SPOTLIGHT Professional Development

In an effort to encourage continuous program improvement and meet the district's goals as outlined in the Balanced Scorecard, ExCEL is offering a myriad of Professional Development opportunities for staff. These include:

Project Cohorts: Revolving around increasing Nutrition and Recreation, Community Service, Media Production, Science, and Balanced Programming, the Cohorts meet every other month to share and receive resources. Learn more about Project Cohorts resources.

Optional Workshops: Offered every month, these workshops are open to all ExCEL After School Programs staff and cover topics from Positive Behavior Guidance, to Increasing Youth Involvement, to Relaxation Techniques. 

Site Coordinator Meetings: Four times throughout the year Site Coordinators come together to engage in dialogue and receive resources and updates relevant to improving program quality.    

Institutes: Beginning with the Fall Institute in August, and continuing to the Mid-Year Institute and Winter Workshops in January, the ExCEL Institutes allow all walks of ExCEL staff to come together to participate in workshops, plenary sessions, and conversations around topics relevant to meeting the needs of all students.

Lead Teacher Meetings: Every month Lead Teachers come together to visit each other's sites, share and receive resources, and participate in workshops. 

Tribes and Resiliency Projects: In an effort to increase community building and resiliency for students in ExCEL After School Programs, ExCEL is offering targeted support and workshops for sites interested in improving the climate of their after school programs and their schools.

Coaching: ExCEL District Coordinators provide direct coaching to after school staff on areas of specific need as self-identified by individual sites.

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