What is Professional Education Resources?

Professional Education Resources

Professional Education Resources is a professional portfolio of educational, planning, publishing and organizational services.

The concept for professional education resources comes from the growing trend of school districts to outsource professional services, and the growing trend to brand personal skills and services.  During my career as a teacher I met several educational consultants who provided several services that served districts, administrators, and teachers.  These services were presented to me in the form of district wide professional development meetings and classes.  In my opinion, this is one of the most impersonal formats for providing professional services.

Just as students today need individualized and differentiated instruction, educators need in depth professional development support options.  My services are not meant to replace district paid professional development.  I hope to serve individual instructors on the basis of their own professional goals, and give them the opportunity to control personal progress and achievement.  With this approach, I will be serving professionals not districts.  Therefore services will be paid for by individual educators.  One of the reasons this path has not been taken outside of the college and university umbrella is because teachers don't have the capital to invest in training not sanctioned by the district.  

Universities are going to be reluctant to support these services because they may infringe on professional development programs in their own curriculum or conflict with partnerships with school districts and education programs.  With the rise of online education opportunities, the competition for students is more fierce than ever.  I believe this will present another complication in the success of Professional Education Resources.

The advantage of autonomy however comes with the ability to customize services, reach a niche market, without the control of expensive companies, or narrow political agendas.  Personalized services empower the client and allow the provider to expand services beyond the limited windows of time, money or space.  With each successful exchange, both client and provider are likely to continue the relationship and grow a professional network autonomously.  This dynamic is essential to professionalizing the role of educator.  

The same empowerment will be provided for students, parents, and small groups served by Professional Education Resources in turn returning the responsibility of education to the community instead of the school systems which act more like a company.