PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR FACULTY AND PROFESSIONAL COLLABORATIONS

Not only do our teachers come highly trained, educated, and experienced, but additionally for every hour that teachers teach, they spend an hour in professional development. This begins with an hour each day to review the daily documentation and observations of children to inform planning. Our emergent curriculum requires daily collaboration and reflection. We prioritize giving teachers the time that high-quality instruction demands. Teachers' ongoing professional development continues with reading, research, university partnerships, study tours, lectures, conferences, and whole staff training. CNS offers training on and incorporates research-driven practices including Mindful Schools, Visual Thinking Strategies, and Handwriting without Tears.

CNS provides a broad range of rich opportunities and has welcomed leading experts including Lella Gandini, Ben Mardell, and Ellen Hall. 

We also provide professional collaboration opportunities. We are founding board members of the Boston Reggio Emilia Network, we also serve on boards of other independent schools and community organizations, which provide us with important opportunities to connect with other educators and share the work we're doing. 

Additionally, teachers visit 5-10 schools a year to see practices in public, pilot, lab, and independent schools.

Most importantly, teachers at CNS are involved in ongoing self-evaluations, coaching, peer mentoring, video observations, and looking at student work with a protocol.