Home › working › professional-development › Professional Development

Professional Development

At Saigon South International School (SSIS), we believe that our faculty is our most important resource. Our professional development is based on a continuous process of individual and collaborative examination and improvement of educational practice. We encourage individual teachers and groups of educators to make educated decisions; to identify and solve problem; and to align theory, practice, and student outcomes. The ultimate goals are to improve student achievement and find ways to support students’ needs.

Professional Development at SSIS focuses on ongoing development and revision of curriculum, assessments, instruction, and the learning experience aligned with our School-Wide Action Plan and Expected School-Wide Learning Results (ESLRs). Supported by the school leadership, faculty members attend local, internal, and international workshops and conferences to remain current in educational research and instructional practices.

At SSIS, professional development opportunities are available in various forms, including:

• Internal development:
  • visiting other teachers classrooms to learn new teaching techniques
  • co-planning and/or co-teaching with other teachers
  • offering professional practice workshops (Teachers Teaching Teachers)
  • participating in technology in-service led by our ICT/classroom teachers
  • being part of the curriculum council, technology committee, and strategic planning committee
  • attending in-service by visiting consultants and/or EARCOS-sponsored Weekend Workshops on site
• Graduate coursework
• On-line courses and training
• Regional or international training workshops and conferences
• EARCOS (East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools): annual conference and weekend workshops

Teaming & Collaboration:

Grade level teams, interdisciplinary teams, and subject area departments meet regularly to work on unit designs, common assessments, and ongoing school initiatives, such as curriculum development, examining student and teacher work, peer observation and coaching, and collaborating with ESL teachers and student support personnel.

Shared Leadership:

Leadership is fostered through collaborative decision-making through teacher leaders for grade-level, interdisciplinary and subject area departments and curriculum council members.

SSIS has hosted the following professional development activities and workshops:

• "Success with English Language Learners: A Scaffolding Toolbox for Teachers" with Dr. Virginia Rojas
• "Understanding by Design" with Jay McTighe
• "Integrating Differentiation & Understanding by Design" with Bill & Ochan Powell
• "Critical Friends Group" with Frances Hensley and Teri Schrader
• "Third Culture Kids" with Ruth Van Reken
• "Literate Response Across the Curriculum" with Ardith Cole
• Atlas Rubicon Curriculum Mapping
• PowerSchool Training
• SSIS Learning Portal
• Developmental Reading Assessment
• Lucy Calkins' Unit of Study
• Six + 1 Writing Traits
• Various technology sessions: FirstClass, Planet Google, MovieMakers, etc.