Why Work at TCS

Testimonials

Professional Learning

At TCS we believe in ongoing job-embedded professional learning through the support of coaches and Professional Learning Communities. Lasting impact results when educators engage in practices that focus on collective educator efficacy and learning in collaborative communities. To foster this learning we commit to structures that support collaboration and organize learning opportunities at school to ensure lasting impact. Individuals in leadership roles will attend conferences as needed to further their knowledge to support and train the rest of the staff.

 

Support for Academic Teaching staff

• Coaches

At TCS, we believe that everyone deserves a coach. Therefore, we have Instructional Coaches that support staff in the areas of instruction, literacy, classroom environment, and technology. The coaches support teachers through individual coaching cycles, team coaching cycles, curriculum development and staff development sessions.

 

Professional Learning Opportunities on campus

• Professional Learning Communities

All teachers participate in weekly PLC (Professional Learning Communities) with their team focused on student learning and strategies to support students.

• School-hosted professional learning

Each year we host different workshops offered by outside organizations that are open to staff to apply to attend. Some examples of workshops we have hosted are: Cognitive Coaching, WIDA International Institute , Child Protection Level I training, and Restorative Justice Level 1 Training.

• Professional Learning Days

Each year we have 8-9 days dedicated to professional learning on campus. On these days, we learn as a staff through workshops aligned to our Strategic Plan, host “Teachers-Teaching-Teachers” workshops and workshops offered by outside organizations.

• SUNY Buffalo Master’s Degree>

Staff at TCS can choose to enroll in a Master’s Degree program offered on campus. The program is A Masters of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies Degree from SUNY Buffalo completed over 3 school years. This program is heavily subsidized by TCS and currently costs $250 per course for a total of $2,500 for a Master’s degree (the cost is reviewed on a yearly basis and subject to change).

Professional Learning Opportunities off campus

• Staff can apply to attend local conferences or conferences abroad that support their role. However, we limit attendance to conferences as we believe in job-embedded on campus learning.

 

• Online Professional Learning

We encourage staff to pursue learning through webinars and virtual courses. We often have several staff members participate in the same webinar/course and form a learning community to discuss how to apply what they have learned.

Buffalo Masters Program

At The Columbus School the continued professional learning of our staff is important to us. In order to support this learning, we offer a Master’s of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies from The State University of New York (SUNY) College at Buffalo :

This program is appropriate for teachers from K4-12. The program consists of 10 courses (3 credits per course). Within the course of study there is a Master’s Project and Research Course that will be taken. The entire program is available on our campus and can be completed in three years. For more information please see their website: http://igpe.buffalostate.edu/

Some of the courses offered to date have been:

• Essential strategies for Educators of American/international schools
• ESL in international School Settings
• Curriculum and Program Development for the Gifted Individual
• Facilitating Group Problem Solving
• Foundations of Creative Learning
• Instructional Design & Assessment
• Learning Styles Methods and Resources
• Multimedia for Educators
• Principles of Creative Problem Solving
• Reading Assessment and Evaluation
• The Holistic Curriculum: Teaching to both sides of the brain

The program is substantially subsidized by the School for staff members. In order to begin courses in September of each school year the applicant must first be accepted by SUNY. As a condition of acceptance perspective students must have an English level according to the Common European Framework of B2. Continuity depends upon demand.