SCHOOL LEADERS or aspiring leaders could visit Santa Cruz or Ontario this October at Learning and Teaching Scotland’s expense. Two week-long study trips are planned for Ontario in Canada and the New Teachers’ Centre in Santa Cruz, California, starting October 13. Applications have to be in by August 24.
The trip to Ontario will focus on school leadership across primary and secondary sectors, giving participants the opportunity to explore it in an international context, to examine strategies for change, investigate the structures of leadership develop- ment and reflect on their own professional values and leadership styles. The trip will also involve briefings at the Ministry of Education and a meeting with a representative of the Ontario Principals’ Council.
The Santa Cruz week will look at mentoring, giving delegates a chance to examine strategies used at the New Teacher Center in the city and to broaden their own knowledge of mentoring skills. Work done at the centre has shown that new teachers’ performance in the classroom is greatly enhanced when they receive on-going support.
Participants will be able to see how the centre offers professional development to mentors not only in classroom practice but also in group facilitation, conflict resolution, presentation skills, running effective meetings, and collecting and analysing student work against content standards. They will also shadow mentors during school visits and professional development meetings, so they can observe the mentoring model in action and engage in dialogue with mentors about the strategies and resources they use.
Interested teachers and authority staff can apply online: www.ltscotland.org.uk internationaleducation
