At Avenor, learning is a continuous process, done with intention and seen as a priority not only for students but also for teachers. We believe that a teacher who keeps growing, exploring, and reflecting inspires their students to do the same. The excellence we strive for in the classroom starts, therefore, with the excellence in the training of those who stand before our students every day.
So what does professional development look like when it goes beyond formalities and paperwork to become a real opportunity for growth?
Cristina Bumboiu, Curriculum Development and Teacher Training Lead at Avenor, shares the learning priorities for this school year and how professional development directly impacts classroom practice.
A Different Kind of Professional Development
Inspired by Andy Hargreaves’ idea – “What we want for our students we should want for our teachers: learning, challenge, support and respect” – the Avenor team has designed a Professional Learning Development (PLD) programme that places teachers at the centre of their own learning journey. It is not formal or bureaucratic, but alive, dynamic, and built to meet the real and diverse needs of our colleagues.
Personalised and Practical Learning
A key novelty at the start of the year was the “PLD Fair”, organised to give colleagues the chance to learn more about the training opportunities available this year directly from the trainers themselves. Each teacher could then freely choose the path of development that suited them best.
In an open dialogue, trainers presented the courses they would deliver throughout the school year and answered colleagues’ questions. This created the framework for a personalised and relevant learning journey.
This year’s training offer includes seven courses designed and delivered by our colleagues, structured as modular learning units for teachers. Topics range from designing impactful modules and applying the “3Cs” model, to using AI in planning, reflection as a tool for transformation, innovative approaches to teaching mathematics, and creating deeper learning experiences.
What’s New This Year
The focus this year is on concept-based learning and exploring modern methods that help teachers design lessons that are deeper and more impactful.
Artificial intelligence is explored as a planning tool, reflection is seen as an essential part of the learning process, and the pedagogy of 90-minute lessons is examined in depth. All these directions give teachers opportunities to diversify their skills and discover new ways to engage students.
At the heart of the programme are the mentors – Avenor teachers whose role is to support colleagues in identifying their greatest areas for growth and turning them into development opportunities. All of this unfolds under the umbrella of the “3Cs” – Conceptual Learning, Competency-Based Learning, and Character Development – the core pillars of Avenor’s educational model.
The Impact on Students
All PLD courses this year have a strong practical component: what is learned in training is applied immediately in the classroom, followed by reflection and adaptation. This, we believe, is the most valuable aspect of Avenor’s professional development programme.
A teacher who never stops learning shows their students, through personal example, that growth is a lifelong journey. In the classroom, this translates into learning units that go beyond the transmission of information and instead help students think critically, reflect on their learning process, collaborate, and use information resources responsibly.
In this way, students become better prepared for a world that is constantly changing. We want them not only to know what to do, but also why it matters and how to adapt when circumstances shift. Ultimately, only under the guidance of well-prepared teachers can our students grow into balanced, responsible adults, ready to face the challenges of the future.
