High quality professional learning remedies inequitable pedagogical practices that deny some students opportunities for academic success. When educators, with the support of their leaders and colleagues, grow professionally and implement High Quality practices the result is improved outcomes for ALL students, especially students that have been historically marginalized.
In Lawrence, we envision all adults engaging in strategic, robust, and differentiated professional learning that ensures all students experience optimal learning conditions. We define high quality Professional Learning as the strategic support provided to educators that when implemented results in quality teaching and learning practices for ALL students in classrooms and schools.
We believe professional learning is imperative because it is the catalyst for equitable instruction. If we match adult learning supports to areas of student learning experiences and academic needs, then as a result of improved practices in the Instructional Core the student learning experiences will be equitable across schools.
The district utilizes a Professional Learning Planning Tool to ensure that professional learning opportunities are robust, engaging, and aligned to the needs of all students.
The Lawrence Public School district partners with several leading organizations and experts to support the advancement of teacher quality and learning. These partners include:
- Allen Blume- Individualized Education Plans
- Ongoing professional development and coaching regarding Special Education Policy and current and new IEP processes implementation
- Tammy Barron- Co-teaching
- Professional development, classroom consultation and learning walks for gen ed/ spEd co taught classroom teachers
- Grey Consulting- AAC
- Assistive technology professional development
- Assessments
- on -going coaching and consultation
- Teach town-
- Ongoing training and consultation curriculum modification within specialized programs
- Jessica Minahan
- Executive functioning
- Kristen Jacobson
- in person and virtual professional development around the most salient topics around executive functioning.
- AEP- virtual workshops on going through out the year around various topics of executive functioning open to general education and special Education teachers, related service providers and counselors.
- Pat McDade- Inclusion education team
- Ongoing professional development
- MCAS Alt, Self Regulation, curriculum modification and data collection
- Individualized student communication
- Wilson/ Just words reading programs
- Coaching and professional development for teachers for implementation of teaching strategies for students who require multisensory language instruction
- Boutique style trainings around all Special Education matters for new and veteran teachers
- MCAS alt
- MTSS
- Special Education Law
- Special Education policy and procedures
- Frontline
- Goals writing
- Data Collection
- In-house trainings by highly qualified district staff in the areas of related services:
- Occupational therapy
- Speech language therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Vision
- School psychologists
- Deaf and hard of hearing
- Jennifer Montgomery-
- Building strong culture of learning
- Teacher leadership
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
- Dr. Jim Luiselli (Melmark)-
- TEACHH- professional development series for teachers and paras in our ILP classroom
Out of District
Students who are participating in out of district services are still entitled to receive the same special education services as their in district peers. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to the IEP chairman at your student’s school. Parents/ Guardians should always feel free to contact Lawrence public school district
Contact information:
Sue Cecila
Out of District Coordinator
(978) 975-5900 x25715
Non Public:
Initial evaluations for students attending a non- public school are processed through the Lawrence Public School District. Parents/ guardians should reach out to Dawnmarie Reardon, our non-public school representative, at
