Director of Professional Learning
JanelleBishop@johnston.k12.nc.us
(919) 934-4361 ext. 4009
AG Glenn Building
501 S 2nd Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
Professional Learning
JCPS Professional Learning
The Johnston County Schools Professional Learning team operates within the Curriculum, Instruction, and Accountability Division. Understanding that continued growth through effective professional learning is critical to student success, this office works with other central services departments and divisions to coordinate high quality opportunities for teachers, administrators, and support personnel.
Johnston County Public Schools provides a variety of foundational activities aimed at building the capacity of the intellectual and performance pyramid. Areas addressed include improved student learning, improved teacher effectiveness, high standards for all students and educational personnel, lifelong learning for all, and enhanced leadership and intellectual capacity.
Janelle Bishop
Leadership Development
As a stakeholder community, Johnston County Public Schools is committed to providing educators with quality coaching and feedback throughout the improvement process. Please find (below) updated resources and tools regarding evaluation, coaching, and the NC Educator Evaluation System for school executive leaders and teacher leaders.
Here, you can access your professional development plan, observations, and your self-assessment. The NC Educator Evaluation System, housed under True North Logic, is linked within NCEdCloud's system. Use the link to access NCEdCloud, then click on True North Logic.
Looking for professional development opportunities by School Executive Standard? Check out this extensive list of both online and instructor-led courses, provided by NCDPI, to support educators in their continued professional growth.
Use this quick link to access the NC Teacher Evaluation manual.
Linked here is the full list of policies regarding the North Carolina teacher evaluations and qualifications via State Board Policies.
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
National Board Certification
Since their founding in 1987, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards has advanced the teaching profession by establishing and maintaining the definitive standards of accomplished teaching and certifying teachers across the country against those rigorous standards. The National Board certification standards describe the highest level of teaching within different disciplines and with students at different developmental levels. These standards represent a consensus among accomplished teachers and other educational experts about what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do.
Candidates analyze their teaching practices and impact on student learning, take on leadership roles, and collaborate with peers. This hard work pays off as National Board Certified teachers in North Carolina are eligible for a 12 percent pay differential. Research has shown that higher standards for teachers means better learning for students. According to research conducted by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, teachers who have achieved National Board Certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) significantly outperform their peers who are not Board Certified on 11 of 13 key dimensions of teaching expertise, according to a study released by the National Board. Based on student work samples, the study's authors declared that National Board Certification "is identifying and certifying teachers who are producing students who differ in profound and important ways from those taught by non-certified teachers."
Information for Candidates
Johnston County Public Schools Support:
Johnston County offers regular support sessions for initial candidates, Maintenance of Certification (MOC) candidates, and a pre-candidate year three teachers. The support calendar can be found here. Meetings will all be held virtual during the 2020 - 2021 school year. Candidates are encouraged to join the 20-21 Google Classroom with code: sqdnrnn.
Johnston County also hosts one:one reading sessions for candidates, both initial and MOC. These sessions will run early March - late April. For additional information regarding the one:one reading sessions, contact MelissaPearce@johnston.k12.nc.us
North Carolina Resources:
North Carolina leads the nation in number of National Board Certified Teachers. With over 22,000 certified, NC offers a loan to cover the cost of certification, support groups, and even professional development days to which to work on the certification process. More information on the state level support can be found here.
State Loan:
North Carolina offers loan assistance to candidates, funding their initial certification process. Interested teachers should apply to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and pay the $75 registration fee to obtain a candidate ID# before applying for the NC NBC loan for funding. The deadline for the loan application is Dec 31. More details regarding the loan application can be found here.
National Board Resources:
National Board has several online resources available for the planning and execution of your components. Candidates can find component overviews, videos, graphic organizers, and free self-paced Canvas courses here.
Maintenance of Certification Candidates:
The National Board has revised its policy for maintenance of certification, and will require Board-certified teachers to demonstrate their knowledge and skills every five years. Beginning in 2021, as existing 10-year certificates expire, NBCTs will extend their certificate at five-year intervals through the new MOC process. Additional information regarding the MOC process can be found here.
Credit Information
The Office of Professional Learning, echoing beliefs established by the national professional learning association, Learning Forward, affirms the following:
Professional learning that improves educator effectiveness is fundamental to student learning.
All educators have an obligation to improve their practice.
More students achieve when educators assume collective responsibility for student learning.
Successful leaders create and sustain a culture of learning.
Effective school systems commit to continuous improvement for all adults and students.
Johnston County Public Schools uses LINQ as it's Professional Learning Management System. It can be accessed through Timekeeper to:
Ensure professional development is aligned to district strategic priorities
Communicate professional development opportunities
Register participants for professional development topics
Develop course rosters
Monitor course completion, satisfaction and impact of training through end of course surveys
Assign and track Continuing Education Units
Communicate to participants the status of their professional development transcripts
A participant must register for the workshop and sign-in to Workshop Sign- In Sheet in order to receive credits. Failure to do so before the workshop is closed will result in forfeiture of CEUs.