Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Professional Learning Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District presents 2025–26 professional learning plan emphasizing Leader in Me and Next Generation standards
Summary
Dr. Wilson presented Sweet Home’s 2025–26 professional learning plan to the board, outlining six improvement focus areas, mentorship and a shift from Common Core to Next Generation Learning Standards, plus a plan to renegotiate the teacher-evaluation framework (APPR to STEPS).
Dr. Wilson presented the Sweet Home Central School District’s professional learning plan for 2025–26 at the board study session, describing a multi-layered plan that ties New York State priorities, the district strategic plan and school-level goals into six long-standing improvement focus areas.
"We began this work last year, and we work on different components throughout the year as committees," Dr. Wilson said, describing committee membership from across the district and a focus on updating the mentoring program to meet new-teacher needs. The plan, she said, maps state priorities — including the culturally responsive and sustaining education framework — into district goals and building-level supports.
Dr. Wilson emphasized the district’s Leader in Me foundation and named components she said are part of that foundation: celebrating diversity, CASEL social-emotional learning, PBIS (positive behavior interventions and supports), addressing bullying, staff engagement, self-directed learning, college and career readiness, mental health and restorative practices.
When a board member asked whether Common Core is still in use, Dr. Wilson said the district is now "shifting Common Core to Next Generation Learning Standards," adding: "It's a continuous shift to critical thinking, critical reading, critical math." She also described the district’s mentor coordinator and monthly mentor/principal meetings, noting the district’s goal to be among the earlier adopters in renegotiating teacher evaluation to the new STEPS framework within the next several years.
The plan includes district- and building-level professional development, early-literacy and early-math alignment, a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) rollout that varies by level, a focus on data cycles to drive instruction, and technology integration to prepare students for computer-based testing and personalized learning. Dr. Wilson said the district maintains detailed quarterly tracking documents to monitor progress and expects to present updated benchmarks and tracking materials to the board in the coming months.
Board members asked about where MTSS and other initiatives sit by school level; Dr. Wilson and other staff described elementary schools as farther along on some initiatives, with middle- and high-school work continuing to build momentum.
The district staff said the full plan, with links to state frameworks and required elements, is available in the board packet and that they will return with progress updates and benchmarks tied to the strategic plan.
