Mountain Brook City Schools, long recognized for the outstanding academic performance of its students, serves 3,898 students in suburban Birmingham, Alabama. In the past six years, the creation of an effective professional development program for all employees has enabled this system to develop a culture committed to continuous improvement rather than simply continuing to do what has worked well in the past.

The professional development plan for Mountain Brook City Schools addresses five major areas: (1) the purposes, benefits and advantages of professional development; (2) the current research in regard to the characteristics of effective professional development activities; (3) the program areas of a comprehensive professional development program; (4) the processes that should be used to plan, implement and evaluate a comprehensive program; and (5) the current resources available for professional development.

Professional development goals emerge and are pursued through three main vehicles. First is the School Improvement Team at each school, chaired by the principal and composed of teachers, support staff, and parents. Secondly, the needs of the teaching staff are assessed at each school via grade-level department meetings. In addition, a district-level group comprising the Director of Instruction and the six assistant principals from each school, ensures a methodical, deliberate, and sustained approach to professional development.

Teachers report positive effects of this emphasis on professional development when they assess their own skills and the performance of their students. Data from various objective measures, including the SAT, show a steady increase across schools, grade levels and content areas that have been targeted through professional development.

Contact Information

Mountain Brook City Schools
Jackie Simons, Director of Instruction
3 Church Street, P.O. Box 130040
Mountain Brook, Alabama 35213-0040
205-871-4608
205-877-8303 (fax)
simonsj@mtnbrook.k12.al.us

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