Relating own development to my understanding of the education professiona dn advanced professional practice

Professional stagnation can be avoided. Enthusiasm and growth can be encouraged at many stages in a career. It means:

-Continuous Professional Development - we live and work in a life long learning society - as professionals we cannot be complacent and let development pass us by. Bill Law states that "staff development is intended to change behaviour, so that people can do something different or differently"
- Taking on 'lead' roles
- Actively managing the change process
- Recognition of frustration
- Development of roles
- Encouragement to undertake other work
- Development of self


Advanced professional practice enables individuals to move forward, without feeling their personal and professional development is at an end. Referring back to Fessler and Christensen, it means that when individuals get to the stage in the cycle of 'Stability and Freeze', it is possible to re-motivate themselves, and rediscover the 'Enthusiasm and Growth', which benefits themselves, their students/pupils and their employers. The introduction in the UK of the ' threshold' and Advanced Teacher status, encourages staff to stay in the classroom, where pupils benefit from their increased knowledge and skills, but teachers also benefit from new techniques, methods and self development.

Personally, I feel my professional development has lead to an increase in enthusiasm and growth, currently illustrated by my MA studies, my involvement in regional training and mentoring.