VCS Annual Fund: VCS Eyes Continued Professional Development Opportunities
VCS faculty and staff meet with representatives from Valor Christian High School.
“My arms will either fall off or they will be masters at working with clay,” said Village Christian art teacher Julianna Rondinella.
This summer, Rondinella will participate in a two-and-a-half-week session at the very selective Penland art institute in North Carolina, where she will build on her art education with further training in ceramics, glass blowing, metal working, and more.
And VCS students stand to benefit.
Professional development is essential in Village Christian’s plan to help students thrive, and we are committed to continued investment in our talented faculty. Given that it's also a category supported by the Annual Fund, you can be assured that your contribution will have an exciting and immediate impact.
“These teachers want to better themselves and learn more,” said Elementary Principal Margie Chespak. “We want to equip teachers with what they need to stay on top of meeting the needs of diverse learners. But it’s not only the workshops and learning that benefit them; it's also the bonding that happens within the staff.”
In fact, many of our Elementary teachers will be taking time out of their summer to attend a variety of national conferences to learn the latest in hands-on, research-based strategies and best practices.
The same goes for our Middle and High School teachers, who have also attended a variety of continuing education conferences in their discipline as well as in enrichment and support for students’ current psycho-social/emotional needs. They have also traveled abroad for experiential/immersive learning opportunities and benefited from on-campus professional development sessions with Lynn Kim-John, Ph.D., who is the Director of Science Programs at UCLA Center X.
“Professional development is an absolutely essential part of being an effective teacher,” said Middle School teacher Aubrey Reynolds. "It reminds me that we are all life-long learners, and as such, allows me to relate to my students knowing that we are learning together. Being in a community of learners alongside other educators is encouraging on so many levels. When we come together to further develop our craft, we honor each other’s struggles and successes, and we support each other by listening and problem-solving together.”
VCS is also at the forefront of teacher-to-teacher mentoring as the largest partner in the Cal State Teach Induction Program, which helps teachers clear the final stages of their credential.
Additionally, through our membership in CESA (Council on Educational Standards and Accountability), a group of teachers and faculty recently visited Valor Christian High School in Colorado to exchange ideas and discuss the current climate in private Christian education.
“It has been an exciting time to be able to draw from the wealth of knowledge and experience that the teachers at VCS all possess and see how these professional development opportunities are translating into lasting learning memories and mastery for our students," Reynolds added.
Our teachers are clamoring for professional development opportunities. Supporting the Annual Fund allows us to continue identifying ways to stay at the cutting edge of educational trends and best practices.
Your contribution will not only have a powerful impact on our students, but also on our dedicated faculty.