Job Title: Professional Development Specialist
| Reports to: | Supervisor of Staff Development |
| Job Group: | Professional Technical |
| FLSA: | Exempt |
| Job Code: | 1728, 1746 |
| Salary Schedule: | APT01 |
JOB GOAL
Responsible for collaborating with teachers, curriculum leaders, and administrators within regions to provide professional development and support the growth of stakeholders in alignment with the District and school vision, mission, and goals; implementing strategies to achieve those objectives; and developing monitoring efforts to ensure effective implementation.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Build regional capacity for and provide ongoing, job-embedded professional development for adult learners that: promotes standards-driven instruction within Professional Learning Communities (PLCs); encourages inquiry, creativity, communication, critical thinking, and problem solving skills through the independent use of instructional resources in the learning environment; stimulates the development of innovative research-based teaching strategies and reflective practices in order to provide students with opportunities to develop the necessary skills required to master state and national standards.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to design and facilitate professional development for district and regional instructional staff that promote best practices using rubrics connected to the District’s instructional framework.
- Identify and acknowledge Professional Learning Communities that effectively utilize standards to plan for and use best instructional practices and develop systems to share those practices in order to build capacity within and across schools.
- Ensure a link between professional development and a change in practice with ongoing monitoring, including observation, feedback, and reflection.
- Support PLCs by teaching, modeling, and supporting collaborative structures; assisting with the analysis of various types of data for the purpose of evaluating instructional efforts; and making recommendations for professional development as needed.
- Continually reflect and apply current research and emerging trends in the area of professional development aligned to the professional growth system.
- Participate in and facilitate professional learning communities to deepen understanding and implementation of the school/district focus areas.
- Serve as a liaison between others in like positions, including school-based, regional, and district support teams, to provide a team approach to school needs.
- Provide guidance in selection, location, utilization, and evaluation of resources to support learning objectives within a standards-based system and meet the individual needs and interests of students and adult learners.
- Serve as a member of appropriate committees.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form using positive interpersonal skills with school-based, regional, and district support teams
- Ability to employ effective coaching and facilitation skills to plan for and respond to learning across content areas
- Ability to reflect and apply knowledge from current research on best practices for improving student achievement
- Demonstrate command of leadership skills in formal and informal settings
- Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage work assignments in an efficient manner
- Ability to collaborate effectively across school-based, regional, and district support teams
- Knowledge and understanding of the Common Core State Standards and effective instructional strategies
EDUCATION, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
- Experience using current communication technologies
- Successful instructional experience, including coaching and mentoring adults
- Experience evaluating, designing, and facilitating professional development for adults
- Experience leading professional learning communities
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES & REGISTRATIONS
- Valid Florida Educator’s Certificate
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Post-graduate degree in an educational field from an accredited institution
- Experience with project implementation and management
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
None
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull or move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, talk, and hear; stand and walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. The employee occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 25 pounds. Specific vision ability required by this job includes close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Indoors and Outdoors: The worker is subject to both environmental conditions. Activities occur inside and outside.
MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT
- General office equipment, including personal computers, fax machines, copiers, telephones, etc.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
Salary and benefits shall be paid consistent with the District’s approved compensation plan. Length of the work year and hours of employment shall be established by the District.
Performance of the job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the School Board’s policy on evaluation of personnel.
Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Pasco County Schools will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to perform the essential functions of the job when such individuals request an accommodation.
