Standard+I+Commentary

**Standard I: Growth as an educator in a Jewish day school. A JCDS teacher supports the mission and culture of JCDS and is committed to growth as a professional educator in a Jewish day school.**


 * Elements || Enacting/Applying || Commentary ||
 * 1. Embraces the school mission || Teacher identifies, articulates, and internalizes the school mission.

Teacher practice embodies the school's mission in all aspects of his/her pedagogical practice, impacting student growth academically, socially, spiritually and emotionally. || * Understands the school's commitment to pluralism, Hebrew throughout the day, and differentiated instruction and seeks out opportunities to foster these tenets; day school || Teacher possesses deep content knowledge and is able to apply that knowledge to assess curricular materials and interpret student ideas.
 * Understands how children grow and learn and actively creates opportunities for each child to grow academically, socially, spiritually and emotionally throughout the day;
 * Teacher uses language and aspects of the mission in conversations with faculty and parents ||
 * 2. Grows as an educator in a Jewish

Teacher initiates opportunities for professional growth in diverse topics and integrates new learning into his/her pedagogical practice.

Teacher helps initiate or participates in school based professional development and incorporates new ideas into his/her pedagogical practice. || * Attends workshops, courses, independent study and/or school based professional development to grow his or her knowledge of educational theory and practice;
 * Regularly engages colleagues in serious discussions about teaching and learning; contributes to faculty meetings when appropriate;
 * Is involved in collegial groups that share practices; e.g. "Teacher Share" sessions;
 * Understands the school based P.D. initiatives and supports their implementations;
 * Takes on "Teacher Leader" roles around professional learning ||
 * 3. Reflects on his or her practice. || Teacher consistently utilizes tools of reflective practice.

Teacher uses his/her Personal Growth Plan to drive his/her reflective practice.

Teacher integrates analysis into his/her daily practice. || * Uses problems and questions to further learning;
 * Seeks out and acts on constructive feedback;
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Consistently attempts to act on insights and improve practice;
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Welcomes opportunities to observe and be observed and uses observation to further learning goals;
 * Develops goals for continued learning ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">4. Promotes school events to the school community. || Teacher is aware of events, enthusiastically encourages participation and often plans opportunities to learn about the events with students. || * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Has knowledge of both Lower School and Middle School activities, events, and reads milestones.
 * Reads the "Purple Sheet";
 * Reads one's emails;
 * Invites guests into the classroom to explain special class or school wide events ||