Professional Development
Professional Training for All Employees
In the 2025-2026 school year, the Professional Development department has supported over 100+ classes. Many of these classes are department or job specific. Included are a variety of classes available to classified staff.
View our current class offerings.
Learn more about our Professional Development Department.
Leadership Institute
Leadership Institute was established in 2009 to provide a comprehensive professional development program for leaders selected by their supervisors as staff on a leadership pathway. This program focuses on leadership knowledge, skills, and tools development for leaders of all work groups, recognized by their supervisor, on a leadership pathway. A 360-degree feedback tool that measures individual effectiveness and provides an action-oriented approach to personal development is included in the program. The course Continuous Quality Improvement is project based and concludes Leadership Institute with the participants' project presentation. Leadership Institute utilizes a cohort model to provide an opportunity to establish leadership connections districtwide. The last graduating class had 16 graduates representing 9 different departments.
Learn more about Leadership Institute.
Classified Mentor Program
Established in 2013, the Classified Mentor Program provides two-way communication between district level staff and building/school employees. Year end surveys of supervisors, staff and members of the Classified Mentor Program have documented the impact and effectiveness of this communication in increased engagement, knowledge and skills.
Each year every school, department and district building has the opportunity to select a Classified Mentor to represent their classified staff. The current school year consists of 67 mentors representing 20 different job profiles from 58 schools and 9 departments.
Learn more about the mentor program.
Management Seminar
Established in 2016, the Management Seminar serves as a cornerstone for cultivating ongoing professional growth among current and aspiring district leaders. Rooted in the essence of a seminar—a platform for receiving specialized information and training—the program is thoughtfully designed to support a broad spectrum of participants, including those in supervisory roles and those seeking to build leadership capacity for future opportunities. Throughout the year, a dynamic range of virtual and in-person sessions will be offered, creating a robust learning framework that equips both emerging and experienced leaders with practical skills, strategic insights, and management knowledge tailored to their professional journey.
During the 2025–2026 school year, the program featured twelve targeted sessions covering essential subjects such as human resources policies, leadership development, and effective management strategies.
Subscribe to the Management Seminar newsletter.
Learn more about Management Seminar.
Contact Us
Jackie Feely, Professional Development Director
jrfeely@dcsdk12.org
Vanessa Hoffmann, Professional Development Coordinator
vlhoffman@dcsdk12.org
Krista Sandquist, Professional Development Coordinator
klsandquist@dcsdk12.org