Professional Development Reps Fight for Meaningful PD Experiences

The Paterson Expanded Local Professional Development Board (PELPDB) consists of Esperanza Anastasio, Supervisor, Science; Michael Gowdy, Coordinator at Garrett Morgan Academy; Lori Harvell, Supervisor, Early Childhood; Robert Salviano, Supervisor of Math; Richard Sanducci, Principal at E.W.K.; Loretta Kelly, Supervisor, Staff Development; Anthony Maestry, Supervisor Bilingual/ESL; Nichelle Gordon-Scott, Supervisor, Staff Development; Rosetta Wilson, Coordinating Director Of Curriculum and Instruction; Lou Ann Crotty, Math Coach, School #14, (appointed by the district); Elaine Williams, Teacher, School #20, (appointed by the district); Debra Patsel, Chairperson elected by P.E.A., Tech Coordinator School #7; the following persons were all elected by the P.E.A. membership to be on the Committee. Michelle Flagg, Teacher School #25; Michael Ollo, Teacher Rosa Parks; Carol Anne Leonard-Kunzig, Teacher School 25.

The following P.E.A. members have been appointed by the P.E.A. to fulfill the Abbott state mandate for the Expanded Local Professional Development Committee. The membership of the local unit of representation is expected to match one to one with the administration on the committee so that the teacher's are fully represented since Professional Development impacts us on a daily basis. They are, Milt Horowitz, PPTA; Gayle Hopps, School # 15; Lecia Minor, HARP Academy.

The Association is still looking for members to volunteer to be on the committee. We need representation from special education, the high schools and various other disciplines. What type of commitment? Currently, we meet once a month. This will increase at certain times of the year depending on the workload and the specific project we are working on. This should be viewed as a serious commitment. Members of the committee should be willing to join the National Staff Development Council to better understand the area of Professional Development and be willing to read books and professional journals. They will need to become familiar with the "Powerful Designs for Professional Learning" model the state is advocating. And, of course, they should be passionate and able to question authority.

The members of the Association have been left out of the process for a while. The current members of the committee have been working hard at changing that attitude. We have been successful at developing a new direction for the committee, and we are all working in a more cooperative spirit. The atmosphere has improved, the attitude is better and all see a new start coming. To keep a check on the process our representatives get the assistance of the N.J.E.A. professional development division's expertise.

The P.E.A. ELPDB's new goal for the entire district will be to help staff understand what professional development is and isn't and how best to implement these shifts in the perception of professional development. Many principals have complained about the amount of time teachers are out of the buildings, so, much of PD will be job embedded. We will concentrate on the Powerful Designs model.

Interested in forging a new beginning? You can make a difference. Please join us. Contact Debbie Patsel at the P.E.A. offices, 973.881.9445, or send and email to patedassn@aol.com.