Professional Development

At EDSS professional development is at the heart of what we do. In short, we know education and we know how valuable high-quality PD is to schools in an era of shrinking budgets.

Our professional development is research-based and our presenters are current and former teachers, building principals, superintendents, curriculum directors, college professors, and chief academic officers. Our staff engages in our own professional development to stay current on educational trends. Each training is aligned to the appropriate state standards. Every attendee of an EDSS training leaves with an action plan for implementation of their new learning. After each training, the EDSS Chief Academic Officer follows up with the attendee on their action plan and offers additional guidance and support on using the new concepts and techniques they learned. Our goal is that every attendee is excited to bring what they have learned back to their school.

School District Assessment Analysis

Tier I

This service is immensely helpful to small districts that may not have the luxury of a curriculum director, and for large districts that want an independent look at their work. In essence, we can function as your curriculum director and plan and source your PD, or we can assist your curriculum director and Title I grant writer to maximize their time. 

This service includes EDSS using a team of practicing educators, such as sitting curriculum directors, business managers, building principals, and chief academic officers will take an independent review of all school district data including :

• A  5 year look back of any high-stakes assessment data (MCAS/Regents et cetera) 

• A 5 year look back at school and district financing and cost increases, including a review of Title I funding and expenditures.

• A 5 year look back at professional development that your district may have offered.

EDSS will generate a confidential report for your school or district leaders that be can shared with stakeholders. EDSS will match that report with your school and district improvement plans revealing how your expenditures support your work. 

Finally and most importantly, we review and “audit-proof” your Title I grant submission. Your professional development dollars will be organized and aligned with your school and district goals. A professional development plan will be created that matches your school and district needs, and funding for a year-long professional development plan will be designed to build on student assessment strengths and ameliorate gaps in student learning and instruction. We will provide you with a plan to provide your classroom instructors with the tools they need to close the gaps in instruction and learning.

Tier II

A lighter level service option from Tier I - The Tier II School District Assessment Analysis includes:

• Review your Title I grant to make it “audit proof”

• Review the last two years of school district assessment data and generate a report for school and district leaders

• Devise a professional development plan for your district to augment student and teacher strengths and ameliorate weaknesses

• Source all professional development training and organize professional development days for maximum effectiveness.

 School Safety Audits

In this unsettled era, school safety has become a key component to the learning process. EDSS has a team made up of police officers, sitting and former police chiefs, school superintendents, and building principals, that will develop a comprehensive safety plan for your school or district develop that is second to none. 

EDSS School Safety Audit includes:

• A review of all school policies with respect to safety

• A physical inspection of each building in your school district

• An observation session of all safety drills

• Interviews with selected faculty and staff

• A plan for each school in the district to host a safety day in which each educator and student can learn not just how to stay safe, but why safety is everyone’s responsibility. If you choose, EDSS will organize and run this school safety day.

• A report will be generated for school and district leaders on the state of school safety in their buildings and district

• EDSS will attend a school committee meeting to share the results

We will provide you with a team of classroom educators, building and district level leaders, as well as police officers (safety professionals), to review your policies, protocols, and physical plants to give guidance on school safety and emotional well-being.

Curriculum Development & Consulting

Often the introduction of a new curriculum can be daunting. EDSS has experience in new curriculum development on both the high-performing and remedial end of this process. Collectively our staff has experience with implementation in bringing in programs ranging from Advanced Placement and the International Baccalaureate on the high-performing end of the curriculum spectrum. 

Members of EDSS  have also built college partnerships with secondary schools in at least three different public school districts. Further, we have vast experience with remedial programming as well as special education programming. Our team has built substantially separate high-needs programs,  comprehensive vocational coursework, and everything in-between, including building an alternative high school from the ground up.

Educator Licensure Review

EDSS gives educator licensure review training each year as a stand-alone professional development. It is one of our most attended PD sessions. EDSS can come into your district and perform a review of all educator licensure and create a pathway to recertification for every educator. This has served to ensure that all teachers in your district are rated as highly-qualified for leveling purposes on the state reporting website.

Dr. Peter Dufresne, a member of the EDSS team has sat on the MA DESE Licensure review board since 2017. Further, Dr. Dufresne has consulted in several other New England states on licensure renewal. Dr. Dufresne has been working with schools, districts, and individual teachers on licensure renewals since 2006.

Instructional Coaching

EDSS can provide instructional coaching to support classroom teachers. Instructional coaching is a service intended to support either teachers or leaders in their practice.  For teachers, the focus will be on his/her instructional practice, in an effort to accomplish an agreed-upon goal (ie. things like improving writing, increasing discussion, reaching a % outcome, or increasing behavioral management skills).  For instructional leaders (ie. teacher leaders, assistant principals, principals, and/or district curriculum leads), the focus will be on equipping teachers to grow in their instructional practice.  All coaching will be conducted in cycles, ensuring multiple touchpoints over the agreed-upon time frame.

Data and Strategic Planning

EDSS can provide data and strategic planning at the school and district levels. Every school and district is inundated with data. This support is aimed at reviewing all of the data to determine common themes and providing recommendations for moving forward strategically. In this work, provided instructional and/or cultural data will be reviewed in conjunction with existing strategic plans (if applicable).  Focus areas will be recommended.  Schools/districts can also request additional support such as accompanying strategic plans, professional development ideas/session creation, team meeting facilitation towards aims, etc.