Support Professional Development
and Communities of Practice

Action Steps
for Superintendents and District Leadership Teams

• Collaborate as a leadership team to determine current and new professional development needs and investigate ways in which technology can support these needs.
• Determine what your district needs to do to implement technology-based professional development and communities of practice.
• Provide technology that enables every educator to participate in an online or technology-based community of practice with peers across and outside of your district.
• Review how other school systems are accessing online or technology-based professional development content.
• Provide peer coaches who understand and practice effective pedagogy in compelling learning environments to lead professional development sessions. Focus on skill development, not content.
• Identify pockets of excellence and use these environments as standards for school improvement.
• Use technology to meet the diverse needs of students.

"We have high expectations of our staff. We don't want you to work here unless you are comfortable with and able to use technology."
— Dr. Chip Kimball, Superintendent, Lake Washington School District, Redmond, WA