ABSTRACT
Standard professional development activities rarely focus on the special needs of students in at-risk situations. The professional learning of teachers and principals is a major factor in determining the quality of teaching. Standard professional development activities rarely focus on the special needs of students in at-risk situations. School administrators play a major role in the type and quality of professional development in their school and district. The development of principals cannot continue to be the neglected stepchild of state and district professional development efforts. The National Awards Program for Model Professional Development was developed in 1995 to recognize schools and districts for comprehensive efforts to increase teacher and student learning through professional development. Frenship Independent School District, Wolfforth, Texas, has made a district-wide commitment to professional development. Informal professional activities are practical and relevant to the classroom. Student learning goals drive the instructional team's educational goals, which set the school's educational goals, which determine the district's educational goals.
