The PD path for VHS Learning teachers
By Laura Smith
During my career as an educator, I have had the privilege of mentoring new teachers and experienced teachers who were joining a new faculty or organization. I often reflect on the mentorship that I received as a new teacher and the immense support, encouragement, and guidance I was fortunate enough to experience.
VHS Learning works with many teachers who come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, especially relative to online education. We have a strong teacher development program that begins with our graduate-level Online Teaching Methodologies course and continues throughout a teacher’s time at VHS Learning.
Teachers begin their journey with VHS Learning in our Online Teaching Methodologies (OTM) course, a graduate-level, paced, asynchronous, cohort-based online class. OTM mirrors the VHS Learning student experience with asynchronous discussions, group projects, and learning within the course platform. OTM is facilitated by experienced VHS Learning teachers who share their perspective and knowledge of the program as they support participants in understanding the philosophy and approach of VHS Learning.
In this first semester teaching with VHS Learning, teachers are paired with an experienced teacher who serves as their faculty advisor. The advisor comes along beside the new teacher, offering guidance about pedagogical questions and technical how-tos. New teachers are introduced to and have the opportunity to practice and demonstrate VHS Learning’s Standards for Teaching throughout their first semester. At the conclusion of their first semester, new teachers are provided with a comprehensive review of their performance and offered additional support as needed.
In their second and subsequent semesters, VHS Learning teachers are supported by VHS Learning staff members who provide guidance, answer questions, and share feedback about their practice. Experienced teachers are encouraged to take advantage of VHS Learning’s micro-credential offerings to develop specific areas of their online practice and earn professional development hours upon demonstrating key skills.
I am proud of how VHS Learning supports our teachers and helps them to develop their online teaching skills at all points in their journey. I am grateful to serve as a Faculty Advisor to some of our new teachers and to support our experienced teachers as their point person for questions about student support and instructional questions. It is rewarding to help another professional develop their practice and to see how collegial feedback, support, and guidance can positively impact our students’ experiences!
Laura Smith is a Senior Instructional Coordinator at VHS Learning. Before coming to VHS Learning Laura was an Arts and Humanities teacher and teacher leader.
