School Program

The Goal

BRIDGE BUILDERS^® Staff Professional Development provides training that is essential to ensure BRIDGE BUILDERS^® programs are most effective in your school community.

BRIDGE BUILDERS^® Staff Professional Development is available on PD days and staff meetings and is also intertwined through our other program offerings.

BRIDGE BUILDERS^® Staff Professional Development is valuable for:

• Principal and leadership team
• All teaching staff
• All administration staff
• All ancillary staff (e.g. Teacher Aides, Specialists)
• School Counsellors and Chaplains (where applicable)
• Before and After School Hours Care educators

The Training

Jocelyne has had extensive experience in researching, supporting and modelling high quality, effective teaching in over 110 schools and in universities. Her research identified the importance of explicitly educating teachers about skills that reinforce the strategies underpinning the three Australian Professional Standards for Teaching domains which include:

1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students

1.3 Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds

3.5 Use effective classroom communication

4.1 Support student participation

4.3 Manage challenging behaviour

4.4 Maintain student safety

6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice

6.4 Apply professional learning and improve student learning

7.3 Engage with the parents/carers

These standards are very closely aligned with the Personal and Social Capabilities. In the same manner that we should not assume all students arrive at school with equal skills and understandings, we should not assume this of teachers. Sometimes small adjustments to our practice can make big changes, which can improve quality and proficiency. This not only provides teachers with the tools for greater job satisfaction but also creates classrooms that provide greater opportunities for student wellbeing, engagement and, ultimately, success.

‘The greatest resource in Australian Schools is our teachers. They account for the vast majority of expenditure in school education and have the greatest impact on student learning, far outweighing the impact of any other education program or policy.”

From the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, 2011

Until the recent changes introduced by NESA CEO Paul Martin, EMPOWERING Life Skills was endorsed to provide the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Registered Professional Development for teachers accredited at Proficient Teacher for the following Category 1 courses.

Introduction to the BRIDGE BUILDERS^® Conflict Resolution and Anti-Bullying Program contributed 2 hours of NESA Registered PD addressing 6.2.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

(Early Years) BRIDGE BUILDERS^® Conflict Resolution Program contributed 3 hours of NESA Registered PD addressing 6.2.2 and 4.3.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

(Primary) BRIDGE BUILDERS^® Conflict Resolution Program contributed 4 hours of NESA Registered PD addressing 6.2.2 and 4.3.2 from the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers towards maintaining Proficient Teacher Accreditation in NSW.

We remain committed to supporting quality teaching and learning in schools and early childhood services to improve educational outcomes for all students and children in NSW and elsewhere.

Please contact us for further details for how we can deliver Professional Development to your staff.

All EMPOWERING Life Skills BRIDGE BUILDERS^® Staff Professional Development courses, except 2 hour courses, collect data to indicates prior knowledge of course content and post understanding of conflict resolution skills.

Data is used to provide evidence of how best to support the school and suggestions of how to continue to equip and encourage further learning and immerse the skills to create a whole-school approach.

The data can also be used to demonstrate the school's proactive preventative approach to reduce bullying in their community.

Contact us for further information about how to encourage your teachers to be the best they can be and empower their students for life.

Our Professional Development programs can enable your teachers and staff to deliver the programs to the absolute best of their ability.

Enquire now to see how we can implement training in your school.