GAD.AR GAD.AR - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES The Baldwin County Board of Education is committed to the concept that staff development is an effective means to improve educational programs and upgrade the knowledge and skills of educational personnel. It also believes that a staff development program which is a part of the system's total educational plan will lead to better qualified and prepared professional personnel and will facilitate progress toward improved instruction and curriculum. The goals and objectives of the system's staff development plan shall be directly related to the goals and objectives of the total educational plan, as well as those of each school in Baldwin County. PURPOSE: The Baldwin County Board of Education recognizes the need for a continuous staff development program which offers opportunities for personnel to expand their knowledge and to develop skills and attitudes needed to effectively perform their duties and responsibilities. The purpose of this policy is to ensure the continuation of an appropriate staff development program. REQUIREMENTS: A staff development coordinator working with a system advisory committee shall be responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating the annual comprehensive plan. Each school staff development committee shall submit a school-based staff development plan which will become a part of the school district plan. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT: The system staff development coordinator shall submit the comprehensive plan which has been developed by the system advisory committee with input from each school's staff development committee. This plan shall be developed according to GDOE criteria* and shall provide programming which addresses individual and instructional program needs. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STIPENDS: Baldwin County may award stipends to full-time and eligible licensed personnel in accordance with the criteria established by the system staff development committee. This criteria shall be in compliance with the SDOE criteria* for the awarding of stipends. CERTIFICATION RENEWAL PLAN: Baldwin County shall submit a certification renewal plan to the department of staff development for review and approval. The plan shall include the requirements outlined in the GDOE criteria* for certification renewal plans. STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL LEARNING NEEDS: A staff development program in the identification and education of children with special learning needs shall be developed by a committee composed of teachers, the Director of the Program for Exceptional Children, and the system staff development coordinator. This plan shall follow the state criteria* and shall be submitted to the GDOE department of staff development for review and approval. * The development and implementation of the Baldwin County staff development program shall follow GDOE policy (GAD) and rules (160-3-3-.04) and the criteria contained therein. O.C.G.A. 20-2-167(a)(3); 20-2-182(g); 20-2-200; 20-2-201(a); 20-2-210: 20-2-230; 20-2-231(c); 20-2-232. Cross Reference: 160-3-1-.11 (Annual Evaluation of Professional Personnel) Baldwin BOE: GAA (7/14/87) and GAD (3/12/02) Adopted: January 14, 1992 Revised: December 8, 1992 Revised: March 12, 2002 BALDWIN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION