In 2021-22 GHAPS professional development focused on Courageous Conversations, and was planned by the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee. 28% of the staff did not believe this professional development supported their needs. This was up from 18% the year before.
For future professional development 31% of staff said they would like to focus on teaching strategies most impactful to student growth, 31% said behavior and classroom management, and 41% said intervention strategies. In addition, teachers said they would like professional development on technology instruction, feedback that raises achievement, teaching students in poverty, classroom learning labs and PLCs. Comments show that teachers feel professional development is too broad and therefore not applicable to all teachers. They want professional development that is more individually targeted for unique teaching situations. Overall, many teachers want professional development that focuses on student academics and ways that can help them be more effective teachers.
Here are three comments from teachers regarding professional development.
“Let each building have some say in what we do for PD. Not all buildings need the same things.”
Teacher comment 2020-21
“I love our school. I love our district and community. I am passionate about my career and supporting learning and growing students. I am not usually one to speak up. But I do have a few things on my heart from this year. I have always felt valued, supported, and encouraged through GHAPS. This year has been difficult for all of us.
Although I disagree with many of the COVID procedures personally, I respectfully follow the rules and support our leaders. I truly understand the predicament that we are in. I honor what you ask me to do regardless of my opinion and the way that it affects me as an individual. That’s what I believe- we respect our leadership and honor the tough decisions and the wrestle-- because we are all human. So, I want to say, thank you for making hard decisions. We know GHAPS is doing the best that they can. I am so proud of how our district advocated for in-person learning. However, I have felt disrespected as an individual this year.
Starting the year off at an equity training where I was referred to as “white folk” and being sent emails about my “whiteness”. I fully value the equity work and as we dive deeper...might we do this without defining the people who are here, sitting in our space, by our skin color? I am more than just my “whiteness”. I am proud of who I am, who my children are, and my students AND I want to do more with equity. Could we think about how to do both? In addition, we were asked as a district to leave our political opinions at home via a very specific email.
I can’t tell you how much I agree with that- there are more than just two sides...there are many sides. If we are to move forward with a healthy and collaborative culture-- I feel this may need to be revisited. I have to be honest, I did not feel that this email was fully understood and have been shocked at what it looked like to leave our political opinions at home. I’ve never seen this in all my years at GHAPS. I think that in order to move forward, we have to set aside our political beliefs and work together to support our students. I really believe we can do both. What might it look like to model this? We all hold our beliefs close to our hearts...they are part of us! But even though there are many political opinions that may be vastly different throughout our district...we can all honor our common belief- education and supporting our students.
In addition- I was troubled by something shared on a choice board in our Black history month curriculum. Talking about kneeling for the flag/anthem/protesting. The articles that were linked in that section are controversial and mature. I was shocked to see this as a choice for our learners to investigate at school. GHAPS- we are all learning. We are all growing. We all want to be better. This includes me, I am working right alongside you. I am hoping that GHAPS can take these thoughts and feelings along with the many others that you will surely receive and grow. Thank you so much for all that you do and thank you for providing a venue for our voices to be heard and respected.”
Teacher comment 2021-22
“After the past two years, I believe that there is a divide in schools with staff and community. I think time, money and PD should be devoted to parent involvement and community involvement. I think so much has happened in the past few years and I’m concerned about the disengagement and disconnect with parents and families.
Evidence of this comes from our recent board meetings, discussions with parents, and hearing families look for plans to learn in different ways outside of GHAPS [i.e. leaving the district]. We are losing amazing learners and families and I think that we need to partner with parents and families and engage them in amazing curricular work at GHAPS.
Additionally, I’d like to see resources focus on curriculum rather than social justice. I am fully aware that this is an unpopular opinion and I respect the interest that other staff and families have in their beliefs. I have loved and will continue to love EVERY child and family that walks through the doors of my classroom because I know that they are fearfully and wonderfully made! I care for them from the bottom of my heart, lose sleep over their troubles, cry with them, jump for joy with them when they have a celebration…and these trainings won’t change that, in fact, I believe that they cause a staff and community divide especially because of how they are communicated.
I felt like our “consultants” were hired quietly and I’ve heard and seen enough to find them incredibly unprofessional. I wish that our staff would have been able to weigh in on their purpose and who was being hired for this work. I’ve truly been shocked at some of the things that have been said. They’ve lost respect from me and many of my colleagues. I think you’ve taken some very sensitive topics- many have gone too far- and communicated them unprofessionally. I’m wondering how we might connect staff and community through this messy situation. It has been dividing to staff and our community. And I will honestly say, I believe some of the work has merit, it’s just been delivered terribly! And some of it is really gray area that a many of us do not follow. Might additional learning around this be a choice? I have mentioned this before & received a clear no, but I continue to promote choice to value staff beliefs. I’d love to see more of the trauma work- I believe that has great value.”
Although this staff member may feel alone, he/she is not alone in his/her feelings. We know. When we were door knocking for the November 2022 school board election, we met many teachers (past and present) with similar feelings. Many have privately reached out to us with words of encouragement. They want to be seen and heard. They want their voices back.
GHAPS administration continually says they want everyone to feel included and want all voices to be heard, but these three survey comments from GHAPS teachers clearly show that these sentiments are lacking. This staff member mentioned they have made suggestions and received a clear no. At least one staff member who has spoken out in opposition to these trainings no longer works at GHAPS. GHAPS has a culture issue and teachers are being silenced right alongside parents who disagree with the direction in which the school district is heading. Recent professional development has been more divisive than unifying and is causing our teachers to feel isolated and alone. Many families have already left the district due to similar issues. (Declining Enrollment) Without changes that focus on academics, it is just a matter of time until this teacher and others with similar feelings will decide to leave.
Grand Haven, how long will our community allow this to continue?