The purpose of the Washakie County School District #2 professional development is to improve the quality of teaching and learning, and to directly link our efforts to putting students foremost, ensuring a high bar of professionalism, utilizing instructional technology, sharing research based best practices, and cooperative decision-making. Professional development is targeted on a schoolwide level as well as on individual basis. Our professional development is purposely created to build skills and the promotion of student learning on a continuous basis. We believe that sound and practical professional development programs are positive links to establishing effective instructional practices that will enhance the knowledge of curriculum content, design and delivery.

These principles focus our school district’s attention and resources on professional development strategies for improving student learning and achievement. In addition, there are a variety of conditions that are necessary when implementing effective professional development programs. As such, professional development in Washakie County School District #2: ·

• Focuses on various forms of data to select and design professional development activities
• includes adequate time and follow up support provided to staff to master strategies and goals set forth during professional development activities
• ensures that content of professional development focuses on what students need to know and be able to do and is explicitly connected to the effect on student knowledge  
• supports the implementation of best practices as evidenced by research  
• imparts opportunities to explore, question, and debate in order to integrate new ideas into classroom practice
• preserves a differentiated and evolving approach to meet individual and district needs relating to the teaching and learning progression
• involves teachers in the identification of what they need to learn and in the development of the learning experiences in which they will be involved
• includes the use of flexible timetables for successful implementation of professional development with a focus and understanding that each educator with have different challenges and may need to be supported differently