During times of financial constraint and in the light of time pressures which exist in any workplace, it can be tempting to push professional development to the bottom of the list, however, ignore it at your own peril for the return on investment is irrefutable for all parties involved.
Firstly, staff retention, employees who are provided with, and engage in quality professional development are less inclined to seek opportunities elsewhere. When comparing the process of recruitment and training of a new employee, one can argue that upskilling a current employee is a more successful and cost-effective option.
Secondly, for long serving employees professional development provides them with the opportunity to reinvigorate their enthusiasm and continue to focus on the business. Anecdotal evidence suggests that employees are likely to perform better after professional development and a structured program of professional learning for all staff helps build a nurturing work environment.
Overall, a happier, more productive workforce who are less likely to move on from your organisation and advocate for your brand.
For the education sector professional development (PD) is a bed rock of the profession. PD occurs in a myriad of ways including formal workshops and courses, but it is also in the brief conversations had with colleagues in the hallway or after school. Some of the most powerful educative experiences for a teacher will happen right inside their classroom through self or observer examination of the teacher’s practice.
While we look to our teachers to support our students, I believe it’s important for school leaders to demonstrate the same care for staff by taking time to understand individual ambitions and collaborating on a plan to achieve their professional goals. This is an ethos that can be applied to any professional environment.
At St Stephen's School, we approach professional learning at both an individual and whole-of-school level. Each year we bring our teaching and support staff together for a two-day “Staff Expo”, built around a central theme.
This year’s theme was ‘Stewardship’, exploring the importance of environmental sustainability but also to our role caring for the young people in our community. We chose this theme for 2023 because it’s also an issue about which our students care deeply.
Our speakers shared insights from both a global and a local perspective and were incredibly inspiring giving staff an energising and engaging way to begin Term 3.
Our team created a range of opportunities for staff to connect with each other while learning new skills for wellbeing such as mindfulness, yoga, nutrition, exercise and financial management. This learning not only supports our people to pursue a healthier life outside of the work environment but also gives them tools and strategies to support their mental health, which will deliver benefits to our staff and students in the long term.
Our commitment to professional learning is part of the reason we have been recognised by The Educator magazine in its 2023 5-Star Excellence Awards Professional. It’s incredibly humbling to be recognised amongst some of Australia’s most successful schools and helps us to attract teachers who share our commitment to excellence in teaching and learning.
We also find that our professional development program helps make succession planning easier. Not only do our staff know that they can have a long career within our school, but it also helps ensure continuity of service to our community by avoiding knowledge gaps.
Thinking more broadly, too, the investment we make in our teachers and school administrators will benefit the wider education community should our staff decide to move to a new school.
We know “you can’t be what you can’t see”, so all schools should be places where both adults and students learn. By developing their own knowledge and skills, teachers and administrators help to build a culture of learning in schools and role model for students the importance and value of being a life-long learner.
For me investing in developing our staff delivers benefits whichever way you look at it.
By Donella Beare - Principal St Stephen's School
