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Learning

Encourage. Equip. Empower.

At GMSD, we believe in supporting every educator’s professional journey by encouraging growth, equipping teachers with essential resources, and empowering them to make a lasting impact in the classroom. Our robust professional development options and tools are designed to inspire excellence and success.

Professional Development Options

  • After-School Sessions: Engage in collaborative learning with peers.
  • Asynchronous Online Learning: Complete training on your schedule.
  • Summer Workshops: Dive deep into innovative strategies before the school year starts.
  • Travel-Based Conferences: Expand your expertise and network with professionals nationwide.

For the 2025-2026 school year, GMSD’s focus is on empowering teachers to grow as content experts.

If you are looking for professional cohorts or growth supports, please visit these links from our Human Resources Department:

Blue Chips / Activate / Empower

2025-2026 Flex PD Requirements

  • Each building will set their own required number of before/after school PLC hours. 
  • If you plan to participate in a PD session not offered by GMSD for Flex credit, reach out to your principal for approval PRIOR to the event. Your principal will determine the process for pre-approval. Failure to do so may result in hours not being approved for
    credit.
  • A maximum of 6 virtual/asynchronous hours can be earned as part of your 24 Flex hours. Some exceptions may apply pending administrative approval.
  • All sessions must relate to your current scope of work. 
  • GMSD is committed to placing a focus on developing and supporting our teachers as content experts. At the beginning of the 2025-26 school year we will provide a year at a glance calendar highlighting PD opportunities that will be provided throughout the year.
  • Core content subjects/courses (ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies) will be required to attend a minimum of 2 GMSD led PD sessions directly related to their scope of work. Other departments might have their own minimum requirements for
    other content areas.
  • Some trainings/activities are part of your regular job expectations and will not count towards Flex PD, such as: Safe School videos, participation in school- sponsored events, mentoring teachers, department meetings, operational faculty meetings, Snapshots,
    etc.

Your 200-Day Teaching Contract Explained

All 200 days are required by state policy.

175 Instructional Days

These are days that students are actually in the building. Just a reminder that the 200 day contract applies to any employee (including but not limited to teachers, SLPs, OTs, PTs, RTI Coaches, Counselors, etc.)

10 Built-in Vacation Days 

These days are built into the school schedule each year per TDOE requirements.

4 Administrative Days

  • In-Service: July 28 and August 5
  • Meet the Teacher Night (0.5 day)
  • Curriculum Night (0.5 day) 
  • January 5

6 System-Wide Professional Development Days 

  • July 29-31, August 1,4 (In-Service)
  • February 16 (DLD)- this will be our only DLD this year

1 Parent-Teacher Conference Day

Buildings select date and times within the
following windows.

  • September 2-18 (0.5 day)
  • February 2-19 (05. day)

4 Flex Professional Development Days 

  • Flex hours must be earned outside of your regular contracted work hours. 
  • Flex hours are in lieu of working in person on November 24-26 and January 2.
  • You are paid for Flex days in advance, therefore documentation of hours on Frontline is essential.
  • 6 hours x 4 days = 24 Flex hours

Individual Flex Credit Request Form

Screenshot of the Individual Flex Credit Request Form

Examples of how to earn Flex PD Hours

  • Attending a PD session set up through your building or district office
  • Attending a PD session not offered by GMSD (in person or virtually) with prior approval that directly relates to your scope of work (i.e. a science teacher attending a STEM session). After attending your session, each educator will be responsible for completing an Individual Flex Request in Frontline.
  • Taking classes to earn an advanced degree that directly relates to your current area of work (i.e. an English teacher taking a "reading" course)
  • Reminder that all Flex hours must be logged through Frontline. If you are participating in an activity not posted through Frontline, then you will need to complete an Individual Flex Credit Request Form and receive approval from your administrator.

Flex Reminders

  • 24 hours is the minimum number of required hours. Principal or designee may require additional hours or mandatory trainings.
  • Any staff member who follows 200 day payroll calendar will be required to obtain 24 Flex hours (including but not limited to teacher, SLPs, OTs, PTs, RTI Coaches, Counselors, etc.).
  • If an employee resigns from GMSD throughout the year, the total number of Flex hours will be prorated and will result in a reduction of pay, if not earned by the final paycheck.
  • Failure to complete 24 hours will result in a reduction of pay for the employee at the end of the year (June 15th paycheck). 
  • Flex hours must align to your current scope of work (ex: math attends a math textbook training session). 
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The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Flex PD

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