Winifred Lewis Shiraishi

Professional Development (PD) is an important facet of an educator’s career. It has been noted that attending conferences, keeping up with current research trends, and participating in PD activities enhances career trajectories as well as increases job satisfaction. Yet for many educators, this gets pushed to the side. Often class preparation and administrative tasks require the bulk of an educator’s time. Finances, family responsibilities, and other commitments often leave educators with the feeling that any kind of professional development is an impossible task. Drawing on my own experiences teaching from preschool to university, I will discuss how participation in professional research has enhanced my life and career. I will also address some of the challenges faced by part-time instructors in particular and practical ways to overcome them. This talk will be of particular interest to educators who work in a variety of settings ( preschool, primary, secondary, business) and are looking for professional development opportunities while balancing work/life commitments.