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Divisional Professional Development

At Blake, we recognize that our faculty members are eager to pursue professional growth in a variety of ways. The goal of the divisional professional development fund is to provide support for the growth opportunities faculty seek out and design for themselves. These might include discipline-specific national or regional conferences, the bringing in of a consultant to work with a group of interested teachers, collaborative learning opportunities, or coursework to build a teacher's professional skill-set or subject knowledge. Every attempt will be made to distribute funds in an equitable manner so that more faculty have greater access to more funding.

  1. A faculty/administrative committee will be appointed at each division for the distribution of funds. Each committee will be made up of the Division Director, Assistant HOS, and two faculty members who will be elected by teachers in that division.
  2. The committee will meet four times a year and additionally, as needed, to review faculty requests for funding and make awards. After each formal committee meeting, applicants will be informed whether their proposal has been funded, placed on hold pending additional information, or not funded. Faculty are encouraged to apply as soon as they are able for upcoming opportunities. While the committee would prefer not to make awards at the last minute, faculty members should nonetheless feel free to make such requests for unique opportunities.
  3. Faculty will submit an application form with a description of and a budget for the professional development opportunity they'd like to pursue. This application will include an explanation of how the proposed activity will benefit the teacher's own learning and that of his/her students and colleagues.
  4. The committees at each division will use the same rubric. In addition, the committee will prioritize proposals that:
    • support those faculty members who have not benefited from a disproportionate amount of professional development support in recent years (a spreadsheet will be used to document awards by AHOS's office)
    • align with department and institutional goals
    • involve more than one faculty member
    • include plans for sharing what is learned with the community
    • do not unnecessarily take faculty away from classes or exceed the four personal/professional days limit.

    (NB: These points (a-e) are in no particular order.)

  5. The total funds available will be distributed by division on a per capita basis. Whenever possible, proposals will be considered by the full committee. However, the division directors can approve proposals that do not exceed $200 in total cost. These proposals will still be considered based on the same criteria as all other proposals. No more than 25% of the available funds for each division will be awarded exclusively by the division director.
  6. Budgets presented should include all anticipated expenses. Technology, personal professional memberships, licenses, books and similar items do not qualify for funding unless they are essential to fulfill the objectives of the proposed professional development activity.
  7. If financial assistance is desired for activities or supplies that do not qualify for funding from the Professional Development Fund, you might consider these alternative funding sources:
    • For summer curriculum work: See your division director
    • To collaborate with peers and experts on a given topic: Propose a Summer Academy (a week-long workshop on campus) by contacting the AHOS.
    • For technology for your classroom: Talk with the director of information technology and consider applying for Technology Grant
    • For technology for personal use: Consider a zero interest loan from the School and talk to the office manager in the business office.
    • For supplies and books for your classroom: Talk with your department chair or curriculum coordinator.
    • For summer travel/study: Consider applying for a Plank Fund for Teachers grant or a Hersey Sabbatical.
    • For time from classes to focus on a given topic: Consider applying for a Donaldson Sabbatical.
    • For graduate courses: Please note that the Committee typically does not fund graduate courses, though from time to time there are funds remaining in the year's budget and one-time awards of up to $500 may be granted by the Committee.

Application
Coming soon
Reimbursement Forms: