Teacher (T) Knowledge Base

(6600-T-P) Optima Professional Development Certification Program (PDCP) - Program Director

Optima is the first Charter School Management Organization operating in the state of Florida that has received state approval for a proprietary professional development certification program (Optima PDCP). The Optima PDCP admits superior teacher candidates who have been identified as showing potential for success in the teaching profession. The program ensures high-quality field and clinical experiences, including feedback and support for each candidate, and prepares candidates to instruct students to meet high standards of academic achievement and the ability to positively impact student learning growth. These aims will be accomplished through the following program components:
  • Mentorship
  • Required readings
  • Group instruction
  • Individual instruction
  • Self-reflection
  • Observation
  • Goal tracking
  • Demonstration
Program Director – the individual at The Optima Foundation responsible for overseeing the entire Optima PDCP and the Program Leaders at each school. The program director will be the liaison with the Florida Department of Education and will make changes to the program as legislative changes require.
  1. 1

    Optima Professional Development Certificate Program Annual Setup

    1. Program Director assigns staff to teach the following Optima PDCP courses:
      • Course 1: Being a Classical Education Teacher
      • Course 2: Philosophy of Classical Education
      • Course 3: Classroom Management
      • Course 4: Engaging Rigor in the Classroom
      • Course 5: Effective Lesson Planning
      • Course 6: Data Driven Instruction
      • Course 7: Technology in the Classical Classroom
      • Course 8: Understanding Florida Standards Assessments
      • Course 9: Curriculum Instruction (Customized)
      • Course 10: Instruction for Exceptional Students
      • Course 11: Instructional Strategies for ESOL Students
    2. Program Director sets up Optima course on mentoring and feedback described in Step 11.
    3. Program Director recommends Mentor Teachers.

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  2. 2

    Indicator 1.2 Data Collection and Reporting: Admitted Candidates – Reporting

    1. Program Completers
      • Program Leader will aggregate the following data for Program Completers and provide a narrative to the School Leader, Program Director, and Mentor Teachers annually.
        • VAM scores
        • iReady scores
        • Evaluation Rubrics
      • School Leader, Program Director, and Mentor Teachers will use this data to explain the program completers progress on key benchmarks of student learning impact and mastery of the UCCannually.
  3. 3

    Indicator 4.1 Program Progress and Performance Monitoring

    1. Optima will collect and utilize multiple sources of data to measure and monitor the impact of student learning, mastery of the UCC and the overall quality and effectiveness of the Optima PDCP.
      • Program Completers
        • Program Leader will collect and share this data with the Program Director for aggregation and analysis.
        • Program Director will schedule an annual meeting with Program Leaders, School Leaders another key personnel to discuss survey feedback, teacher ratings, FTCE subtest results, and other aggregated data in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the Optima PDCP and determine action steps for improvement.
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  4. 4

    Indicator 4.3 Monitoring Learning Resources and Teacher Mentorship and Induction Component Mentorship Component

    1. The mentorship component of the program will be monitored for effectiveness by the Program Leaders, who report to the Program Director.
      • Induction Component
        • School Leader will report his or her conclusions to the Program Director, who will decide on action steps for improvement of the induction component in the future.
  5. 5

    Indicator 4.4.1 Continuous Improvement Process - Analysis

    1. Program Director will analyze the following aggregate data on an annual basis to identify areas of needed improvements and drive decisions for program enhancements.
      • iReady, thrice annually – obtained on-site
      • VAM – obtained from DOE
      • FSA scores – obtained from DOE
      • EOC assessments – obtained from DOE
      • National assessment results – obtained from testing companies
      • pre- and post- assessments – obtained on-site
      • unit and interim assessments – obtained on-site
      • daily exit tickets – obtained on-site
      • FTCE subtest results at the competency level – obtained from EdReports
      • Retention rate – obtained through district, state, or proprietary sources
      • Student performance on state wide assessments – obtained from DOE
      • Teacher evaluation results – obtained through district, state, or proprietary sources
    2. Program Director will consider each data element listed above individually for its implications on the quality and effectiveness of the program, and the data will also be considered as a whole for trends in certain aspects of the program.
    3. Program Director will present his or her findings and recommendations to the stakeholder group, which includes the Program Leaders, School Leaders, one lead Mentor Teacher at each school, and a representative from BCSI.
    4. Program Director will receive and finalize feedback from the stakeholders on the proposed action steps.
    5. Program Directors will implement the final action steps the following year. 
  6. 6

    Indicator 4.4.1 Continuous Improvement Process – Responsibilities

    1. The stakeholders involved in the continuous improvement process include: Program Candidate, Mentor Teacher, Program leader, and Program Director. The mentor teacher will be asked to provide feedback on the program via survey and group discussion with the school’s Program Leader. The results will be reported to the Program Director and considered in the annual stakeholders meeting.  Also, the Program leader, will relay feedback as well to the Program Director along with recommendations for improving or enhancing the program.
    2. Program Director – the individual at The Optima Foundation responsible for overseeing the entire Optima PDCP and the Program Leaders at each school. The Program Director will be the liaison with the Florida Department of Education and will make changes to the program as changes in law require. The Program Director will analyze survey results, notes from school-based group discussions, and empirical data to determine areas for needed improvement and program enhancement. The Program Director will lead the annual stakeholder group discussion and is responsible to oversee action steps and continuous improvement implementation.