Professional Development
BERK12 coordinates and creates professional development experiences including countywide trainings, educator coaching, mentoring and new teacher induction, Professional Learning Networks, and more. These offerings provide an opportunity for educators to enhance their skills and share knowledge with colleagues in other districts.
Countywide PD Day and teacher gatherings
BERK12 sponsors an annual Professional Development (PD) Day for all Berkshire County educators. Held each year in November, the PD Day brings together over 1,200 educators from throughout the County by offering a wide range of professional development workshops across educational content areas, from STEM and the arts to special education, history, and classroom management. This gathering provides an opportunity for educators to share their expertise, hear what others are doing, and interact with staff from other districts. Several community partners serve as presenters. In addition, BERK12 hosts teacher gatherings that provide opportunities for connection and support.
A catalogue of 2025 County-wide PD can be found HERE.
2025 County-wide PD Report, HERE
2024 County-wide PD Report, HERE
2023 County-wide PD Report, HERE
Historical County-wide PD catalogues can be found HERE.
“Collaboration has been the cornerstone of my growth as an educator. We have shared experiences, best practices, and strategies and that not only helps us be better but has also created a sense of belonging and community.”
New teacher induction and mentoring training
BERK12 facilitates comprehensive mentoring and induction experiences aligned with state guidelines. These programs support both new and upcoming educators and the teachers that mentor them, fostering retention, professional growth, and instructional excellence.
New Educator Induction (15-Hour Course)
The BERK12 New Educator Induction Program provides comprehensive, countywide support for teachers in their first year. Through a series of interactive sessions, new educators build essential skills in classroom management, teacher clarity, inclusive practices, assessment for learning, caregiver communication, and long-term professional growth planning. The program combines practical strategies, collaboration with peers and experts, and ongoing guidance to help educators navigate their first year with confidence, strengthen their instructional practice, and improve outcomes for all students. Designed to meet Massachusetts DESE requirements, this induction experience supports teacher success, retention, and a strong start in the profession.
Brain-Based Teaching: NTI Year Two and Beyond (50-Hour Course)
This 50-hour professional development course supports educators beyond their first year and fulfills Massachusetts DESE requirements for induction beyond the initial year of practice. Grounded in cognitive science and anchored in How the Brain Learns by David A. Sousa, the course explores how the brain processes, retains, and transfers information to strengthen instructional practice. Through a blend of in-person sessions and online learning, educators apply research-based strategies in areas such as memory, formative assessment, differentiation, and student engagement. Participants engage in practical, classroom-connected assignments designed to enhance teaching effectiveness, create student-centered learning environments, and improve outcomes for all learners while earning PDPs upon completion.
Mentor training. A full-day training (typically prior to the start of the school year) that prepares experienced educators to take on the vital role of mentoring new educators and guides them through their first years in the profession. Topics such as standards-based planning, culturally responsive and differentiated instruction, and conferencing and feedback practices are covered.
BERK12 has also provide paraprofessional mentor training with specific modules such as navigating challenging conversions, supporting instructional consistency, and strengthening executive functioning skills.
Professional Learning Networks
BERK12 supports the Berkshire County Professional Learning Networks (PLNs), which are year-round multidisciplinary learning communities organized by educational role type. The PLNs meet in person and virtually throughout the school year, exchanging ideas, sharing information, solving common problems, and engaging in training. The networks serve as ongoing professional development for their members. There are eight PLNs in the following areas:
Arts (music, visual, and performing arts)
English Language Learners
Foreign language
History, social studies, civics
Physical education
School nurses
School psychologists
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
For a full PLN report from 2024-25, link HERE.
Past Professional Development Activities: Study Action Teams
BERK12 has sponsored the following Study Action teams, which engaged in cross-district collaboration, research, and problem solving:
Out of School Time (OST) Study Action Team. This team strengthened Berkshire County's OST network by creating opportunities for partners to collaborate. Activities included virtual workshops and a networking event; updating a database of OST partners, school coordinators, and potential funders; and conducting a needs assessment.
Educational Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This study team, comprised of educators across our former Berkshire Resources for Learning and Innovation (BRLI) districts, worked together to address key issues in educational technology and emerging AI practices. The team developed and hosted professional learning sessions, outlined priorities for the responsible use of AI, and began developing survey tools to better understand AI use within Berkshire County school districts.
School and District Leadership. This study team of school and higher education administrators examined the current state of school and district leadership in the Berkshire region and beyond. The group reviewed literature highlighting the positive impact of strong leadership on educational outcomes and identified strategies to strengthen leadership capacity in the Berkshires.
PK-12 Staffing. This study team examined PK-12 staffing needs in Berkshire County researching needs across school districts as well as surveying both administrators and current educators.
Shared High School Courses. This study team brought together educators across multiple organizations, including higher education institutions, to examine the possibilities of shared high school courses, including AP and dual enrollment options. The group examined the current state of advanced offerings and pathways across Berkshire County schools and began identifying opportunities for potential collaboration.
A Historical Study Action Team presentation can be found HERE.
“I spend a lot of time in back and forth emails with partners, and this [OST networking] event provided the space to have meaningful conversations about work being done and work we’d like
to collaborate on in the future.”