• Half-day session stipends of $50; full-day stipends of $100

• REGISTER for non-tech trainings shown below

• Half-day session stipends of $50

• All sessions will be in the library at Wilson Elementary

• REGISTER for tech trainings shown below

• Introductory ActivPanel, July 23, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

This interactive, in-person session will be most beneficial to teachers who are new to ActivPanels. Participants will take a slow walk through the basic features of the board, such as switching between displays and using the integrated menu and tools.

• Intermediate ActivPanel, July 23, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This interactive, in-person session will be most beneficial to teachers who have experience using basic features of the ActivPanel. Participants will focus on intermediate skills, such as connecting directly to your Google Drive and allowing students to share their screens for viewing on the Panel.

• Build a Class Newsletter with Canva, July 24, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Canva for Education is an online graphic design tool.  Participants will learn about the basic navigation of the site, as well as build a class newsletter using resources within Canva.  All elementary teachers will have access to Canva during the 2024-2025 school year, but use of this program is voluntary. Please bring your staff Chromebook to this session.

• Write On! Exploring Writable's AI-Powered Features for 5th Grade, July 25, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Writable will only be available to fifth grade teachers and students during the 2024-2025 school year. This interactive, in-person session will take a slow walk through Writable, an online writing program for fifth grade teachers and students.  We will also look at how the built-in AI features, such as prompt suggestions and suggested feedback, can help teachers save time. Please bring your staff Chromebook to this session.

• Half-day session stipends of $50; full-day stipends of $100

• REGISTER

• Half-day session stipends of $50; $100 for full-day sessions

• All sessions will be conducted in BHS Lab F001 just west of the Freshman Academy library

• REGISTER for tech trainings shown below

• Edpuzzle, August 2, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

This interactive, in-person session will take a slow walk through Edpuzzle, a web-based tool that allows teachers to add assessment questions into a video and includes a Canvas integration. All secondary teachers will have access to Edpuzzle during the 2024-2025 school year, but use of the program is voluntary.

• Learn AI with Writable, August 2, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This interactive, in-person session will be most beneficial to current classroom teachers. Participants will learn about a new tool called Writable that is accessible on Canvas. Additionally they will learn about teaching with AI (Artificial Intelligence) that engages students and motivates better writing in the moment for any subject area.

• Beginner Instructional Technology, August 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This interactive, in-person session lasts a full day with a $100 stipend and will be most beneficial to teachers who are new to the district. Participants will focus on the instructional technology needed to get started in their classes. Topics will include Beginner Canvas, PowerTeacher, and textbook integration.

• Textbook Integration, split into two sessions:

  • Social Studies & ELA, August 9, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

  • Science & Electives, August 9, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

  • (Savvas will conduct math trainings on July 29)

This interactive, in-person session will include information on how to access your online textbook, including any integrations with Clever or Canvas. We will also cover how your students will access their online materials. Each participant will receive information corresponding to their specific textbook's integration and will have time to familiarize themselves with the integration.

The Professional Growth service from Frontline Education is how the district tracks and supports staff Professional Development, including:

• Tracking the professional development points earned by staff members

• Signing up for district workshops

• Centralizing the evaluations and materials for district workshops

• Providing access to a large library of video training resources to assist staff members with targeted professional development, including the new Professional Learning Focus requirement

Staff members set up accounts via email invitations. If you need an invitation sent to you, contact Jennifer Turner at the ESC.

Frontline Professional Growth login

Help with Using Frontline's Professional Growth 

There are also instructional videos posted in a "Frontline Training" Team Drive for Instructional Technology Assistants, Instructional Coaches, Department Chairs, Grade Level and Special Area Elementary Coordinators, and Middle School Building Coordinators who have instructor rights in the Professional Growth system.

In-district professional development is tracked through sign-in sheets at the workshop/training and is recorded in Frontline's Professional Growth system.

• Out-of-district professional development after July 1, 2017 is tracked with Professional Growth. 

• Before you can attend an out-of-district professional development activity, the activity must be approved by your building principal or your direct supervisor.

• All purchase orders for registration, travel, lodging, per-diem, materials fees, miscellaneous fees, stipends and substitutes must be requested six weeks before the first day of the activity.  The BPSD Board must approve all Purchase Requests before a Purchase Order can be issued.  A Purchase Order must be in place before the first day of the activity.  Advanced planning for out-of district professional development activities is critical. You can access the Travel Forms online.

• To receive professional development credit for an out-of-district professional development activity, AFTER THE ACTIVITY HAS BEEN COMPLETED you must:

  • Scan and upload a copy of your participation certificate or some other proof completion into Professional Growth. (If you lack the documentation, you’ll need to insert a comment in the form to that effect and your supervisor will know to work with you on obtaining confirmation.)

  • Complete and submit the online PDA Out of District Request Form in Frontline's Professional Growth. Click here for instructions on requesting Out-of-District credit.

Every five years, full-time teachers must acquire 75 hours of professional development.

• Two hours per year of professional development have to be technology related. (You can document this yourself and have a principal sign-off.)

• Part-time teachers have no defined amount of hours required, but must come to district professional development days.

• If you are currently going through alternative certification, you need to verify with Kelli Bryant the amount of hours you must document; the amount varies for different teachers. Please contact her so that you aren’t blindsided by a requirement of 150 hours when it is too late.

• TLE Professional Learning Focus

• BPSD Teacher Residency Portfolio Template