Teacher Support

LCSD offers many supports for teachers including instructional coaching and personalized learning opportunities.

Induction for all teachers in their first and second year with our school division

Our school division embraces a growth mindset where all professionals can reflect on their teaching using data, specific strategy focus, student work and collaboration. All newly hired teachers, regardless of previous experience, participate in two years of instructional coaching support and an induction program. This begins with two orientation sessions that focus on the principles of great teaching and the LCSD ways. It then moves to a series of classroom visits that focus on management, organization, student engagement, classroom discussion, formative assessment and teacher learning goals. By offering support, feedback, and intensive, individualized professional learning, coaching promises to be a better way to improve instruction in schools. These teachers are also invited to participate in several learning sessions that better support their classroom instruction and optional book studies. This structure (sample) can be followed or teachers can determine their own professional learning goals with the coach.

Coaching requires a trusting relationship and sufficient time to provide the individualized professional learning that is most relevant to a teacher’s needs.

After two years of employment, teachers and administrators can choose to engage in a coaching partnership where they drive the topics, focus and action steps. Teams of teachers also engage in coaching ranging from curriculum support to data analysis to instructional strategies.

Instructional Design Team Program

The Goals of the Instructional Design Team are:

To provide an instructional coaching program that maintains, enhances and improves student academic success by focussing on the skills and strategies of effective teaching.
To identify, promote, and support research-based teaching strategies that focus on communication, collaboration, creativity, citizenship and character.
To support the implementation of educational technology into instructional practice.
To provide and facilitate differentiated support and professional learning opportunities that give authentic learning experiences to educators.
To coordinate division structures that support a strong professional environment of collaboration and reflective practice.
To support division structures, initiatives and leadership in moving towards goals.

Our Instructional Design Team Supervisors

Supervisors have differentiated roles with one important common piece. Each supervisor's core role is an instructional coach and has a specific grade range that they engage in coaching. All supervisors are facilitators of the orientation and induction process.

Our coaching program offers a non-evaluative, learning relationship between a coach and a teacher, both of whom share the expressed goal of learning together, thereby improving instruction and student achievement.

Coaching requires a trusting relationship and sufficient time to provide the individualized professional learning that is most relevant to a teacher's needs. Coaches often employ collaborative conversations (sometimes referred to as conferences), model lessons, observations, and mutual problem solving to assist teachers in implementing and mastering new teaching practices.

As instructional coaches, supervisors participate in their own professional development. The first focus is on best coaching practices. Our strategies are anchored in the Learning Forward structure that focuses on Instructional Specialist, Curriculum Specialist, Resource Provider, Data Coach, Mentor, Classroom Supporter, Learning Facilitator, School Leader, Catalyst for Change and Learner. Reflective dialogue is an ongoing part of the skill set. Secondly, we focus on deepening our knowledge about teaching practices. Thirdly, we focus on our facilitation skills. As a team, we meet monthly to reflect on our learning and skill set.

Additionally, the supervisors lead and collaborate with Instructional Design Leads. Each school has Instructional Design leads that can support all teachers.

Instructional Design Lead (IDL) Program

The goal of the instructional lead program is to:

Provide teachers with ongoing opportunities to collaborate, participate, and observe classroom teaching practices with a focus on quality Tier One Instruction, SEL, educational technology and cross-curricular competencies.
Grow and build sustainability in understanding adult learning and reflective practice.
Provide IDL's with targeted professional learning that would support future coaching and leadership opportunities within the school division.
Each school has assigned leads.

Professional Learning Sessions

Our school division offers a large number of professional learning sessions communicated through our Professional Learning Journal each year. The sessions are led by supervisors and teachers that have experience or expertise in an area. Sessions are offered both during the instructional day and after schools.

Our Administrators

Our Administrators are the Instructional Leaders of their schools. The IDT supports and collaborates with Administrators regularly to reflect on, scaffold and maintain the integrity of instruction at each school.