Q & A on Professional Development with Jonathan Raymond

Jonathan Raymond is the former Sacramento City Schools Superintendent and now a leader of PCG’s efforts to support improved student learning outcomes. Here are some highlights—for the complete Q & A, click here!

What is your philosophy about teacher professional development? What role should educational technology play?

"Professional learning needs to be ongoing and collaborative, and not be a moment in time. We don’t want drive-by professional learning –- the ‘sit and get’ variety. Professional learning needs to be embedded in teachers’ and principals’ daily work… The work is the learning, and the learning is the work…

What we need to do is provide the technology infrastructure, devices, and resources for professional learning that embeds technology in lesson plans and uses it to enhance learning and engage students… Teachers and administrators can figure this out if we give them resources. It doesn’t have to look the same at every school. That’s what makes it fun and creative."

The LAUSD Common Core Fellowship Program Kicks Off!

The nation's second largest school district - with more than 650,000 students and 37,000 teachers – is working with WestEd and PCG Education to help implement Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) recently launched its Common Core Fellowship program and is using Pepper to support teachers in 1,200 schools that are implementing new, national teaching and learning standards. 

On April 5, Dr. Jack McLaughlin provided training to the first of several teacher-leader cohorts. LAUSD Fellows are using Pepper to take courses online, create and share portfolios of work, and create small, personal online communities to promote hands-on learning and collaboration.  As academic coaches, the LAUSD Fellows will use Pepper's instructional resources, classroom teaching videos, and lessons to help teachers implement the Common Core.

Built on the belief that learning is social, educators in Pepper can create collaborative learning groups, share portfolios of work, build personal peer networks, engage in debate and discussion, and work as a team as they implement new standards. Check out the “About Pepper” section here on the blog to see a video about what Pepper offers! 

Welcome to our blog – PepperPCG!

Come on in and check out the PepperPCG blog! We’re excited to be part of the conversation around the Common Core State Standards, and we want to help educators find information and share news and resources that will help them succeed.

Check out this blog for webinars, new ideas, links to helpful information, and how to use Pepper to find great ways to be even more successful in the classroom!