Teacher Academy

The West Virginia Department of Education will provide eligible West Virginia teachers with an opportunity for professional learning through the Teacher Academy. Participants will be provided with research-based strategies and improve their professional practice. Two options will be available, a blended model and online course. The blended model consists of a three-day in-person training at the request of individual counties and a self-paced online book study or teachers can complete a self-paced online course through the WV Learns platform.

Eligible Participants

• Beginning teachers required to complete a Beginning Educator Induction program
• Teachers who are transitioning to teaching from other career paths
• Teachers required to meet the obligations of a focused plan of support

Option 1: WVDE Teacher Academy Blended Model

The blended model will be offered to individual counties upon request. It will include three days of in-person professional learning and a self-paced online book study. The sessions will be held in the county and will include county specific employees and teachers from surrounding counties invited by the hosting county if space is available. Each county will choose one course from each of the available menus.

The self-paced online book study will be available through the WV Learns platform. A county may choose to complete the book study in-person during monthly Beginning Teacher meetings. Please note, if a county chooses to complete the book study in person, they will provide paperwork to guarantee attendance and completion of book study assignments to the WVDE for review and approval before grades are submitted. Books will be purchased by the individual county. A registration link will be provided by the individual county.

Books will be purchased by the individual county.

Upon completion of the WVDE Teacher Academy blended model, participants will be eligible for three non-degree credits from a participating institute of higher education at a reduced cost. These credits can be applied for both certificate renewal hours and salary advancement.

Session descriptions will be provided upon request.

Option 2: WVDE Teacher Academy WV Learns Course

The WVDE Teacher Academy WV Learns eLearning course is designed to support teachers using research-based materials and instructional strategies aligned to the WV Professional Teaching Standards that strengthen student and teacher learning resulting in increased student achievement. The course will be self-paced and equivalent to a 45-hour course (3 credits).

Some of the key topics included are the following:

• Classroom Management
• Classroom Culture versus Climate
• Understanding Intellectual/cognitive, social, and emotional development
• Effective Communication
• Defining and Understanding Trauma

Upon completion of the WVDE Teacher Academy WV Learns course, participants will be eligible for three non-degree credits from a participating institute of higher education at a reduced cost. These credits can be applied for both certificate renewal hours and salary advancement. The WV Learns platform offers participants an additional option of earning credits that can be applied towards renewal hours only at no cost. The credits will be applied to certificate renewal hours but cannot be applied to salary advancement.

Course Descriptions Are Available Upon Request.

Teachers that are eligible include

• 1st year teachers required to complete the Beginning Educator Induction Program
• Teachers who are transitioning to teaching from other career paths
• Teachers required to meet the obligations of a focused plan of support

The WVDE will provide a link to the eligible participants after county verification.