Wilmington Public Schools Provides Results of Professional Development Needs Assessment Survey

Each spring the Wilmington Public School’s Professional Development Committee conducts a needs assessment survey among teachers in the Wilmington Public Schools. Information gathered from the survey is used to inform decision-making regarding professional development.

Prominent themes from this year’s survey included:

• SEI endorsement is a primary concern for educators.
• Special Education workshops/classes are an interest: practical strategies, not an overview.
• Continued interest in Technology workshops.
• Collecting Artifacts: Exemplars of what fits a particular standard, especially in III: Family and Community and IV: Professional Culture.

Below are the results of this year’s survey:

Question #1: Position held in town

• 117 teachers replied to the survey.

Question #2: What type of professional development opportunities most interests you or would you like to see more of?

• Most teachers wanted Wilmington University and after school.
• Licensure Program: BCBA programs, SEI Licensure, Administration, Foreign Language, Mental Health
• Graduate Programs: Autism, CAGS, Reduced rate for graduate programs or free, developmental education, world languages, masters in education
• Collaborative: Behavior Strategies/Health, Arts, Autism Spectrum, Content based workshop, Sally Grimes, Special Education, Mental Health, ELA: guided reading, close reading, etc.
• WU: Behavioral Health, Curriculum Development, SEI, Google, Special Ed technology, Courses taught by teachers, Technology

Question #3: Ideal time of day for courses to be offered:

• 90% said in the afternoon
• Some suggested during school day, individualized pacing, during CIT days, summer

Question #4: Willing to teach a course:

• 80% said no.

Question: #5: Topics of Interest Top-Six

• ADD/ADHD: 50%
• Social or Emotional: 59%
• Autism Spectrum: 49%
• Co-Teaching Strategies: 42%
• Writing Across Content Area: 35%
• DDMs: 33%

Question #6: Additional Assistance for Educator Evaluation

• Collecting Artifacts: 47%
• Gain a better understanding of indicators and elements: 56%
• Writing Smart Goals: 41%