Philosophy

Achieving Sustainable Professional Development
Through Distributed Leadership

Research shows that teacher knowledge and experience are central to improving student achievement. The HQT Program is based on the understanding that teachers must have ownership of the professional development process in order to achieve consistent use of best practices that promote higher achievement.

Sharing the Keys to Leadership

The HQT Program puts teachers in charge of their own professional development through distributed leadership.

HQT workshops are presented in school, over a period of weeks, in a collegial setting involving all teachers or ad-hoc groups as specific needs require. All HQT materials outline the principles and guidelines for implementing professional development workshops. There is no "facilitator's manual" with the keys to running the workshop. Every teacher receives the same materials— and holds the same keys to leadership. However, staff developers and administrators still play a vital role in initiating the program, and monitoring and evaluating a group's progress through the workshops.

This professional development model, based on collegial participation, provides opportunities for every teacher to assume a variety of roles, including:

• Facilitator
• Lesson Observer
• Recorder
• Mentor
• Lesson Demonstrator
• Discussant

	About the Program Designer Joan Irwin, Peoples Education Vice President of Professional Development. Joan Irwin has over 30 years of experience as a teacher, author, and consultant. She served as Director of Publications for the International Reading Association from 1991 to 2004. She is recognized for her contributions to education and educational publishing as a member of the Hall of Fame of the Association of Educational Publishers.

Building a Professional Learning Community

The HQT program enhances teachers' intellectual and leadership capacities. Through workshop discussions and sharing among colleagues, teachers have sustained opportunities to adopt new practices and make fundamental gains in their teaching skills.

The collegial bonds and respect that develop in HQT Program workshops lay the foundation of a professional learning community that is sustainable. In a short time, teachers won't think of professional development in any other way!

Learn More about HQT Principles