Professional Learning
Professional Learning
The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough professional learning is designed to develop educators’ knowledge and understanding, sustain growth and lead to refinements in practice. This is a collaborative and iterative process that expands educators’ capacity to improve student learning. The District’s professional learning culture is built on a foundation of trust, interdependence, an active role by all educators, and a shared belief that improved student learning is the goal of all professional learning.
One element of the professional learning system is professional development days. In the 2025-2026 academic year, educators will be engaged in five professional development days.
-
Day 1: August 27, 2026 - Professional Development Day
-
Day 2-3: August 28 & August 31, 2026 - Building-Based Professional Development Day & Teacher Return Day
-
Day 4: April 30, 2027 -District Professional Development Day
-
Day 5: Flexible PD: Converted to six hours of PD to be completed between July 1, 2026, and June 1, 2027.
The Professional Development Committee will continue to collaborate in planning these learning opportunities and to ensure that they are aligned with Vision 2026: Educate, Inspire, Challenge. The District is committed to supporting educators' professional development in ways that foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous growth.
-
District Professional Development hours provide educators with opportunities to personalize and align PD directly with professional learning, student learning, school improvement, or a strategic plan goal. Furthermore, the PD can align directly with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education re-licensure requirements.
An educator, or in a team partnership, can identify Professional Development that aligns with his/her, or the group’s, student learning, professional practice, school improvement, or strategic plan goal. The individual, or team, is responsible for organizing and completing the self-directed pathway. The District will not reimburse any expense incurred for FlexPD. FlexPD provides educators with opportunities to personalize and align PD directly with a professional goal, student learning goals, school improvement plan, or strategic plan goal. Furthermore, the PD can align directly with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education re-licensure requirements.
It is required that the 6 hours be completed outside of the 184 days, between July 1, 2026 and June 1, 2027, as the 6 hours of PD counts as the 185th contractual day.
In addition, the PD Committee has compiled a set of ideas that you might consider for FlexPD 2025-2026.
-
Upon completion of Flex PD hours, each employee must complete the google form linked below by June 1, 2027. Please click the linked form for your school. Your school's Professional Development Committee representatives can assist with questions.
-