Professional learning
6. This guidebook details many of the professional learning opportunities Hamblen County provides its novice and
veteran teachers to help them hone their pedagogical skills and deepen content knowledge.
a. In what ways are these offerings similar to the professional learning opportunities in your district? How does your district prioritize areas for professional learning?
b. To what extent do veteran teachers communicate with new teachers in your district? Is there a formal mechanism for
new teachers?
c. How do teachers identify what areas of learning are most important for students in their classroom? How might your
school and district better support all teachers in their professional development?
Student engagement
7. Hamblen County Schools strives to make education meaningful for all students, as reflected in their inclusion policy for students with disabilities and their efforts to accommodate and support English language learners.
a. Consider some of the common challenges to student engagement that Hamblen confronted across its schools (the
need for remediation services, for example). How did the district respond?
b. How has your district tackled similar challenges? Is there a district-wide strategy in place to address challenges like
remediation that can be found across many schools?
c. What are ways that teachers in your district ask students for their feedback for ways to make education meaningful
and relevant for them?
d. How do teachers incorporate student feedback in their instructional planning?
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Pathways to the Prize
Lessons from the 2012 SCORE Prize District Winner