With a mission towards supporting and developing a love of learning and instilling the values of life long learners in our students, the faculty models this through continued professional development. Funds are allotted to each faculty member to ensure continued growth and development among the faculty and staff. Professional development expectations are clearly outlined in the faculty handbook highlighting continued education through workshops, classroom visits and in house professional development days.

Our Professional Development requirements are as follows:

• Attend at least one professional workshop per academic year
• Complete self evaluation and complete goals
• Conduct one school visit a year (days are provided)
• Attend in-house full day Professional Development workshop
• Summer reading requirement

Faculty members are to choose professional development activities mindful of the CHS Mission, their direct application to professional growth, curriculum development and advancement of our educational initiatives. For new faculty members we have a “first year core curriculum”, which includes attendance over two years to Open Circle, AISNE Diversity Conference, Classroom management seminar and a Curriculum workshop. In addition, the school is committed to sending faculty to the summer Diversity Workshops and People of Color Conference. Faculty continues to share what they learned from courses and workshops through faculty meeting presentations and Chimes, weekly electronic newsletters, submissions.

Faculties also have the option to apply for funds to work on continued curriculum work over the summer. In addition, there is an extra fund for Faculty enrichment programs. The fund’s purpose is to support special study projects, curriculum development work, short leaves, teacher exchange programs and other opportunities for faculty to develop or renew professional skills, and generate or rejuvenate professional commitments. In the past, teachers have traveled to Mexico, Cuba, Japan, England, South Africa, Greece and attended intensive workshops.