LaRue County Teachers Invest in Professional Development
While students enjoy a well-deserved summer break, many LaRue County teachers are still hard at work sharpening their skills, collaborating with peers, and participating in professional development (PD) that shapes learning in the classroom all year long.
In Kentucky, certified teachers are required to complete 24 hours of professional development annually, a mandate outlined in KRS 158.070 and detailed further in 704 KAR 3:035. But in LaRue County, that number is more than just a box to check, it’s an opportunity to grow.
“People often assume teachers are off all summer, but that’s just not true,” said Instructional Supervisor Tara Wooden, who helps lead the district’s professional development initiatives. “Teachers are constantly learning and growing to better serve our students, and a lot of that work happens in the summer.”
Four of the required PD days are embedded in the teacher contract, but LaRue County operates on a flexible PD plan. That means educators can attend sessions during evenings, weekends, or over the summer—whenever it best fits their schedules. This flexibility allows teachers to choose development opportunities that align with their professional goals while still meeting state requirements.
It’s important to distinguish PD from other required training, Wooden emphasized. “Safe Schools training, which includes topics like FERPA and Bloodborne Pathogens, is required annually but doesn’t count toward those 24 hours. PD goes beyond compliance—it’s about improving instructional practices and student outcomes.”
LaRue County Schools takes a thoughtful approach to professional learning, offering a wide variety of sessions that reflect both teacher interests and district goals.
“We build in 6 to 12 hours just for curriculum mapping,” Wooden explained. “It’s more than planning. It includes embedded learning around new strategies and how to effectively deliver content.”
PD options range from structured sessions to more flexible, teacher-led formats. One popular example is TeachMeet, a day of mini-sessions led by LaRue County teachers, many focusing on instructional technology. The district also introduced LaRue U this year, a full day of personalized PD where educators choose their own learning paths. The 2024 focus? Student engagement strategies aligned with the district’s Learner Profile.
Literacy is another top priority. Supported by Read to Achieve and Kentucky Comprehensive Literacy (KYCL) grants, LaRue County offers PD that strengthens foundational literacy skills across all grade levels. That includes deep dives into the Science of Reading and content-specific training tailored to teacher needs.
Educators also attend conferences and sessions hosted by the regional cooperative GRREC, gaining fresh perspectives and bringing new ideas back to their classrooms.
The ultimate goal of PD is better learning for students.
“We don’t want ‘one and done’ sessions,” said Wooden. “We focus on job-embedded, ongoing professional learning. That’s where the real growth happens.”
One standout example is the district’s work with the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI). Teachers trained over the summer and then received in-class support throughout the school year, including modeling, observations, and feedback.
“That kind of follow-up ensures teachers aren’t just introduced to a strategy, they’re supported through every step of implementing it,” Wooden said. “And when teachers feel confident and supported, students benefit.”
As LaRue County students return to class each fall, many might not realize how much their teachers have been doing behind the scenes. But thanks to educators like those in LaRue County, learning never really takes a break, and that’s something worth celebrating.