Professional Development

Professional Development Plan 2025-26

MO Professional Learning Guidelines

District DPDC Representatives

Early Childhood Center: Katy Smith
Blackhurst Elementary: Amy Pieper
Coverdell Elementary: Lisa Graham
Harris Elementary: Delilah vanderGeest
Lincoln Elementary: Lauren Mertz
Monroe Elementary: Becca Amsinger
Null Elementary: Cori Johnson
Jefferson Intermediate School: Christen Dannenbrink
Hardin Middle School: Leah Lawrence
Success Campus: Brendan Kearns
Lewis and Clark Center: Colleen White
St. Charles High School: James Eddy
St. Charles West High School: Stephanie Lake
Instructional Services: Ashley Panhorst (Monroe Elementary)

DPDC Representative Election Cycle

• 2026 - Lincoln Elementary, Null Elementary, Jefferson Intermediate School, St. Charles West High School, Lewis & Clark Career Center
• 2027 - Blackhurst Elementary, Early Childhood Center (advisory chair from ECC), Monroe Elementary, Hardin Middle School, Success Campus, St. Charles High School  
• 2028 - Instructional Services, Harris Elementary  
• 2029 - Coverdell Elementary (chair from Coverdell)
• 2031 - Hardin Middle (co-chair from Hardin)

*election years are subject to change depending on executive committee elections

Please follow the nomination and election procedures listed in the District PD Plan. Access the nomination form or contact your DPDC representative. Please read the board policy regarding the structure and the responsibilities of the DPDC before accepting your building's nomination.

Ex Officio Members

• Administration Building:
  • Assistant Superintendent Dr. Earl Draper
  • Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator Dr. Tina Lauer
• K-6 Liaisons:
  • Null Elementary Principal Dr. Kate Kimsey, Null Elementary
  • Jefferson Intermediate Principal Dr. Amanda Denson
• 7- 12 Liaisons:
  • St. Charles High Assistant Principal Dr. Patricia Closson

Minutes from the 2025-26 School Year

Please make sure you are signed into your district Google account to view.

• May 27, 2025 (2025-26 planning retreat)
• September 4, 2025
• October 7, 2025
• November 5, 2025 - virtual (no minutes - individual work time on PD survey)
• January 14, 2026 -virtual (no minutes - individual work time on PD survey)
• February 3, 2026
• March 12, 2026
• April 8, 2026
• May 27, 2026 (2026-27 planning): 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

CEU Request Form 

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) - Effective July 1, 2009

• Continuing Education Units – Credit on the salary schedule may be granted for undergraduate credit earned after the bachelor’s degree or master’s degree, district workshops, curriculum work, some foreign travel, and other in-service offerings. Applications must be submitted to the Associate Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction. CEU applications that are denied may be appealed to the CEU committee composed of three (3) teachers and three (3) administrators.
• CEU request forms should be submitted as soon as possible after the completion of the professional development or submitted by the end of the school year in which the CEU activity occurred.
• CEUs will not be granted for activities completed during the teacher’s contracted day, activities for which the teacher is being compensated by the District, or conferences/workshops in which the District pays for the registration and/or travel expenses.

Beginning June 1, 2023, the calculation for CEUs will change to 15 hours = 1 CEU on the salary schedule. CEUs earned before June 1, 2023 will be calculated at the previous rate of 17 hours = 1 CEU. CEUs will not be calculated retroactively.  

Stipend Application (PDF)
If you are not eligible for CEUs

The Professional Development Library is located in the Curriculum and Instruction Lab at the Benton Administrative Center. The library contains professional books, videos, and resources for checkout. If you'd like to check out an item from the DPDC library, please contact Cathy Kubiak at extension 4030. Please see the list below to see what's available in the PD library.

District PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LIBRARY BOOKLIST
Please make sure you are signed in to your district Google account to view the list above

At the beginning of the school year, all mentors are given professional development on mentoring skills and the deadlines and forms to fill out. All forms will be linked in Google Classroom to be shared out during New Teacher Orientation. All forms should be uploaded to the New Teacher Google Classroom.

The state of Missouri requires you to log 30 hours of professional development before you are eligible to upgrade your teaching certificate. Please use this History of Professional Development Activities spreadsheet to keep track of your hours. Once completed, make sure to keep a copy for your records and turn the form in to your New Teacher Facilitator via Google Classroom. This should be done before the end of your second year of teaching.

Mentor Responsibilities
Please view the responsibilities for New Teacher Mentors (PDF)

New Teachers will meet monthly with the New Teacher Orientation Facilitators:

• Ashley Deeken: Grades PreK-6 Facilitator - Blackhurst Elementary
• Amy Delaney: Grades 7-12 Facilitator - SCW French

New Teacher Networking Session Dates listed below and are all aligned to the State of Missouri's Beginning Teacher Assistance Program standards

Mentor/Mentee topics to cover throughout the year:

• Introduction to Building/District Procedures
• Professional Communication
• Rights and Responsibilities as an Educator
• Classroom Environment/Student Engagement
• Professional Learning Check-ins
• Other topics as needed by new teacher

Each building has a Professional Development Budget. Building PD funds are to be used for professional development building collaboration, books/materials, conferences, or workshops that relate to your building goals.

To request funds from your building PDC funds, please fill out the applicable forms below and turn in to your building PDC representative for review. Once your building PDC reviews the request, you will be notified of the building PDC's decision. If your request is denied, you may discuss your request with your DPDC representative or building principal for an explanation.

• Meeting/Conference Attendance PD Trip Form (PDF)
• PDC Funds Request Forms (PDF)
• Request form for PDC funds for books or other materials (PDF)
  not for workshops or conferences
• Out of District Expense Reimbursement Guidelines w/ Mileage Chart

The District Professional Development Committee (DPDC) has curated some On Demand Learning Resources for you to receive Professional Development on what you need, when you need it. Just click on the link below and have access to these resources 24/7.

On Demand Professional Development Resources

• Horizontal/Vertical ERD Facilitator Guide

• Meeting Minutes Report