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Growing Together with Eve Mooney: Professional Development at GCA · GCA Unmuted: Voices of Virtual Education

• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to GCA Unmuted, the podcast where we share the stories and strategies that show how Georgia Cyber Academy makes online learning work.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: At a school like GCA, where the classroom is often digital, professional development has to evolve too.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: But that doesn't mean it's all virtual.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: From in-person kickoffs to ongoing digital learning, GCA blends both formats to create meaningful growth for educators across the state.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: Today we're diving into what that looks like and why it matters.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: I'm joined by Eve Mooney, Assistant Director of Training and Development at GCA, who helps design and deliver the professional learning experiences that keep our educators growing, connected, and equipped for success, whether they're meeting in a room or behind a screen.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_00: We'll talk about what makes professional development meaningful at GCA, how it works in both virtual and in-person settings, and how strong training builds strong teaching, regardless of the platform.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: So thanks for being here, Eve.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: And can you share a moment or a story where professional development made a clear impact for a teacher or a team?
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, of course.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_01: Thanks for having me.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_01: Excited to dive in and talk about this.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_01: Something that I love and spend a lot of time doing.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_01: So a clear moment.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I love a good keynote.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_01: I think that we'll just start there.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_01: I think that it can be overwhelming and discouraging to be in this profession.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_01: And I love to see just kind of the energy shift in the room as teachers are motivated again, as they unite kind of around this shared vision that we have as a district.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_01: And so I think that the clarity is there.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_01: They leave the room inspired again.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_01: Their energy is definitely a shift.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_01: A specific moment, I think that, you know, when leadership comes to you right after a session and says, I want to take this to my team, I want to share this.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_01: Um that happens a lot.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_01: That happened recently, you know, with our emergenetics professional development.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_01: Everybody wants their teams to grow and to experience this, you know, relationship building.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_01: And so that's I love when that happens immediately following a session.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: That's great.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: So the keynote stuff.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: So I have also attended these professional developments as of late.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: Can you tell me what was one of your more favorite keynotes or ones that stand out uh recently, like in the in the past five years?
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: Do you know which one?
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: Like out the gate, you're like, man, I love that keynote.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I love a good mix of humor and some inspiration.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_01: We had Gary Brooks just recently.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_01: We've had Ron Clark both um bring that element of fun and then also, you know, some reminders of the meaningful work that we're all doing.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_01: So those are two that just that stand out.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they were great.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I think I really liked the who's the board teachers guy, his name.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: I I can't remember his name, but I really enjoyed it.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_00: I enjoyed, I enjoyed his.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, so you mentioned the emergent emergenetics.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, for someone who's listening who doesn't know what that is, what what is that, real quick?
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it is, you know, you're similar to a personality test, but it goes even more into quadrants of you know behaviors and how you respond in different situations, um, kind of what makes us human, and then bringing that into our work environments.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_01: Um, when you know the emergenetics profiles of the people that you're working with, you're it's easier to you know brainstorm together, it's easier to have conversations, it's easier to solve problems.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_01: So I think just starting from that place of knowledge of your team members, um, you know, you're more productive in the work that you're doing.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: Did did you ever have any of these principles after the fact uh come come to you later or mention just in passing, like, man, after doing this emergenetics with my team, like it's just made a wild difference, or has no one actually mentioned that to you?
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, oh no, they've all uh quite a few have mentioned it.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, it's similar to parenting.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_01: You know, you learn how to engage with your staff and what works for one person doesn't work for another.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um, how do we motivate people?
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_01: And when you know their emergenetics profiles, um, you you know you start in a good place.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: That's great.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: I love that.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: So getting encouraged from the keynote, and then also like having a session where people come to you and are like, man, we got to do this with our team, bring it to your team.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: That's great.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, based on these different stories that you mentioned, uh, what do you think this has taught you about?
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: Like, how do you design a PD that really works?
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um, yeah, I think a lot of factors go into play.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I think, you know, first considering time.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_01: Um, time is a huge factor.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_01: We don't want to add to full plates.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and so I really try, you know, there's no way around professional development.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_01: It's tied to our educator certificates, it's tied to our annual evaluations, it's part of our school improvement plan.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so there's no way around it.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_01: But if we can make sure what we're doing is meaningful, then you know the time doesn't matter quite as much.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um and then I think for us, giving choice is really important.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um, the more we can give choice, the more positive the feedback is.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we have people across all departments.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_01: We have, you know, instruction, student-facing staff, and then we also have support staff, um, and both make the work happen at GCA.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_01: So we have to consider that um when we're planning professional development.
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: That's great.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: So we have a big in-person professional development kickoff, but then we also throughout the year, you plan uh virtual professional developments.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_00: How do you decide what you deliver, what's best delivered virtually, and what's best delivered in person when you're planning?
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that um is so important.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_01: And I will say we don't always get it right, um, but we try.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_01: And so virtually um is going to be your information giving sessions, your compliance trainings, your updates.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_01: Um, that's where we, you know, put that focus.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_01: That's our staff meetings.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um and in person, you know, when you're doing things like relationship building, team building, brainstorming, you're having conversations, there's more of a back and forth.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_01: It's really hard to have a back and forth in a Zoom room with hundreds of people.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so those sessions where we can really break into groups and um have those conversations are much better in person.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_01: Um, people love in-person trainings where there's technology tips and tricks, something they can take away and into their classroom right then, something someone can show them they can work with, they can be on their computers and doing it side by side.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we find that that works really well in person.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_00: That's awesome.
• 7:16
  SPEAKER_00: And that makes a lot of sense.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, more of like a workshop format for in person.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_00: Um you mentioned time, right?
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_00: You mentioned, like, hey, we have to do this, so let's make the time meaningful.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_00: What are some strategies then that you're like, hey, we need to make sure we do this to keep PD engaging?
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, where teachers are like, this is useful, this is meaningful stuff, especially when it's like you're having to plan this not for like three people, right?
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_00: You're planning it for hundreds of educators.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: How how do you do that?
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_00: What are some strategies that you're like?
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_00: We need to make sure we do this to make sure that PD's engaging and useful.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe you already said one by uh choice.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: You mentioned like, hey, we want to make sure teachers have somewhat of a choice.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, is there anything else?
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_01: Um I mean, just coming to the basics, we meet with all of our presenters before, even our internal presenters.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, I as a team usually we run through presentations.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_01: We just really vet the process to begin with.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, when you have a large audience, um, such as a district, you want to make sure that whatever you're delivering is um, you know, relevant to our environment.
• 8:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I always, always, always probably more than ever remind people that we're virtual.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_01: We've always been virtual.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we are not virtual for any reason.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, that's happened in our world, we're virtual.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_01: And so that's really important to um for all of our speakers to just come from that place initially.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, you know, we're always networking with other districts, seeing what they're doing, going to conferences.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it's important to stay relevant and engaged there.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_01: We're, you know, living in this world of cutting edge.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and if we're not there, then our PD isn't going to be there.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_01: So I think that's important too.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_01: Any kind of um interaction, you know, you can use all different things in a platform from cahoots to polling to um, you know, breakout rooms.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_01: So those kind of things when we're working virtually and then in person, just the more engagement with the audience, the better.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: Is there any difference between how you support new hires versus uh returning teachers or even veteran teachers and staff uh in the hybrid model?
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_00: So in the way that you approach uh PD in person, do you support new hires differently at in-person PD?
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: And do you support new hires differently with our virtual PDs as well?
• 10:03
  SPEAKER_00: Can you speak to that a little bit?
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, absolutely.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um our new hire training and professional development is focused on onboarding.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it is focused on knowledge of the platforms and programs.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_01: It's also focused on work-life balance.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_01: It is a skill to work from home that you know has to be learned, has to be taught, has to be honed in.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_01: So we focus on that with our new hires.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we bring all of our new hires in for an in-person day.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it's really important to see and feel and experience the supports that are in place, even when you're working from home.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_01: So we meet them face to face regardless of the time that they onboard throughout the school year.
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um that's really important.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, we give them a mentor that supports them throughout the entire school year.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_01: So part of our teacher induction program is that mentor program that I think is crucial to their success here.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um, veteran teachers, we I love to have veteran teachers lead.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_01: I love to give them value in what they're doing.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_01: I love for them to showcase what's working for them.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_01: I think that that support that we give them in allowing that growth really helps with their professional growth and their professional learning.
• 11:15
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and of course, we offer advanced, you know, sessions for those veteran teachers as well.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_00: So, how does feedback shape your approach to future PD planning?
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_00: Do you do you have a space for feedback, or are you like, look, I've got this covered.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_00: I know exactly what I'm doing.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_00: Or is there any feedback that a feedback system that you get feedback and then you're like, okay, let's see how we can change our PDs?
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, feedback.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we survey and ask for feedback after every event, after every session.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_01: Um, we read every comment, some easier to digest than others.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_01: Um and we are constantly trying to make PD better and to just respond to staff and to staff needs.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, you want hoodies in July in 100 degrees, we're gonna give you hoodies in July.
• 12:12
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so just things like that that we're listening to, the little things.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but feedback is constant.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_01: We also have a new initiative, a professional development committee that is across all departments.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_01: We have membership and team members that are representing our entire district.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_01: And so we are encouraging them to talk to their teachers, to talk to their colleagues, to find out what they want.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, sometimes it's easier to talk to your friend about what you'd like to see for PD or what's not working for you than it is to come into, you know, a feedback survey or to a leadership team member.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_01: So we have that in place as well.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but constant analyzing of feedback and making changes.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_00: Oh well.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_00: So you actually have a PD committee.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_00: Is that a new initiative or have you had that for a little while?
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_01: It is an initiative we started last year.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so this is our year two of our PD committee, and it's 25 members across the district.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_01: We meet a few times a year.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and just look at what's happening across the district, what we can offer, what new ideas?
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_01: It has been just monumental in um getting all of the voices to the table.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm assuming you head that committee up, right?
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_01: Okay.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, I do.
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_00: Perfect.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_00: So, what do you think other schools could learn, whether they are virtual schools, whether they are hybrid schools, or they're just traditional brick and mortar schools?
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: What do you think other schools could learn from how GCA structures its professional learning experiences, its professional development?
• 13:47
  SPEAKER_00: Like what what what we do here at GCA, what do you think other schools could learn?
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_01: Um, that's a great question.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_01: I think that it is super important for you to first see your people as humans outside of being professionals and outside of educators.
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_01: I think when we see them as humans and we offer PD that is both um relevant to their personal growth and their professional growth, it does wonders.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it makes you better in all parts of your life.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_01: So we're gonna talk about Google Spreadsheets and we're gonna talk about AI, but we're also gonna read books about making mistakes and about being brave.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and I think that when you find that balance between personal and professional growth and you can somehow kind of tap into both, I think it takes your PD to the next level.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_00: That's so good.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_00: What do you think then sets GCA's PD model apart from what you've seen elsewhere or what you've heard that other schools do?
• 14:50
  SPEAKER_01: I I think all the things we've talked about, I think the the focus on choice, I think the focus on personal growth, I think um having in-person opportunities, you know, as well as virtual, um, just meeting our staff where they are and just encouraging, you know, them to the next level.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_01: I think it really sets us apart.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_01: I think we do PD um differently than a lot of places, and but I think we're always open to new ideas.
• 15:17
  SPEAKER_00: Have you heard of other schools who go and take over a town like Athens with all of their teachers and staff for a few days and then they all leave and go back to their homes?
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_00: Or do most traditional brick and mortar schools, they just, you know, because they're in their place, they're in their homes, they go, they get to go back home.
• 15:39
  SPEAKER_00: Like, have you heard or seen that anywhere else?
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_00: Or are you kind of trailblazing there?
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I haven't actually.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_01: You know, most school districts have their um, you know, their local auditorium or, you know, wherever they bring everyone together.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so I do think that this is this is kind of a new thing, bringing people across the state of Georgia into one location, um, just kind of hyping them up for the school year, learning the new systems, and then sending everybody back refreshed and ready to take on the school year from their home offices.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's pretty cool uh what we are able to do with that.
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_00: That also might help with relationship building with your colleagues as well, going away for a couple days, even though even though it can be difficult for uh some during that time to be away from their families.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_00: Do you think that there are any systems or routines that other schools could adopt or use that uh especially when they're because you're now you're having to navigate a ginormous population, right?
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_00: Like a huge population of teachers and staff across uh primary grades, elementary grades, middle grades, and secondary grades, and all these different teams, right?
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_00: Like you have different admin teams in each one of these different bands.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_00: So, what systems or routines are you doing that you think other schools could adopt when they're trying to like navigate such a ginormous project like professional development?
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I think you have to have a good team in place.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_01: I have an amazing team.
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I have a coordinator and a logistics specialist that just help, you know, tremendously keep all of the trains on the track.
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_01: So I could not do it without them.
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_01: Um I think having a designated time to have all of the leadership voices at the table is really important.
• 17:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um I do monthly calls with our cabinet leadership team to kind of just sort of lay out the outline of what we're doing for the next couple of weeks or months or even the school year.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_01: Um I think that that is really, really important.
• 17:52
  SPEAKER_01: Um so that weekly or that monthly meeting, having a good team in place.
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_01: Um and then we are, you know, a Google Suite school.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_01: So we use all of the Google tools and just keep us organized and um just kind of go from there.
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_00: Sure.
• 18:10
  SPEAKER_00: This could be upsetting, Eve, but what would you say to a leader that's like, you know what?
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_00: Meaningful professional development, it's not possible.
• 18:23
  SPEAKER_00: In a in a virtual setting for a virtual school, it's not possible.
• 18:28
  SPEAKER_00: You can't do it.
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_00: You have to be a traditional brick and mortar school.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, what what would you say to a person who would think that that it's you can't do it?
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_00: It's not possible.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_01: Um I would say that you are that you're limiting yourself very much.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you have to have an open mind.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_01: I think that if we're not um growing, we're dying.
• 18:53
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that if you can't find a way to grow um in whatever environment that you're in, whether it's brick and mortar, virtual, um, if you're not filling your cup, then it is impossible to effectively pour into our students, pour into our families.
• 19:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so that mindset, yeah, I would struggle with that.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_00: And it seems to me like you have created a system so far where you're like, we can make this work for uh taking uh finding a place that's big enough to accommodate all of GCA staff and teachers, bring them there, give them meaningful uh training and useful training, and then uh send them back encouraged and equipped, right?
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_00: Um what would you say then is your biggest lesson or just a lesson?
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_00: Leave us with this, that you've learned from designing and delivering professional development in a way that you've you know, you're having to take care of the entire state of Georgia, right?
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_00: Like, what have you learned through this process or a lesson that you've really taken away from like, man, this is the job you're doing designing, delivering PD for all of the people at GCA, uh, what have you taken taken away, would you say?
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I think that you that for me, I have to focus on the the wins where they are.
• 20:25
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's impossible to make everyone happy or to feel like you are impacting everyone positively.
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_01: But I think that if that is my goal um and that I can reach just a few, I think the trickle effect is in place.
• 20:39
  SPEAKER_01: I think it makes us better, you know, friends, better parents, better colleagues.
• 20:43
  SPEAKER_01: And so it the impact is greater than the session, greater than the single session, it's greater than our time in Athens.
• 20:49
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's greater than our, you know, meetings every other month that we have and offer some sort of learning or growth.
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_01: And so I think that if I can focus on that, and I encourage my team to do the same, to focus on the small wins um and to just know and trust that those are impacting our district and our community in a in a bigger way.
• 21:12
  SPEAKER_00: No, that's so good.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_00: And again, I really appreciate and I've enjoyed the PDs uh so far.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_00: I've been here over 10 years now, so I've been to a lot of them.
• 21:21
  SPEAKER_00: And I think I think you and your team do a great job.
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_00: And I I I think it is a great, a great place to be able to see you see your colleagues face to face, feel encouraged, equipped, and ready to start off the new year.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_00: And then also the virtual PDs throughout the year can be incredibly helpful too, because it is great getting to have that choice.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_00: But here's today's big idea here.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_00: When PD is intentional, responsive, and designed with educators in mind, it doesn't matter whether it's virtual or in person, it becomes a launch pad for stronger teaching and deeper connection.
• 21:55
  SPEAKER_00: So thanks again to Eve for joining us and sharing her perspective.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: And if this episode sparked ideas for your own team or school, be sure to subscribe and join us next time on GCA Unmuted Voices of Virtual Education.
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks, Eve.
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.