Building a Social and Accessible Professional Development Culture in Schools

I speak with Cindy Adair, the Assistant Principal for Continued Professional Learning at Bangkok Patana School in Thailand. Cindy shares her pioneering approach to professional development in education. She delves into the transformation of performance management systems, emphasising teacher ownership, evidence-based education, and continuous improvement. Cindy outlines innovative strategies like instructional coaching, professional growth conversations, and integrating various educational tools for effective CPD.

Shane and Cindy explore the nuances of fostering a culture of professional development that resonate across different school phases. Cindy also discusses how Bangkok Patana School leverages strategic partnerships with educational consultants and speakers to enhance professional development opportunities.

Key Quotes from the Cindy

1. "Professional growth is about becoming better, not just being good."
2. "We are trying to actively decouple [performance management] so that people will be motivated by the fact that they are on this professional growth journey."
3. "High-quality conversations... are key in any professional development."
4. "You'll be surprised at the things that people are expert on and how willing they are to share."

References

• Bangkok Patana School CPL on X
• Chris Moyes' research on professional growth
• Jim Knight's Impact Cycle
• Great Teaching Toolkit by Evidence Based Education
• Walkthroughs by Tom Sherrington

Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on X (@leaningshane), and LinkedIN. My website is shaneleaning.com.

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About the host

Shane Leaning is a passionate organisational development coach with over 14 years of international teaching and leadership experience. His approach to coaching and professional development is all about approachability and attentiveness to the unique strengths and contexts of schools and educators. Shane believes that empowerment fosters growth and success for both educators and students alike.

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

Shane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

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