Information on Professional Learning Units (PLU's)

Any participant at the VSU Sharing the Wealth Physical Education Conference who would like to receive Professional Learning Unit (PLU) credits must have a completed pre-approval from their employing school board prior to attending the conference. PLU Forms will not be available at the conference.  Participants must request a prior approval form from Bibb County Schools if they cannot obtain one from their employing system. You may call and request these forms from 478–765–8550. Completed forms must be turned in at the Sharing the Wealth Registration center. NOTE:  In order to qualify for PLU credits, attendees must be present for the entire conference... NO EXCEPTIONS!

The STW Conference is grateful to Bibb County for handling the processing of PLU forms for those attending STW and taking advantage of the the opportunity to get PLU credit.   If you have questions as to your PLU credit from the conference, please contact Dr. Deb Baber (dbaber.westside@bibb.k12.ga.us) at Bibb County Schools.

How Do I Get Permission and Funding from My School District to Attend the Share the Wealth Physical Education Conference?

Many of you have asked the question, "How can I convince my principal or administrator to let me attend the VSU Sharing the Wealth Conference as a professional development activity?"  With the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act, most schools now have school-wide action plans in place for all programs and subject areas (which includes health and physical education).  The action plans are developed by the faculty at each school within a school district and are then made part of the district-wide action plan. 

Each faculty member has input and access to the action plan for their school.  For those of you in health and physical education, you may be the only teacher from that area in your school so it is incumbent on you to insure that you include your short-term and long-term goals for the physical education program in the action plan.  If you are in a school that has a  health and physical education department, the plan should speak specifically to the program goals for the whole department and need for professional development activities for all members of the HPE department. One of the goals you should include is faculty development and what type of faculty development activities in which you wish to participate, i.e., attendance at professional meetings and conferences which include the Share the Wealth Conference.  In most cases you will have to justify your attendance at STW and how it will help you meet the goals you have established for your program, subject area, and personal growth.  This can be done by using the current or previous STW Conference Program to indicate the scope and diversity of the conference that addresses many, if not all, of the goals you have developed for professional growth to enhance your health and physical education program.

In many schools permission to attend professional conferences has been denied due to specific professional development activities for faculty not being included in the school action plan for that area.  Please make sure each year that you have included this information in the annual school action plan.  Don't assume that just because it was included in previous years that it will also be included for the upcoming year.  If you are not sure, see your school action plan coordinator in your school or talk with your principal.  Taking the initiative to participate in professional development activities indicates how serious you take your profession.

If you should have any questions or need additional assistance, please contact your building principal, physical education supervisor, or curriculum director for your school/district to discuss how to include your short-term and long-term physical education program plans in the action plan for your school.  Make sure when you write your goals, that you include a professional development component that includes being able to attend professional conferences and/or workshops.