America’s Choice ensures that our own trainers and coaches meet the highest standards. Our National College puts our staff through a rigorous certification process before they begin to work with schools. They become specialists in literacy, mathematics, science, English language learning, and/or leadership. Our certified trainers make America’s Choice uniquely qualified to support educators.
The ongoing professional development we deliver focuses (a) the Leadership Team; (b) school-level literacy and mathematics coaches; (c) lead teachers in ELA, math, science, and social studies; (d) ELL staff; and (e) the Parent/Community Outreach Coordinator. Through the America’s Choice Community of Learning, all school staff members have online access to our trainers, to videos of classroom implementation, and to other materials.
We offer a standard version of the design as well as an intensive version for schools that face restructuring or are in corrective action, according to No Child Left Behind guidelines. The intensive version includes significantly more coaching and professional development than the standard version.
| Professional Development Intensive Design |
When |
Who |
| Orientation to the Design |
Summer training in Stage One |
Principal, Assistant Principal(s), Literacy Coaches, Math Coach, Science Lead Teacher, ELL Coordinator, and Parent/ Community Outreach Coordinator |
| Leadership Academies |
All stages |
Principal and Leadership Team |
| Principals Networks |
All stages |
Principal plus Assistant Principal(s) or Leadership Team Member |
| Team Building for Lower Division |
Stages One through Three |
Teams (Grades 9 and 10) |
|
Literacy Institutes -
On-Grade
|
All stages |
Literacy Coaches plus one teacher from each grade |
|
Literacy Institutes -
Ramp-Up
|
Stages One through Three |
Literacy Coach plus two teachers assigned to Ramp-Up |
Math Institutes -
On-Grade |
All Stages |
Lead teacher from each grade |
Math Institutes -
Ramp-Up |
Years One through Three |
Math Coach plus two teachers assigned to Ramp-Up |
| Science Institutes |
Starts in Year Two |
Lead teachers |
| Standards-Based Instruction |
Stage One |
All staff |
| Reading to Learn the Content |
All Stages |
Content teachers with specific disciplines targeted different years |
| Online Community of Learning |
All stages |
All staff |