Even though class was not officially underway, this room was abuzz with students eager to share their homework.

Although it may sound like any Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) classroom at the beginning of a block, this class was a bit different since students were experienced VBCPS Assistant Principals (APs) participating in the final session of this year’s “Assistant Principal Specialist Pathways” focused on special education.

The next two hours were filled with positive table discussions and activities centered on not only their homework assignments, which were three different activities focused on special education behavior observations and solutions; but also on legal issues that administrators face in the field of special education.

This was one of the five specialist pathways APs could select from in order to develop their own skillset and enhance their work at the building level.  The other pathways were: Buildings and Grounds/Safety and Security, Instructional Leadership, Master Scheduling and Restorative Justice/Discipline.

“We want these workshops to be relevant to what they are experiencing at school sites not simply presentations of ‘textbook theory,’” said Dr. Thomas Ferrell, director of administrator learning and leadership in the Office of Professional Growth and Innovation (PGI). “We want participants to engage with their peers and leave with practical applications of success.”

Providing a variety of professional learning opportunities and resources to all staff to support continuous improvement is Goal 4 in Compass to 2020, the five-year strategic framework for Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

The Assistant Principal Pathways is one of several professional learning opportunities that the less-than-a-year-old PGI Office is already offering. The department’s goal is to build individual capacity of teachers, administration and support staff through leadership development, career advancement education, new employee support and development of globally competitive skills.

For new teachers, PGI already developed a teacher mentoring advisory group comprised of lead mentors and offered “Survive and Thrive” networking sessions. For support staff, PGI offered leadership and management training, customer service training, and technology training, with the collaboration of Department of Technology.

For the special education pathway, Ferrell said the class “generated some great ideas and are excited about implementing them to strengthen and grow the program next year.”

The one constant, however, in each pathway has been how to help students and staff.

In the Master Scheduling pathway for example, Princess Anne Middle School Principal Dr. Alex Bergren spoke about the five puzzle pieces of scheduling, which are students, personnel, time, space and programming.

He went on to talk about how moving the puzzle pieces, if needed, to not only help students but also staff to work around constraints.

While the Assistant Principal Specialist Pathways continue, PGI has additional trainings underway, including “Leadership and Management Training for Custodians and Cafeteria Staff.” Look for more announcements about future professional learning opportunities coming soon. Information is typically shared through principals to share with staff.