Professional Learning
Professional Learning
The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough professional learning is designed to develop educators’ knowledge and understanding, sustain growth and lead to refinements in practice. This is a collaborative and iterative process that expands educators’ capacity to improve student learning. The District’s professional learning culture is built on a foundation of trust, interdependence, an active role by all educators, and a shared belief that improved student learning is the goal of all professional learning.
One element of the professional learning system is professional development days. In the 2025-2026 academic year, educators will be engaged in five professional development days.
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Day 1: August 27, 2026 - Professional Development Day
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Day 2-3: August 28 & August 31, 2026 - Building-Based Professional Development Day & Teacher Return Day
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Day 4: April 30, 2027 -District Professional Development Day
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Day 5: Flexible PD: Converted to six hours of PD to be completed between July 1, 2026, and June 1, 2027.
The Professional Development Committee will continue to collaborate in planning these learning opportunities and to ensure that they are aligned with Vision 2026: Educate, Inspire, Challenge. The District is committed to supporting educators' professional development in ways that foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous growth.
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District Flexible Professional Development hours provide educators with opportunities to personalize and align PD directly with professional learning, student learning, school improvement, or a strategic plan goal. Furthermore, the PD can align directly with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education re-licensure requirements.
An educator, or in a team partnership, can identify Professional Development that aligns with his/her, or the group’s, student learning, professional practice, school improvement, or strategic plan goal. The individual, or team, is responsible for organizing and completing the self-directed pathway. The District will not reimburse any expense incurred for FlexPD. FlexPD provides educators with opportunities to personalize and align PD directly with a professional goal, student learning goals, school improvement plan, or strategic plan goal. Furthermore, the PD can align directly with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education re-licensure requirements.
It is required that the 6 hours be completed outside of the 184 days, between July 1, 2026 and June 1, 2027, as the 6 hours of PD counts as the 185th contractual day. In the 2026-2027 school year, the Mandatory Back to School Training is NOT eligible for counting as FlexPD hours.
In addition, the PD Committee has compiled: IDEAS FOR FlexPD 2026-2027.
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Based on new agreements in the Northborough and Southborough Unit A and Unit C contracts regarding how educators can use FlexPD hours.
- In Northborough and Southborough, Unit A educators can elect to use up to three hours of FlexPD to attend school community events approved by the school principal.
- Northborough and Southborough Unit C educators may elect to use 0, 3, or 6 hours of FlexPD to attend school community events approved by the school principal.
- The intent is to support belonging and community engagement in our schools by having more educators participate in and support school community events.
- All Unit A and Unit C educators are still responsible for a total of 6 hours of Flexible PD, including community events and professional development.
School leaders have identified school events that are pre-approved for this purpose. Those interested in using FlexPD hours to attend community events will complete a Google Form to identify their plans for planning purposes. Complete a form based on the school where you work. By identifying events you plan to attend, you can plan out how to complete your FlexPD hours and school leaders can plan on who to anticipate attending particular events.
The PD Committee members will manage the Google Form in collaboration with school leaders. The plan to attend Community Events is not binding, but it helps you and your school leaders to look ahead. We also recognize that additional community events may be added to the school calendar as the year progresses. Please talk with your school leader if you are interested in attending an event not listed on your school’s Google Form.
This Google Form does not serve as a record of what you completed; it is just showing your intentions. The Flex PD Reflection Form is where you will record the events you attended that will count toward FlexPD.
Community Event – Flex PD Google Forms (click on the name of your school):
Algonquin Regional School – There is no option for using FlexPD to attend community events.
Lincoln Street Elementary School
Educators are responsible for tracking their progress toward FlexPD hours and ensuring the total is 6 hours. Educators will complete an updated FlexPD Reflection form (also found on the District Website) by June 1, 2027, regardless of how they completed their required hours.
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Upon completion of Flex PD hours, each employee must complete the google form linked below by June 1, 2027. Please click the link to the form for your school. Your school's Professional Development Committee representatives can assist with questions.
Algonquin Regional High School
Lincoln Street Elementary School