others how to learn! When we talk about learning in this context, however, it’s about professional skills and how to use them to better serve the communities and classrooms in which teachers work every day. “…when subject knowledge is updated, experienced teachers need access to professional learning opportunities to be refreshed on these subject areas, because what teachers know is a major influence on how students learn,” explains TeacherMatch.org.
Classroom Needs Are Constantly Changing
The learning environment in which teachers and students operate in the 21st century is vastly different from what your parents, or perhaps even you, would recognize as a traditional classroom. Today’s teachers need to not only have a good grasp of their particular subject matter, they must also know how to handle students with various physical, mental, and emotional needs; advanced learning technologies; and the demands of state and national testing standards. Without professional development opportunities that prepare them to meet these and other challenges, teacher methodologies quickly become out of date, putting both the educator and their students at risk.
Administrative Roles Require Different Skills
It’s also important to remember that not everyone who starts out as a teacher wishes to remain in that role forever. Today’s teachers are looking for opportunities to move into better-paying administrative positions, both in their own school and in institutions of higher learning. To be considered for these job opportunities, teachers must have more than just classroom experience. Leadership skills, management training, and experience with administrative operations can make all the difference.
The PDC At Glendale Community College Offers Continuous Improvement For Teachers
If you’re a teacher in the Montrose or Glendale areas who is looking for professional development opportunities that will advance your career, we encourage you to contact us. Glendale Community College offers courses in computer skills, leadership skills, and team building skills that could be crucial to your career in the future. Enroll today!