InTASC Standard #9, Professional Learning and Ethical Practice, involves the teacher being involved in ongoing professional development and learning so that he/she/they are able to continually self-evaluate and improve the practices he/she/they use in the classroom and when interacting with learners and the community.
Membership in Professional Organizations
I demonstrate my understanding of the Professional Learning and Ethical Practice standard through my continuing membership to the National Education Association and the National Science Teaching Association. These two organizations provide new ideas and strategies which I use to evaluate and improve my own teaching practice.
Communication with Parents and Guardians
I also demonstrate my understanding of this standard through clear communication with both parents/guardians and students, particularly as the school system moved from a hybrid schedule to a four-day week in March 2021. The email I sent to students, parents, and guardians clearly laid out the expectations for the rest of the semester and ensured that everyone was on the same page for this transition.
Professional Development and Trainings
I further demonstrate my understanding of the standard by maintaining current on the trainings required for teachers in the state of Virginia, including the Dyslexia Awareness Module, Child Abuse and Neglect Awareness and Training Module, Restraint and Seclusion Training, and CPR/First Aid Training.