Gann Academy is committed to the belief that teaching is a dynamic and complex process.  Our faculty is a reflective and collaborative professional learning community. Our teachers are curious about the learning process and embrace a desire to work on their teaching practice. Teachers at Gann open the doors to their classroom to their colleagues for observation and investigation into questions of practice. Many departments regularly co-plan units and assessments and meet together in group settings to reflect on their teaching. Teachers choose to take advantage of external professional development opportunities, including summer courses to further strengthen their skills.

Our professional development program reflects these commitments through a range of offered opportunities. Moreover, we maintain multiple sites of teacher learning and growth, including the mentoring program, work within departments, interdisciplinary study of practice, faculty meetings and professional development days. 

Professional Development Programs:
Induction Program: Based on our belief that teaching takes time to learn and that some aspects of the work can only be learned while on the job, we offer novice teachers and teachers who are new to Gann the opportunity to work with a trained mentor in his/her department for the first two years at the school. 

Faculty Rounds Program: After completing the induction program, teachers may continue to work on their practice by joining an interdisciplinary group of 6-8 members who observe one another’s classroom teaching and meet on a monthly basis to discuss their observations. 

Brown bag lunches: Teachers gather at lunch on a bi-monthly basis to discuss an article of common interest.

In-Service and Professional Development Days: Time is set aside for faculty to learn together about school wide educational goals that frame our year, and for faculty to learn from one another about their curricular choices and pedagogical strategies. 

School-wide Program: Based on the educational needs of our faculty, Gann brings in experts from outside of our school to teach about topics of interest to our entire faculty, such as Differentiated Instruction.

Faculty Grant Program: Teachers may apply annually for grant funding to pursue a professional development opportunity of their choosing outside of Gann Academy, such as workshops, conferences, and courses.