The Professional Development Center (PDC) is the outreach agent of the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) of the University of Southern Maine. Our mission is to provide innovative and sustained professional development that enables PK-12 educators and school communities to serve the needs of their students.
Course Registration
To request to register for PDS 560, please complete the form at the following link:
Request to Register (Google form)
Course Descriptions
PDS 560 Equity Literacy for Educators
This course prepares participants in the core dimensions of equity literacy: (1) understanding how equity and inequity operate in schools and society, and (2) developing awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary to identify inequities, eliminate inequities, and actively cultivate equity. More than cultural competence or diversity awareness, equity literacy prepares us to recognize even the subtlest forms of bias, inequity, and oppression related to race, social class, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, language, religion, immigration status, and other dimensions of difference. Developing equity literacy prepares us to understand and respond to the ways in which some students experience bias, inequity, and discrimination, which impacts their access to equitable educational opportunities and resources, and thus leads to so-called “gaps” in educational achievement and outcomes. Participants will engage in a variety of learning activities, including individual reading and reflection, group discussion, and critical analysis. A central focus of the course will entail the consideration of equity literacy case studies. Each participant will complete a final project focusing on cultivating equity in their respective professional settings.
Dates: January 21 – May 2, 2025
Class meetings: Select Thursdays 3:30-5:00 p.m. via Zoom (1/30, 2/13, 3/6, 3/20, 4/3, 4/17, 5/1)
Format/Location: Online / Asynchronous
Instructor: Mark Tappan
Credit: 3 graduate credits
Prerequisites: none
Tuition/Fees: See the Student Financial Services (SFS) Tuition page and contact SFS with any questions
Audience: Educators in school settings
The H.E.A.R.T Method of Self Care for Educators
The stress of teaching has reached an all-time high in the United States. Teachers are asked to fill many roles for a school: be a teacher of content area, provide social-emotional support to students, ensure all learners reach high levels of proficiency in their work, as well-being guardians to the community as stellar role models. Teachers are caring and supportive by nature and they give energy every day to others. Their own personal stress often goes unnoticed, by themselves and others. This course is specifically designed to provide educators with practical self-care strategies that can be implemented immediately. The participants in this course will develop a thorough plan for personal self care that will focus on balancing their daily work and personal lives. The course is designed so learners can create their own learning outcomes within the realm of self care. They will be coached by the instructor in the areas of nutrition, exercise, and stress management with an emphasis on habit change.
This course will discuss the physiology of stress and its impact on the body; help educators identify their own beliefs that can exacerbate daily stress and most importantly help them to establish habits for change that will help diminish stress.
Participants, through their own self growth, will bring a renewed energy to their profession and their personal lives.
Class Dates: Rolling start dates – course takes 7 weeks to complete; Start dates are as follows: January 5, 12, 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, April 6
Format/Location: Online / Asynchronous
Instructor: Rebecca C. Day, M. Ed (Former School Principal)
Prerequisites: None
Tuition and Fees: Please go to this website to apply for the course through our PDP office
CEUs: This has been approved for 1 CEU = 10 hours
Audience: All teachers and school administrators with a Bachelors Degree
You are welcome to apply either directly through the instructor’s website or through USM PDP office.
Questions?
Contact the PDC at pdc@maine.edu or 207-780-5400.