How to Create Professional Growth Goals in Minutes

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot.”  ~ Michael Altshuler

When was the last time you were able to help your teachers create meaningful professional growth goals in just a few minutes? Does that sound too good to be true? If you’re doing your observations and walkthroughs by hard copy, google forms/docs, or most other teacher evaluation platforms it probably does sound like a fairy tale. The truth is, it shouldn’t be difficult to have a growth plan process that works well for you and your teachers.

The good news is you’re not alone. We’ve spoken with countless educators around the world who struggle with the professional growth goal and growth plan process - namely doing it in an efficient way. Most often the primary roadblock to the efficiency is the very digital solution that is being used. iAspire is the only digital solution with a growth plan process built right into the software. 

In a previous blog post we discussed the best practices related to professional growth goals, but here now are the 6 simple steps iAspire walks you through in minutes to co-create and monitor professional growth goals in a growth plan. 

1. Click on the “Get Started” button in your text or email to begin the process

  • This email/text will be automatically sent to the user by the built-in iAspire Assistant to begin the growth plan process

 
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2. List the Purpose or Why for your growth plan

  • List your central reason(s) for pursuing this desired growth

  • Click either “Professional” or “Personal” for the type of growth plan

3. Set your goal

  • Write what you want to change 

  • Write a number for the “From Value” and the “To Value” to make the goal measurable 

  • Choose a date for the “By When” section to accomplish the goal by

  • Write what your next actionable step is to take

4. Identify your primary lever 

  • List the single most important measurable action you need to take to accomplish the goal

  • List how often you need to do it

5. Next steps

  • Simply list your next ongoing steps

6. Growth plan partner

  • Choose/invite someone to collaborate with you

The ultimate purpose of teacher evaluations, observations, and walkthroughs is to help your teachers grow. Ask yourself this simple question the next time you work on professional growth goals and growth plans with your teachers - are you doing just as much of the work as your digital solution?  If so, then it’s probably time to rethink what you’re paying for exactly!