Professional Development | News

Illinois District Training Teacher Leaders to Cope With Digital Transition

• By Stephen Noonoo
• 06/12/14

To help support a three-year digital transition, Illinois’ Des Plaines Consolidated School District 62 will launch a program to develop new teacher leaders by working with Discovery Education's Digital Leader Corps PD program.

The Digital Leader Corps is a multi-year professional development program that trains teacher leaders to create and implement new teaching strategies across their district. Specifically, educators from De Plaines will focus on integrating technology and digital media into instruction. Before rolling these strategies out to their peers and classrooms, teacher leaders will participate in learning labs, which allow them to practice in a mock classroom setting.

The program provides teachers with continuous customized, job-embedded consultation throughout the process with on-going modeling, coaching and feedback from Discovery Education DLC experts.

"To truly transform teaching and learning and ensure a successful digital transition, our teachers need a supportive environment where they can continuously improve their skills, knowledge and instructional practices," said District 62 Superintendent Jane Westerhold in a statement. "We are thrilled to partner with Discovery Education to support our educators in becoming digital leaders and agents for change within their schools."

The district is in the midst of a three-year plan to increase digital delivery of learning materials and improve digital literacy skills. Part of the plan includes adding more Internet-ready devices, beefing up wireless access, and exploring options for a 1-to-1 take home program.