As campus leaders recognize an increased need to provide professional development for their faculty, The Four O’clock Faculty provides strategies for relevant PD. The author gives thoughtful and practical ideas that school leadership can put into practice at a variety of levels. Key to his writing is the need for principals and school leaders to make the PD relevant in order to change the culture of their campus’ and strategies to be intentional as school leaders strive to make every minute count during faculty meetings.
His premise is too often leadership brings faculty to the required meeting in order to check a box when creating a meaningful experience should be the intended outcome. One of his most telling hints notes that if the information is one-way send it through an email. His point to this--reserve PD for actual learning or a school goal.
Czyz goes further encouraging teachers who are not getting PD at their school to initiate it for themselves. The chapter titled “Going ROGUE” is a template for teachers to create their own learning communities and support each other for school improvement. Each chapter has multiple strategies that can be adapted according to campus needs. The book provides a selection of ideas that encourage PD to enrich learning. This book would make an excellent read for a faculty book club discussion.
Publisher: Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.
Reviewed by Donna Berkner, EdD
Academic Administration Vice President
Southwestern Adventist University
Author: Michael J. Gelb and Sarah Miller Caldicott
