Proactive Professional Learning: Creating Conditions for Individual and Organizational Improvement

(Paperback)

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Description

In America, the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work, or about a quarter of his or her adult life. Job satisfaction, then, can have an enormous influence on quality of life. Unfortunately, many in the workforce will spend all or a portion of their work life feeling stagnant and lacking passion for their job. The choices organizational leaders make about staff development can influence the organizations success. Being proactive and intentional about how professional learning opportunities are selected and incorporated into the learners professional lives will optimize the benefits for employers, employees, and the students, customers, or clients they serve. The topic of this book, proactive professional learning, is a way to create a rewarding, highly effective work environment that makes people want to get the most out of their work experience, and in doing so, optimize the effectiveness of the organization that employs them.

Reviews

This is the right book at the right time! Professional development strategies are evolving with more focus on continuous, job-embedded learning. This book is essential for leaders who want to develop strategic, proactive learning plans to drive organizational improvement and empower individuals to remain relevant in the workplace. -- Melissa McCartney, Assistant Provost for Online Learning and Graduate Studies at Queens University of Charlotte and former K-12 educator
Oran and Mary Tkatchov have written this comprehensive book laying out the critical processes and steps necessary for professionals to follow for life-long satisfaction in their chosen careers. Professionals committed to making a difference in their lives should make this book a 'must read'. -- Margaret Garcia Dugan, former Arizona Attorney General Chief of Staff, former Arizona Department of Education Deputy Superintendent, and former Associate Superintendent of the Glendale Union High School District
This books thesis for proactive staff development is necessary, well-researched, and very practical. It approaches staff development from a systems perspective so necessary if the extensive investment in staff development is going to provide the desired improvement in student learning. The #1 job of every school administrator is helping the adults grow and develop. This book is a manual for all administrators to use to guide their thinking and proactive action. -- Lee Jenkins, former school district superintendent; author,From Systems Thinking to Systemic Action and How to Create a Perfect School;" Permission to Forget: And Nine Other Root Causes of Americas Frustration with Education"
While the choices for professional learning for a school staff can be overwhelming, Proactive Professional Learning provides a step-by-step process to help leaders make sense of all of the options and make meaningful decisions about professional learning for a school or team. The inclusion of real-life scenarios and concrete examples of methods to deliver professional learning programs make this book a reader-friendly resource as you prepare to stimulate change and address the goals of your school or organization. -- Diane Brandwein, evaluation faculty for the Educational Leadership program at Western Governors University and former school principal

Author Bio

Oran Tkatchov's career has included such roles as a middle school teacher, high school teacher and charter school director. He has spent the last 15 years directing, presenting and providing professional development in the areas of special education, leadership and organizational improvement for various agencies and businesses.



Mary Tkatchov has devoted almost two decades to the education field as a former high school teacher and adult educator, and she is currently working in assessment development for Teachers College at Western Governors University. She presents at national conferences and writes articles about education and assessment in higher education.