Leadership Pathways, Leadership Pathways Plus 1, and PDUs
PPfT Leadership Pathways
PPfT Leadership Pathways are optional professional learning opportunities within the Professional Pathways for Teachers (PPfT) Human Capital System. These rigorous, two-year programs support teachers’ professional growth, development, and leadership in one of several district priority areas, and grant an additional route to increased salary under PPfT Compensation.
Each optional Leadership Pathway consists of four micro-credentials. Teachers complete one micro-credential per semester over the course of two years. The process for each micro-credential includes
- engagement in 12 hours of specific, professional learning designed by district content experts,
- application of that learning into classroom practice accompanied by collection of artifacts, and
- reflection on the impact the application had on their teaching and student learning.
PPfT Leadership Pathways are designed to empower and grow participating AISD teachers, allowing them to become leaders on their campus and throughout the district. Additionally, PPfT Leadership Pathways are compensation point-earning opportunities. Teachers who have chosen to pursue PPfT Leadership Pathways will be required to engage in the learning activities outside of their regular teaching duties. Upon the successful completion of the full two-year program, teachers will earn 15 compensation points.
For more information on how PPfT Leadership Pathways fits into the PPfT Compensation System, please visit the PPfT Compensation website.
For more information about the expectations of the PPfT Leadership Pathways program, click here. AISD login credentials are required for access.
PPfT Leadership Pathways Topics
PPfT Leadership Pathways operate on a staggered schedule, with 2-3 pathways beginning new cohorts each year. Currently, there are 5 different PPfT Leadership Pathways:
- PPfT Leadership Pathway for Differentiated Instruction
- PPfT Leadership Pathway for Language & Literacy
- PPfT Leadership Pathway for Mathematical Reasoning
- PPfT Leadership Pathway for SEL & CP&I
- PPfT Leadership Pathway for Transformative Technology
PPfT Leadership Pathways Eligibility Requirements
In order to participate in a PPfT Leadership Pathway teachers must
- be staffed in a PPfT-eligible position and be appraised with the PPfT Appraisal,
- have two years of teaching experience (current year must be in Austin ISD),
- have an effective or better rating on the prior year’s PPfT Appraisal (confirmed after opt-in),
- maintain an effective or better rating throughout the process, and
- not be participating in year one of a PPfT Leadership Pathway at the time of opt-in.
Please Note - Teachers can only participate in one of the following during any given school year: PPfT Leadership Pathway (only one at a time), PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador, PPfT Leadership Pathways +3, or PDU.
PPfT Leadership Pathways Opt-In Information
Teachers interested in pursuing a Leadership Pathway will opt into their selected pathway during the spring opt-in window. The spring opt-in window is always during the school year prior to participation in the pathway. Each year, 75 to 150 teachers can enter each pathway depending on the available support.
PPfT Leadership Pathway Resources
Teachers or staff who are interested in learning more about the PPfT Leadership Pathways Program or the individual PPfT Leadership Pathway content should visit the AISD PPfT Leadership Pathway internal website. AISD login credentials are required for access.
PPfT Leadership Pathway Support - Contact Information
Kimberly Valenzuela
Coordinator, Employee Effectiveness
leadershippathways@austinisd.org
512-414-1101
PPfT Leadership Pathways +3
The PPfT Leadership Pathways +3 (LP+3) program is available for experienced PPfT Leadership Pathway teachers who want to continue to implement what they learned in their PPfT Leadership Pathway.
LP+3 Goals
LP+3 Teachers will:
- extend the learning of experienced LP teachers in their respective district priority area,
- provide opportunities for experienced LP teachers to serve in a leadership role, and
- grant an additional route to increased salary under PPfT Compensation.
LP+3 Expectations
The LP+3 teacher will:
- share their LP knowledge and skills in the capacity of either mentor, professional learning facilitator, or micro-credential submission scorer;
- serve in this leadership role while adhering to the district’s core beliefs as outlined in our strategic plan;
- provide status updates to the LP+3 Coordinator per established protocol; and
- furnish required evidence of the fulfillment of these expectations and all obligations pertaining to their LP+3 option by the established deadlines.
PPfT Leadership Pathways +3 Opt-In Information
Interested experienced LP teachers may opt into an LP+3 option during the month of August as long as they are not currently participating in PPfT Leadership Pathways, PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador, or PDU. Information about the LP+3 Opt-In Window will be emailed to eligible teachers from leadershippathways@austinisd.org in August.
LP+3 Resources
Teachers or staff interested in learning more about LP+3, please click here. AISD login credentials are required for access.
PPfT Leadership Pathways +3 Support Contact Information
Aron Kadish
Coordinator, Employee Effectiveness
leadershippathways@austinisd.org
512-414-3825
PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador
The PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador Role offers experienced PPfT Leadership Pathway teachers the option to serve as an advocate and support for continuing to build the capacity of the PPfT Leadership Pathway Program. Each PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador will assist their assigned PPfT Leadership Pathway Program and district level lead team in the growth and development of the program. There are 5 LP Ambassador positions for each PPfT Leadership Pathway. Following the successful completion of all of the requirements for the one-year program, each LP Ambassador will receive a one-time $1500 stipend.
There will be up to 5 Leadership Pathway Ambassador positions available per PPfT Leadership Pathway hosting a current cohort (with the exception of any entirely new pathways). Once eligibility requirements have been confirmed, participation will be determined by the need of the individual pathway based on each applicant’s responses according to the rubric, consider each applicant’s performance and participation during their time in the PPfT Leadership Pathway, consider their stated availability to support, and review how each applicant’s position/content area/campus type/campus location align with those of the teachers in the current cohort of the LP. To opt into this teacher leadership opportunity, teachers will need to complete the opt-in form during the opt-in window.
PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador Expectations
The PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador agrees to:
- complete the PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador Orientation by the due date,
- support the assigned LP Lead Team in the design/review of the content and professional learning activities,
- attend at least one of each separate synchronous/in-person professional learning session for the assigned LP to support facilitation of the content,
- respond within 24 hours to communications from the PPfT Leadership Pathway Lead Team,
- moderate discussion boards and activities or provide feedback on assignments in the LP BLEND course,
- complete support tasks on the timeline assigned by your PPfT Leadership Pathway Lead Team,
- read any articles or books connected to a specific pathway to be able to support participants,
- serve as a demonstration classroom to allow others to learn from your practice,
- speak with other teachers and staff about the positive impacts PPfT Leadership Pathways,
- attend LP informational sessions as needed, serve on a discussion panel, and/or share your experience,
- score PPfT Leadership Pathway submissions in the fall and spring,
- participate in #ObserveMe Protocol during the fall and spring, and
- respect the growth and development process and maintain confidentiality.
PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador Eligibility Requirements
To serve in the role of a PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador in the 2023-2024 school year, teachers must
- have successfully completed a PPfT Leadership Pathway that correlates with a pathway currently in session or launching a new cohort,
- be staffed in a PPfT-eligible position and be appraised with the PPfT Appraisal,
- remain staffed in a PPfT eligible position for the entirety of the 2023-2024 school year,
- have an effective or better rating on their prior year’s PPfT Appraisal (confirmed after opt-in), and
- demonstrate their interest by fully completing the LP Ambassador Opt-In Form during the Opt-In Window.
Please note that teachers will not be eligible to participate in a Leadership Pathway, Leadership Pathway +3, or PDU while serving in the Leadership Pathway Ambassador Role.
PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador Resources
Teachers interested in learning more about PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador, please click here. AISD login credentials are required for access.
PPfT Leadership Pathway Ambassador Support Contact Information
Kimberly Valenzuela
Coordinator, Employee Effectiveness
leadershippathways@austinisd.org
512-414-1101
Professional Development Units (PDUs)
Professional Development Units (PDUs) are optional and are similar to action-research projects where teams of teachers identify a need that they plan to focus on throughout the year and develop a plan of study and implementation to address that need.
PDUs are designed to be a rigorous long-term study in which teachers utilize a repeating cycle of engagement in PD/research, implementation in the classroom, data collection, and evaluation. Team members must be willing to work closely together and devote time in and out of the classroom to successfully complete the process. PDUs culminate in the submission of an online product that meets specific criteria. Those interested in pursuing a PDU will apply at the end of August to begin the process by the end of September. *
*Teachers are not eligible to participate in PDUs and LP, LP+3, or LP Ambassador concurrently.
Opting into PDUs
All current AISD teachers who are interested in participating in a PDU will opt-in to the PDU process during the fall window. Once opted-in, PDU members will be added to a BLEND course to guide their work and allow for submission of PDU assignments.
PDU Resources
Teachers or staff interested in learning more about the PDU resources, please visit the AISD PDU internal website. AISD login credentials are required for access.
PDU Support Contact Information
Omar Castillo
Coordinator, Employee Effectiveness
512-414-4931