Teachers Academy

Improving Student Learning through Professional Development

What is Teachers Academy? Teachers Academy is a replication of the very successful Leadership Academy, which has been fundamental in providing professional growth for school district administrators. Teachers Academy provides an intellectually stimulating and nurturing environment for both personal and professional growth through collaboration and action research. Academy Fellows are involved in a year-long commitment to the program.

Why Participate in the RPDC Teachers Academy?

• It's an opportunity to collaborate, learn and network with other highly committed educators from the region.
• It's an opportunity to develop the skills and strategies necessary to lead your school or district in the challenge extended through No Child Left Behind.
• It's an opportunity to deepen existing content knowledge and pedagogical skills necessary to meet the requirement of being a highly qualified teacher.
• It provides an opportunity to increase teachers' knowledge of effective instructional strategies and to reflect on practice, developing a greater sense of efficacy.
• All participants will have the opportunity to earn college credit.
• Who Qualifies to be a Teachers Academy Fellow?
• A classroom teacher with three years of teaching experience.
• A teacher that demonstrates effective classroom practices.
• A teacher with a sustained commitment toward professional growth.
• Master's Degree preferred.

Dates and Times for the 2011-2012 Teachers Academy

• T, Sept. 6th 4:30 – 7:00 Opening meeting; a light supper will be served.
• T, Oct. 4th 8:30 – 3:30 CSD sponsored workshop: “Beating the Odds for All Students: Making
• the Playing Field Equal” Dr. Sharon Faber, presenter.
• W, Nov. 16th 8:30 – 3:30 Joint session with Leadership Academy—LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY
• Student engagement and cooperative learning
• M, Dec. 12th 12:30 – 3:30
• Th, Jan. 12th 12:30 – 3:30
• W, Feb. 15th 8:30 – 3:30 METC Conference at St. Charles Convention Center
• W, Mar. 7th 8:30 – 3:30
• Th, Apr. 26th 4:00 – 7:00 “Graduation Dinner” and presentation of Action Research Projects
• There will also be additional offerings that are optional, including the Best Practices Conference in February.
• All of our sessions (unless noted) will be held at the Regional Professional Development Center on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. The center is housed in the Regional Center for Education and Work building, which is on the northeast end of the campus.
• Directions to RPDC

For more information, contact Peggy Dersch, director, at pdersch@csd.org or 314-229-1292