At lunch time on Wednesday, a group of WAB teaching assistants sat down for the latest installment of their ongoing technology course. This week, the lesson focused on techniques for using Microsoft Excel. At the same time, just two campus buildings over, a group of teachers and counselors sat down for their weekly Chinese lesson.
While completely separate, the two classes share one thing in common: They are the products of staff-initiated professional development opportunities, supported by the school administration and Board of Trustees.
Hunter Shang began working at WAB as a teaching assistant. With a continuous drive to learn and with the support of the school leadership, he became a full-time certified Chinese language teacher.
“WAB has a learning culture which has become part of our school’s DNA,” Hunter said.
Hunter’s long-time colleague Kun Jiao agrees. Kun has worked at WAB for 20 years, is a WAB parent, and is the chair of the school’s Staff Association.
She was the catalyst behind a new lunchtime PD program created for Chinese staff in 2019. Having offered a survey to her colleagues about the benefits they desired, one message was clear: They want to continue learning.
“You get a feeling at WAB that people are striving to be better versions of themselves; they want to achieve more,” Kun said. “Opportunities to learn are also opportunities to break down barriers for growth. WAB has always supported the members of its community. That is who we are.”
On top of four full dedicated days of professional learning for WAB’s entire staff, learning opportunities abound throughout the school year at WAB on campus, through consultation with experts, and at workshops around the globe.
The TAs who are part of the new skills-based program are also engaging in monthly sessions organized by the Lead Teaching Assistants in collaboration with the school’s administration. This year, the group has already hosted five sessions on topics including team teaching, mentoring, and flexible student grouping.
“We need learning and professional development to keep us on most updated educational concepts, knowledge, and skills,” the three Lead TAs, Jingmei Li, Sophie Liu, and Pei Zhang said. “Our colleagues are thrilled to gain new educational resources that apply to our work immediately.”
But this type of learning extends even further – to the parents.
“Because WAB is at the forefront of educational innovation, it’s so important for our parents and for all of our staff to grow alongside the students,” Kun explained. “Workshops and educational training for our parents allows us to support our children to achieve their absolute best.”
WAB teachers are well-known around the world for attending and presenting workshops at the world's leading educational conferences. But teacher development also happens on campus throughout the year.
One of the shining examples of home-grown professional development opportunities for faculty is WAB Lab. Teachers volunteer to host workshops and discussions or make presentations on topics about which they feel passionate.
The idea, sparked by a small group of teachers, was to build an informal community of learning that recognizes the expertise, enthusiasm, and connectedness of our faculty. And it supports one of the school’s core values, to “champion our staff.”
“We have a culture which values learning not only by our students, but by our faculty, parents, and staff,” Stephen Taylor, WAB’s MYP Coordinator and incoming Director of Innovation said. “That is because we know our students benefit when all members of our community are continuously striving for growth, celebrating successes, and reflecting on our learning.”