Many programs that prepare teachers and paraprofessionals for their new career require students to create a professional portfolio as a record of their professional development. Use Appendix A to help

Many programs that prepare teachers and paraprofessionals for their new career require students to create a professional portfolio as a record of their professional development. Use Appendix A to help you create a Professional Development Plan—a component that can be added to your professional portfolio. In a 2,100- to 2,500-word paper composed in Microsoft© Word, include answers to the following questions: o What are your goals in the next five years? In the next 10 or more years? o What steps are necessary to get you to your goals? What obstacles can you foresee and how will you overcome them? o What is one principle from the INTASC Principles Web site (http://cte.jhu.edu/pds/resources/intasc_principles.htm) that you feel you need to improve the most in order to be effective in the education profession? What existing professional development program(s) could you pursue to address the need to improve in this area? o What professional development programs can you enroll in to help you prepare to meet the diverse needs of today's learners? o How will you evaluate your progress? What will help keep you motivated toward achieving those goals? o What professional organizations will you join? Why? What do you expect to gain from membership in these organizations? o What techniques will you use to help you develop leadership skills? ? Format your paper according to APA guidelines