Two Ray-Pec teachers have been selected to participate in the inaugural class of the Personalized Competency-Based Master Teacher Cadre Program. Stefani Russ, Enterprise & Design Coach at the LEAD Center, and Kelli Anderson, Innovation Instructional Coach at Ray-Pec South Middle School, are among only 93 educators across Missouri chosen to participate. The program designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills to master personalized competency-based learning (PCBL) through a blend of in-person and virtual experiences. The program is hosted by the Success-Ready Students Network in partnership with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle said he was incredibly proud to have two educators from Ray-Pec selected for the program. “This recognition highlights their dedication to innovative teaching and student-centered learning,” he said. “Personalized competency-based education ensures that every student progresses based on mastery, not just seat time, and this program empowers our teachers to lead the way in transforming education. We are excited about the impact this will have on our classrooms and, most importantly, student success. It is just another example of how there are more life-enhancing student learning opportunities than ever in the Ray-Pec school district, and we aren't even close to being done.” Anderson said that her interest in the PCBL Cadre stemmed from the fact that she is based at Ray-Pec School Middle School, which plans to develop a team with a CBL/PBL focus. “As the instructional coach that will be working closely with these teachers, I wanted the opportunity to learn and grow as much as I could, in order to better support teachers through this process,” Anderson said. “I am very excited for this opportunity so that I can continue my own growth as an educator, take what I learn back to teachers so they can deepen their understanding of PCBL, as well as work collaboratively with them to enhance classroom practices to design powerful, student-centered learning environments.” Russ said she is also looking forward to the work about competency-based learning. “Meeting students where they are in the learning journey is my passion as an educator,” she said. “Students grow in confidence and engagement when they understand how their work ties to content goals. The forward thinking work our district has led in real world learning will serve as a foundation to support teachers and students in the movement towards a competency based model.”
What is the PCBL Master Teacher Cadre?
Participants in the program will deepen their understanding of personalized competency-based learning and learn how to enhance classroom practices to design powerful, student-centered learning environments. By the end of the program, participants will have developed the expertise and leadership skills of a master teacher—an educator who not only excels in their own classroom, but also serves as a mentor and resource to colleagues, guiding them in the effective implementation of PCBL. In total, approximately 40 hours of learning will be completed between February and June through a combination of pre-work/self study, four in-person sessions and a series of virtual sessions.
WHAT IS PERSONALIZED COMPETENCY-BASED LEARNING? There are eight essential elements when implementing personalized competency-based learning in the classroom.
Learn more here: https://www.srsnmo.org/page/compentency