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Professional Development & Faculty Formation
"Ignatius' choice of scripture passages for contemplating the public life of Jesus tend to portray a man-in-action. Jesus is on a mission - one who is sent . . . we realize that Jesus calls us to share his mission" (Fleming, S.J.).
De Smet Jesuit's program for professional development and faculty formation is comprehensive and addresses the needs of faculty and staff as they try to meet the needs of our dynamic and diverse student population. We are on a mission, and our programs are rooted in the philosophy of St. Ignatius and grounded in both best practices and current pedagogical and educational research. We have an excellent working relationship with the Jesuit Secondary Education Association that has allowed us to think creatively, address needs, and become innovative in our approach to our programs. Our challenge continues to be to develop meaningful faculty formation programs that leaded to improvement in the achievement of every single Spartan in our school. Click below to find more information.
Professional Development Brochure
Sequenced Professional Development
Hiring for Mission
Excellence in Teaching for New Teachers
Professional Growth Plan
Feedback & Evaluation
Additional Professional Development Programs
Book Club
Faculty & staff are given the opportunity to participate in the faculty book club. We read two books and hold two discussions, along with dinners, per year. Over the years, we have tackled such books as Emotional Intelligence, The Passionate Teacher, How Big Is Your God, and Generation Me. We focus on books that increase our understanding of the students we teach or the context in which we teach or students learn. The goal of this program is to help teachers increase knowledge-base in an area of education, whereby improving student achievement in the classroom.
Ignatian Evenings
Faculty & staff are invited to Ignatian Evenings, held at the Jesuit residence on campus, and facilitated by both Jesuit and lay colleagues. Ignatian Evenings are a time to come together to share fellowship, dine, reflect, pray, and discuss our spirituality, as it relates to specific Ignatian readings found in David Fleming's, S.J., What is Ignatian Spirituality? The goal of this program is to allow participants to explore their own spirituality through the lens of St. Ignatius, to create community, and to become comfortable conversing about their own spirituality with others - then model what that looks like in our classrooms with students.
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First Friday Mass or Prayer Service
Faculty and staff, through individual academic and specialized school departments, organize and plan either a prayer service or mass on the first Friday of each month, which happens at 7:15, before school, in Spartan Hall. The prayer services and masses take on the essence of the particular department that is planning them, and the entire community is invited to attend. After, a continental breakfast is served. The goal of this program is to celebrate our faith, whereby modeling that behavior for students we teach.
Retreat & Days of Recollection
Our faculty retreat happens at the start of the academic year, and sets the spiritual context for the year. Usually, the retreat theme is created by the faculty spirituality committee and manifests itself throughout the year. Recent themes have been Deeds Speak and Go Forth and Set the World on Fire. This year's theme is a challenge: "Who is My Neighbor?"
Our days of recollection are dynamic days of reflection, dialogue, and prayer. We organize them relative to faculty needs. In the past, we have had a modeling prayer breakout and practice session. Recently, we invited Paul Coutinho, S.J., and David Meconi, S.J., as guest speakers to address our faculty and staff. The goal of this program is to allow teachers to step back, reflect and pray, with the hope that a strong spirituality will help them to help students they teach.
Mid-Week Meditations
Mid-Week Meditation is the opportunity for faculty and staff to meditate during the middle of their work week to nurture their relationship with God by listening. Many have suggested that while prayer is talking to God, meditation is listening for God. This listening opportunity is offered once a week at 7:15, on Wednesday mornings. It is open to all faculty and staff - those experienced in meditation and those with little experience meditating. We learn from one another in the presence of a loving God. Following Biblical suggestions taken from the Spiritual Exercises, the goal of this program is to practice meditation, one tool for personal growth and one foundation for a healthy community.
One-on-One Spiritual Direction
Under the direction of our faculty chaplain, as well as other Jesuits at De Smet, faculty and staff take the opportunity to move through the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises. The goal of this program is to participate in the dynamic exchange of retreat director and retreatant, whereby coming to know Christ more intimately. The hope is that this relationship is imitated in our classrooms.
LightWorks (Lent)
Under the direction of our faculty chaplain, faculty and staff take the opportunity meet during lent to pray in community. The goal of this program is to practice prayer in community, one foundation for a healthy community.
JSEA-Sponsored and Province Sponsored Workshops
De Smet's Jesuit identity and Ignatian charism are important to our identity as a school. The Jesuit Secondary Education Association, along with programs offered through the Missouri Province Jesuits, offer faculty and staff opportunities to grow in their understanding of education and leadership through the lens of the Jesuits and St. Ignatius. We encourage participation in all JSEA events.
Professional Organizations & Workshops
Funding is available for faculty and staff to join professional organizations and attend local or national workshops that help with their growth and development as educators.
Spartan Educator of the Week
Each week teachers, staff, and students nominate the Spartan Educator of the Week. This recognition is given to the educator who makes positive contributions to De Smet's learning environment.
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